Lil Jon
Photo: John Shearer

Lil Jon's long-awaited entry into adult cinema, "Lil Jon's Vivid Vegas Party," hit video stores this week after months of delays wrought by legal entanglements. According to a press release, Jon was instrumental in every aspect of the DVD, "from coaching the actresses in their fine art to writing a sensual score to accentuate the story line." The DVD is available in "explicit and non-explicit versions" and is the first of two flicks featuring the self-appointed King of Crunk alongside a bevy of adult-film starlets. Jon does not "act" in the movie, although he does pop up "throughout the film during its many intimate scenes and at one point exclaims, 'I love my job!' " ...

Diddy announced Tuesday that he will launch a young women's sportswear line, adding to his Sean John apparel collection, which already boasts sportswear for men. Sean John will team with G-Ill Apparel Group to distribute the contemporary collection, set to debut in spring 2007. ...

Only in Paris Hilton's world could a court issue a restraining order against the actress/celebutante that forces her to stay at least 100 yards away from an event producer who claimed she threatened him — unless they're at a party together, in which case the distance is shortened to 25 feet. According to The Associated Press, a court commissioner signed off on the unusual three-year order against Hilton, 25, who must stay away from 37-year-old party planner Brian Quintana. Quintana testified last month that Hilton harassed and threatened him after their friendship ended. ...

Metallica will perform a number of classic Black Sabbath tunes in homage to the Ozzy Osbourne-led metal legends, who are part of 2006's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. The members of Metallica will also introduce Sabbath during the 21st annual induction ceremony, set for Monday in New York. A post on Metallica's Web site states that Sabbath "wrote the book on heavy music, and like many other snot-nosed kids, we read it religiously over and over again. For all of us in Metallica, Black Sabbath are a major influence not only on our music, but on our lives." Kid Rock will also be on hand to present inductees Lynyrd Skynyrd, while Sting will introduce A&M Records founders Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. ...

Boy George pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree false reporting on Wednesday (March 8) in a deal that saved him from going to jail. According to an Associated Press report, the former Culture Club singer (real name George O'Dowd) agreed to pay a $1,000 fine, enter a drug-rehabilitation program in England and perform five days of community service in Manhattan to resolve his arrest last year on a cocaine charge. George, 44, was arrested in October after calling 911 to report an alleged burglary of his Manhattan apartment, and when police arrived they found a small pile of cocaine next to his computer. The charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance was dropped as part of the plea bargain. ... In other legal news, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a lawsuit Wednesday against one of the nation's largest radio chains, Entercom Communications, claiming that it engaged in payola by accepting gifts, trips and cash in exchange for playing certain songs on its 105 stations, according to an AP report. The move signals a switch from Spitzer's previous suits, which have targeted record labels he said used payola to gain airtime. An Entercom spokesperson denied the charges. ...

Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell has been added to the cast of VH1's "The Surreal Life 6," which already includes Poison's C.C. DeVille, '80s video stalwart Tawny Kitaen and Sherman Helmsley of "The Jeffersons." Smash Mouth's upcoming single, "Story of My Life," is featured in the show, according to the band's publicist, and all the castmembers will appear in the song's video. ...

Good news for fans of Snow Patrol: The countdown to a new album is on. Reps for their label, Interscope Records, have confirmed that the Patrol's new LP, Eyes Open, will hit stores May 9. The albums features 11 cuts, including the first single, "Hands Open," and "Chasing Cars," a song Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has singled out as a personal favorite. Other tracks include "Beginning to Get to Me," "Make This Go on Forever" and "Headlights." ...

Saves the Day will precede the April 4 release of their forthcoming album, Sound the Alarm, with a 51-date North American tour, which kicks off Wednesday in Santa Cruz, California. The final stop on the trek will be May 7 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of the Bamboozle Festival. ...

Vendetta Red announced Tuesday that they've decided to throw in the towel, confirming months of speculation that the band was inactive. The group released a statement via its MySpace page but offered no explanation as to what caused the split. Vendetta Red will perform for the last time April 8 at El Corazón in Seattle. ...

Argentinean director Alejandro Chomski ("Hoy y Mañana") has been tapped to direct "Reggaeton," which is being co-produced by Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions. According to Variety, the movie is expected first out of the gate in what is shaping up to be a bumper crop of films based on the bilingual hip-hop/Latin/reggae hybrid style of music. It is slated to begin filming in New York and Puerto Rico in the spring.

03.07.2006

The night before "Crash" scored the Academy Award for best picture, the 26th annual Golden Raspberry Awards — prizes that no one in the movie business vies for — were handed out. The biggest Razzie "winner" was "Dirty Love," written by and starring Jenny McCarthy. The film took trophies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay; McCarthy was named Worst Actress, and ex-husband John Asher took the prize for Worst Director. Rob Schneider scored Worst Actor for "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo," while Hayden Christensen was named Worst Supporting Actor for "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." Paris Hilton's work in "House of Wax" was recognized with a Worst Supporting Actress Razzie; Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman were named the Worst Screen Couple for their roles in "Bewitched"; "Son of the Mask" took the award for Worst Remake or Sequel; and Tom Cruise and fiancee Katie Holmes were named Most Tiresome Tabloid Target. ...

Bobby Brown was arrested in Webster, Massachusetts, Friday on misdemeanor charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and having an uninsured trailer, The Associated Press reports. The minor violations, which date back 14 years, were noticed when a police officer conducted a routine warrant check. The 37-year-old singer was released on a $40 bond after being held for about an hour. ... Gordon Parks, a writer, musician, photographer and director best known for helming the movie "Shaft," died Tuesday (March 7) at the age of 93, according to the AP. As a photojournalist, Parks shot for such publications as Life magazine, though his most famous image — 1942's "American Gothic," showing a female black janitor holding a broom and a mop in front of the American flag — came while he was documenting life in America alongside such legendary shooters as Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans at the U.S. Farm Security Administration. His first film, "The Learning Tree," came in 1969 and was based on one of his own novels. "Shaft," an iconic detective drama now referenced in countless hip-hop songs and eventually remade with Samuel L. Jackson, followed two years later. ...

Former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge has settled on a release date and title for the debut album by his new band Angels & Airwaves — well, almost. According to a spokesperson for A&A's label, Geffen Records, the record is tentatively titled We Don't Need to Whisper but will most definitely be in stores May 23. ... That same day brings the debut album from the Raconteurs, the retro-leaning project featuring the White Stripes' Jack White, singer/songwriter Brendan Benson and two members of the Greenhornes. Their album is called Broken Boy Soldiers and features 10 tracks, including "Hands," "Intimate Secretary" and "Blue Veins." The first single from the album, "Steady as She Goes," is available on a limited-edition seven-inch starting Tuesday. ... Yellowcard have added several shows to their Virgin College Mega Tour, including stops in San Diego (April 18), Salt Lake City (April 21) and Wichita, Kansas (April 24). New Capitol labelmates Mae are opening. ... The Red Hot Chili Peppers have unveiled the album art for their forthcoming double LP, Stadium Arcadium, on their Web site. The Chilis have also posted a teaser trailer for Arcadium — featuring a snippet from the disc's first single, "Dani California" — as well as a 30-second downloadable "Dani" ring tone. Stadium Arcadium lands in stores May 9. ...

Pearl Jam have revealed the track list for their upcoming self-titled LP, which is scheduled to drop May 2. Thirteen cuts, including "Life Wasted," "Marker in the Sand" and "Wasted Reprise," will appear on the LP. The first single, "World Wide Suicide," has been posted to the band's bootleg site. ... Bad Boy rapper Black Rob (born Robert Ross) remains in the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey, after authorities picked him up on a fugitive warrant on February 24. Manhattan district attorney's office spokesperson Edison Alban said the MC — who had agreed to turn himself in January 24 to begin serving a two-to-six-year prison sentence on a felony charge for possession of stolen property — is awaiting a date for an extradition hearing. ... Daddy Yankee is the latest artist to partner with Reebok. His shoe and apparel line launch Wednesday. ... Elton John's annual AIDS Foundation Oscar party raised $2.9 million for the fight against HIV — almost triple the amount from a year ago, according to a spokesperson for the event. John Legend performed and sang a duet with John on "Ordinary People" and "Rocket Man." ... For one week, Sirius Satellite Radio is devoting an entire station to the music of Pink Floyd and guitarist David Gilmour. Classic rock channel the Vault started the Gilmour marathon Monday, just in time for Tuesday (March 7)'s release of the guitarist's third solo album, On an Island, his first studio outing in more than two decades. ...

A woman is being held without bond on a murder charge in connection with the stabbing death of former Jackson 5 drummer Johnny Jackson, who was found dead in his home in Gary, Indiana, on Wednesday. Yolanda Davis, 44, told police that she stabbed Jackson, 54, with a steak knife when he lunged at her during a fight, according to The Associated Press. Davis could face up to 65 years in prison if she is convicted. ... Paul Rachman's documentary "American Hardcore," a film that recounts the evolution of America's hardcore punk movement from 1980 to 1986, has been picked up by Sony Pictures Classics, according to Reuters. The movie, which screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival and will be featured at this month's South by Southwest Film Festival, includes concert footage featuring Black Flag, Bad Brains, Jerry's Kids, Suicidal Tendencies and Wasted Youth. Inspired by Steven Blush's book "American Hardcore: A Tribal History," the documentary is expected to hit theaters this fall. ...

Overcast, an influential, erstwhile Massachusetts metal band that counted among its members Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio and Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fair, will regroup after eight years apart for a special appearance at this year's New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, set for April 28-30 in Worcester, Massachusetts. According to the band's Web site, it will also return to a recording studio in May to breathe new life into more than 10 classic Overcast tunes and record two previously unreleased cuts, all of which will appear on the forthcoming Reborn to Kill Again. Killswitch guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (who has produced LPs for Unearth and Underoath) will helm the project. There's no word yet on when the disc will surface, but discussions with several labels are ongoing. ... Political punkers Anti-Flag have teamed up with U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington state, to urge congressional leaders to fund a study on the use of depleted uranium as munitions. The band released a new song, "Depleted Uranium Is a War Crime," through the After Downing Street coalition's Web site. According to the band, the song is a critique on the military's use of the deadly chemical "without studying its long-lasting and detrimental effects to humanity." The cut will appear on the group's forthcoming For Blood and Empire LP, which is due March 21. ...

Saliva will perform at this year's Elvis Presley Festival, which is set for June 2-4 in Tupelo, Mississippi. According to The Associated Press, rockabilly, country and gospel acts the Dempseys, Cowboy Mouth, Jeff Bates, Travis LeDoyt, Chris Cagle, Chely Wright and the Landmarks join Presley's backing vocalists the Jordanaires in the lineup for the eighth annual event. ... Murderdolls frontman Wednesday 13 has entered a North Carolina recording studio, where he's started tracking the follow-up to last year's Transylvania 90210: Songs of Death, Dying, and the Dead. He's written more than 30 tracks for his sophomore solo outing so far, including "Buried With Children," "My Home Sweet Homicide" and "Morgue Than Words." Wednesday 13 will be producing the effort, which could surface in late spring. Wednesday's also recorded two covers ("Burn the Flames" by Roky Erickson and Motörhead's "R.A.M.O.N.E.S."), but it's not clear whether either track will appear on the as-yet-untitled LP. ... A federal judge has ordered Rod Stewart to hand over more than $3 million to a Las Vegas casino where the singer was supposed to perform in late December 2000. Stewart canceled the gig, claiming he was unable to sing due to a recent throat surgery, and the Rio Hotel and Casino filed a breach-of-contract suit to recoup to the $2 million advance the singer was paid. According to The Associated Press, Stewart was ordered to cough up an additional $153,483 in contempt-of-court sanctions and legal costs for withholding information from attorneys representing Harrah's Entertainment before the start of last year's trial. The court also awarded Harrah's more than $1 million in interest, penalties, and related legal expenses.

[This story was orignally published at 9:05 a.m. ET on 03.08.2006]

• Lil Jon
• Diddy
• Metallica
• Snow Patrol
• Boy George

Smash Mouth
Photo: Interscope

Mike Myers is creating synergy for his latest film project by appearing in and recreating scenes from his movie "The Cat in the Hat" for Smash Mouth's "Hang On" video.

The clip, which was shot last week in a Long Island, New York, studio with director Nick Quested at the helm, is one of two Smash Mouth songs that will appear on the film's soundtrack, which is due out next month.

"It was probably hands down the most fun I've ever had making a video," Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell said.

According to Harwell, Myers plays himself in the video, although he dresses like a Canadian rube in the vein of Bob and Doug McKenzie, the classic "SCTV" characters played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. While the band performs "Hang On" on a set that mirrors a set from the live-action film, Myers does his best to gum up the works.

"[Myers] would come from out of nowhere on the soundstage and attack me," Harwell said. "I'd be singing into the microphone and the camera would be straight on me in this serious moment, and he'd be behind me making these stupid faces. Then once I would turn my head to look at him, he would stare at the ceiling with his finger on his mouth as if to say, 'I'm not doing anything.' It was f---in' hilarious. He's so good when he turns it out. It blew my mind."

Footage from the video shoot will be edited with footage from the film to make it look as if the band is performing live in the bedroom of one of the movie's young characters. Throughout the 13-hour video shoot, the band performed in either red or blue attire, and the set changed accordingly.

Along with "Hang On" — which also appears on band's latest album, Get the Picture?, and will run during the film's closing credits — Smash Mouth recently recorded a cover of the Beatles' "Getting Better" for the movie. Aside from the original score, "Getting Better" will be the only new recording featured on the soundtrack.

Harwell said Myers had very specific ideas for "Getting Better" and wound up more or less co-producing the track. "Every day he was on the phone with us going, 'Change this, change that,'" the singer explained. The band would e-mail Myers MP3s of the track throughout the recording so Myers would weigh in. The result was a radical interpretation that features giant choruses similar to Queen's "We Will Rock You."

Smash Mouth will perform both tunes, along with a few others, at a party after the premiere of "The Cat in the Hat" at the University Citywalk in Universal City, California, on November 8.

This marks the third time that at least one Smash Mouth song has appeared in a Mike Myers film. In 2001, their cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" was included on the "Shrek" soundtrack, and last year the band contributed "Ain't No Mystery" to the "Austin Powers in Goldmember" soundtrack.

• Smash Mouth

That Smash Mouth, always sweet-talkin' the ladies. "You are My Number One" is the first single from Get the Picture? and acts as the band's requisite summer single. Also on the album are the succinctly summarized tunes "Hot" and "Fun."

Killing Joke's latest self-titled album features drumming by Dave Grohl. Meanwhile, the Libertines release the EP I Get Along alongside '60s guitar god Jeff Beck's Jeff and Junior Senior's Euro-pop album D-D-Don't Stop the Beat.

Blues Traveler get honest on Truth Be Told, on which the jam band makes an effort to keep its songs from wandering. On the other hand, drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, the Vandals) drops a solo album under the name Stripsearch and tries his hand at some improvisational sounds. The self-titled album features his brother and music mate Jason Freese on the saxophone, plus bass player Mike Elizondo (Eminem) and guitarist Michael Ward (Wallflowers).

Finally, with the exception of a song extolling the virtues of Zoloft and some routine wordplay, wacky Ween tone down their act a bit and get more serious on Quebec. Ooh la la.

Out Tuesday, August 5:

• Paolo Angeli - Bucato (ReR/Cuneiform)
• Arraya - Arraya (Volcom)
• Jeff Beck - Jeff (Sony)
• Terence Blanchard - Bounce (Blue Note)
• Blast - Alta Strata (ReR/Cuneiform)
• Blue October - History for Sale (Universal)
• Blues Traveler - Truth Be Told (Sanctuary)
  Buy Now: Truth Be Told (Sanctuary)
  
• BT - Emotional Technology (Nettwerk)
  Read:"BT Secretive About 'NSYNC Payback On Upcoming Album"
  
• Canterbury Music Festival - Rain & Shine (Rev-Ola)
• Nikki Cleary - Nikki Cleary (Jive)
• Cruxshadows - Frozen Embers (Dancing Ferret)
• Division of Laura Lee - Trapped In (Burning Heart)
• Enchant - Tug of War (Inside Out)
• Found Cats - Full Gospel Rockabilly (Golly Gee)
• Funker Vogt - Revivor (Metropolis)
• Jeff Golub - Soul Sessions (GRP)
• Shaun Groves - Twilight (Rocketown)
• Hocico - Disidencia Inquebrantable (EP, Metropolis)
• Hyperions - Under My Sombrero (Surprise Truck)
• Javier - Javier (Capitol/Priority)
• Wynonna Judd - What the World Needs Now Is Love (Curb)
• The Juliana Theory - Live 10.13.2001 (Tooth & Nail)
• Junior Senior - D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (Atlantic)
  Read: "Junior Senior: Anarchistic Odd Couple Wants To 'Move Your Feet'"
  Buy Now: D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (Atlantic)
  
• Killing Joke - Killing Joke (Red Ink)
• Lake Trout - Another One Lost (RX/Palm Pictures)
• Ben Lee - Hey You. Yes You. (F2 Music)
• Jeffrey Lewis - It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through (Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Libertines - I Get Along (EP, Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Charlotte Martin - In Parentheses (EP, RCA)
• Mr. Criminal - Criminal Mentality (Thump)
• New Amsterdams - Worse for the Wear (Vagrant)
• Pinebender - The High Price of Living Too Long With a Single Dream (Lovitt)
• The Poor - Poor (Rev-Ola)
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Unclassified (Dare/Reprise)
• Don Ross - Robot Monster (Narada)
• Rachael Sage - Public Record (Mpress)
• Smash Mouth - Get the Picture? (Interscope)
  Buy Now: Get the Picture? (Interscope)
  
• Steadman - Revive (Elektra)
• Stripsearch - Stripsearch (Magna Carta)
• Tampa Tony - Y-Not (Empire Musicwerks BMG)
• The Derek Trucks Band - Soul Serenade (Sony)
• Turbulence - The Truth (Sanctuary/Ras)
• Velvet Acid Christ - Hex Angel: Utopia-Dystopia (Metropolis)
• Ween - Quebec (Sanctuary)
• Luther Wright and the Wrongs - Guitar Pickin' Martyrs (Back Porch)
• Various artists - Supertones Surf (Golly Gee)
• Various artists - "Uptown Girls" soundtrack (Nettwerk)

August 12:

• Pat Benatar - Go (Bel Chiasso)
• Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant)
  Read: "Dashboard Confessional Singer Heals Scars, Stops Singing The Blues On New LP"
  Buy Now: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant)
  

August 19:

• Kraftwerk - Tour de France Soundtracks (Astralwerks)
• Neil Young - Greendale (Warner Bros.)
• Various artists - Neptunes Presents: Clones (Arista)
  Read: "Summer Music Preview: Neptunes' Star Trak Presents ... Clones"
  Buy Now: Neptunes Presents: Clones (Arista)
  
• Bow Wow - Unleashed (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Unleashed (Columbia)
  

August 26:

• Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis (Disney)
  Read: "Hilary Duff: Not Just For Kids"
  Buy Now: Metamorphosis (Disney)
  
• Peter Frampton - Now (33rd St.)
• Anthony Hamilton - Coming From Where I'm From (Arista) Read: "Eve, D'Angelo Can Testify: Anthony Hamilton Is 'Hellified Powerful' "
  Buy Now: Coming From Where I'm From (Arista)
  
• Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
  Buy Now: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
  
• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Songs in the Key of Poop (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Eminem Enemy Triumph Previews LP; Beefs With Bow Wow, Benji"

September 2:

• Mariah Carey - Remixes (Sony)

September 9:

• John Mayer - Heavier Things (Sony)
  Read: "John Mayer Tries Hip-Hop With Help From Roots' ?uestlove"
• Seal - Seal (Warner Bros.)

September 16:

• Elvis Costello - North (Universal)
• Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance (Interscope)
  Read: "Bubba Sparxxx Softens Bumpkin Image, Teams Up With Justin For A 'Hootnanny' "
  
• Carnie Wilson - For the First Time (KMA)

October 7:

• Jin - Almost Famous (Virgin)
  Read: "Ruff Ryders' New Dog: Jin"

• Smash Mouth
• Killing Joke
• Junior Senior
• The Libertines
• Blues Traveler

Ashanti
Photo: Murder Inc.

Still have a soft spot for Simba, Bambi, Mowgli, Mickey and the rest of the Walt Disney crew? Ashanti, 'NSYNC, Usher and Christina Aguilera share your feelings.

An all-star cast will remake the Magic Kingdom's movie soundtrack hits on Disneymania, due September 17, and among the contributors is Murder Inc's squeaky-clean songstress Ashanti. She'll cover the "Pocahontas" theme "Colors of the Wind," which was originally performed by Vanessa Williams.

Usher will offer a track from "Tarzan," while Smash Mouth will remake a jingle from "The Jungle Book 2: Mowgli's Story." 'NSYNC's contribution will be an a cappella version of the classic "When You Wish Upon a Star."

Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and the Baha Men will also be featured on the collection. A TV special will accompany the record's release in the fall.

• Ashanti
• Usher
• *NSYNC
• Christina Aguilera
• Baha Men

"Austin Powers in Goldmember" soundtrack
Photo: Maverick

Austin Powers' latest time-travel adventure through the '60s to the '70s will include a groovy soundtrack of funk, disco and even a bit of g-funk.

That's right, the architect of the g-funk sound, Dr. Dre, appears on the soundtrack, remixing the Rolling Stones' "Miss You," a #1 single in 1978.

Also on the album, due July 16, are new singles from Destiny's Child singer Beyoncé Knowles, who stars in the movie, as well as Britney Spears, who has a cameo. And amid covers of '60s and '70s classics, there's a few appearances by Powers himself, Mike Myers (Click for photos from the movie).

Knowles' "Work It Out," produced by the Neptunes, is the first single from both the soundtrack and her own Dangerously in Love, due in October. The video, directed by Matthew Ralston (Madonna, David Bowie), will feature familiar faces from the '70s, according to a Warner Bros. spokesperson.

Spears' "Boys," also produced by the Neptunes and remixed by and featuring vocals by Pharrell Williams, will be the second single (see ).

Knowles also appears on the record as her character, Foxxy Cleopatra, on "Hey Goldmember," an homage to Shirley Bassey's 1965 James Bond song, "Goldfinger." Knowles' sister, Solange, and newcomer Devin guest on the track, which samples K.C. and the Sunshine Band's 1976 disco hit "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty."

Myers sings on two tracks — a remix of "Hard Knock Life" as Dr. Evil and on "Daddy Wasn't There" as Austin Powers with his band Ming Tea, which features Matthew Sweet and former Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs.

Hoffs appears solo covering Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie," while R&B singer Angie Stone covers King Floyd's 1970 tune "Groove Me"; Paul Oakenfold remakes Walter Murphy's 1976 disco hit, "A Fifth of Beethoven"; and Soul Hooligan with Jamaica's Diana King take a stab at Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman."

Smash Mouth recorded "Ain't No Mystery" with Tower of Power specifically for "Austin Powers in Goldmember," leaving Earth, Wind and Fire's "Shining Star" as the only song on the soundtrack previously released.

While the original Powers flick didn't pack an enormous musical punch, the soundtrack to 1999's "The Spy Who Shagged Me" was a huge success, featuring Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger" and Lenny Kravitz's "American Woman."

"Austin Powers in Goldmember" soundtrack track list, according to Warner Bros.:

• Beyoncé Knowles - "Work It Out"
• Rolling Stones - "Miss You" Dr. Dre 2002 remix
• Britney Spears f/ Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D - "Boys" Coed remix
• Angie Stone - "Groove Me"
• Earth, Wind and Fire - "Shining Star"
• Foxxy Cleopatra f/ Devin and Solange - "Hey Goldmember"
• Smash Mouth - "Ain't No Mystery"
• Soul Hooligan f/ Diana King - "Evil Woman"
• Paul Oakenfold - "1975"
• Jay-Z - "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" Dr. Evil remix
• Ming Tea f/ Austin Powers - "Daddy Wasn't There"
• Susanna Hoffs - "Alfie (What's It All About, Austin?)"

• Dr. Dre
• Destiny's Child
• Britney Spears
• Susanna Hoffs
• Angie Stone

Ginuwine
Photo: Elektra

'NSYNC have reached outside of the singing group world for the opening acts on their upcoming Celebrity 2002 Tour, recruiting Smash Mouth and Ginuwine.

The raspy rockers will join 'NSYNC on a string of Texas, Midwest and Northeast shows from March 19 to April 15, while the sensual R&B singer will perform at West Coast dates from March 3 to March 15, according to representatives of each artist.

'NSYNC will kick off the tour on March 3 in Portland, Oregon (see "'NSYNC Line Up 'Celebrity 2002' Tour"). The trek is currently slated to run through April 28 in Orlando, Florida, though more dates are expected to be added. (Click for photos from 'NSYNC's PopOdyssey Tour launch.)

'NSYNC's Celebrity 2002 Tour:

• 3/3 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena
• 3/4 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
• 3/6 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
• 3/7 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
• 3/8 - San Jose, CA @ Compaq Center
• 3/10 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena
• 3/11 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond
• 3/12 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond
• 3/14 - Phoenix, AZ @ America West Arena
• 3/15 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
• 3/19 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
• 3/20 - Dallas, TX @ Reunion Arena
• 3/25 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
• 3/27 - Ames, IA @ Hilton Coliseum
• 3/29 - Grand Forks, ND @ Alerus Center
• 3/30 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
• 4/1 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
• 4/10 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
• 4/13 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
• 4/15 - Boston, MA @ FleetCenter
• 4/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Union Center
• 4/28 - Orlando, FL @ TD Waterhouse Centre

• *NSYNC
• Smash Mouth
• Ginuwine

Creed's Scott Stapp
Photo: Wind-Up

'NSYNC, Creed, Dave Matthews Band, Marc Anthony and Foo Fighters are among the artists scheduled to perform during a series of 16 nightly concerts at the Olympic Winter Games in February.

The Hallmark Olympic Celebration Series will also feature Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow, Barenaked Ladies, Smash Mouth and Train, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC) announced Tuesday (December 18).

The concerts will be held at Olympic Medals Plaza in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the games will be held. With an estimated capacity of 20,000, the plaza will host the largest medal celebrations in Olympic history, the SLOC said.

Aside from the rock and pop artists mentioned above, the Hallmark Olympic Celebration Series will also include country favorites Martina McBride and Brooks & Dunn and Motown legends the Temptations. Headlining artists for four of the nights and opening acts for all of the dates will be announced in January, according to the SLOC.

Olympic Medals Plaza will be open nightly from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m. and admission is free, though tickets are required to attend. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

NBC, who will broadcast the Olympic events, will televise one song from each musical performance as part of the network's coverage.

Dave Matthews Band will kick off the series on February 9, and the Temptations will wrap it up on February 25.   The Olympic Medals Plaza concerts are separate from the extravagant opening and closing ceremonies, which will feature 'NSYNC, Christina Aguilera and Bon Jovi (see ). Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster ("The Bodyguard" soundtrack), film composer Michael Kamen ("Die Hard," "Lethal Weapon") and songwriter Robbie Robertson (The Band) will compose the music for the ceremonies.

In other Olympics music news, Neil Diamond and Melissa Etheridge recently recorded a new version of "America," Diamond's hit from his 1980 movie, "The Jazz Singer," to serve as theme music for NBC's promotion of the Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, soul legend Aretha Franklin has recorded a new song called "Carry the Flame" which is the official song for the carrying of the Olympic Torch.

Academy Award-winning composer John Williams ("Star Wars," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") is composing the official theme of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

The Hallmark Olympic Celebration Series schedule, according to the SLOC (additional headliners to be announced):

• 2/9 - Dave Matthews Band
• 2/11 - Foo Fighters
• 2/13 - Barenaked Ladies
• 2/14 - Sheryl Crow
• 2/15 - Smash Mouth
• 2/16 - Brooks & Dunn
• 2/17 - Train
• 2/19 - Creed
• 2/20 - Marc Anthony
• 2/23 - 'NSYNC
• 2/24 - Martina McBride
• 2/25 - The Temptations

• Creed
• *NSYNC
• Dave Matthews Band
• Dave Matthews
• Foo Fighters

Blink 182's Tom DeLonge
Photo: MCA

While those within sightline of a TV can catch P.O.D., Ja Rule, O-Town, Sum41 and City High performing on "MTV's New Year's Eve 2002" and Blink-182, Pink, Busta Rhymes and others ring in the new year on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" (see "Pink, Blink, Busta Ready For New Year's Eve With Dick"), those in search of activities away from the tube needn't look far.

With special New Year's Eve shows popping off around the country like so many magnums of bubbly at midnight, finding a suitable place to get your celebration on shouldn't be a problem. From Guns N' Roses' Great Pumpkin-like return to the Las Vegas strip (see "Guns N' Roses Ante Up For Another New Year's Eve In Vegas") to New York's indie rock double fantasy of the Strokes and Guided by Voices to Macy Gray's serving up soulful insanity at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, the artists will be there when the clock strikes 12. Will you?

Here's a rundown of some of the shows scheduled for New Year's Eve:

• Guns N' Roses @ Hard Rock Hotel - The Joint in Las Vegas, NV
• Macy Gray @ House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA
• Stone Temple Pilots @ Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL
• Train, Better Than Ezra, the Verve Pipe @ House of Blues in Chicago, IL
• Guided by Voices, the Strokes @ Apollo Theatre in New York, NY
• Barenaked Ladies @ Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL
• Lennon, Living Color, Drivin' N' Cryin' @ Coca Cola Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, GA
• Smash Mouth @ Planet Hollywood in New York, NY
• Kittie @ Ryan's Ballroom in Combined Locks, WI
• Hootie and the Blowfish @ House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC
• Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY
• Cheap Trick, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise @ Navy Pier in Chicago, IL
• Billy Idol, Paul Oakenfold @ House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
• The Isley Brothers @ Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI
• The Disco Biscuits @ Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA
• Page McConnell (of Phish), Kid Koala, Bullfrog, Oteil Burbridge, Russell Batiste @ Roseland in New York, NY
• Phil Lesh & Friends, Ratdog, Derek Trucks Band, DJ Logic, Crusader Rabbit @ Henry J. Kaiser Arena in San Francisco, CA
• They Might Be Giants, Mighty Mighty Bosstones @ Bohager's in Baltimore, MD
• Primer 55 @ Orbit Room in Grand Rapids, MI
• The Sheila Divine @ Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA
• Reverend Horton Heat, Waco Brothers @ Metro/Smart Bar in Chicago, IL
• Los Straitjackets @ Oneida Casino in Green Bay, WI
• Yo La Tengo @ Majestic Theatre in Detroit, MI
• Days of the New @ Rooster Tail in Detroit, MI
• Tomahawk, Melvins, Dan the Automator @ Slim's in San Francisco, CA
• Evan Dando & Rebel Crue 2002 @ Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ
• Paul van Dyk, Sasha, Jimmy Van M, Richard "Humpty" Vission, Sandra Collins, Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Joey Beltram, Roc Raida, Z-Trip, DJ Swamp, more @ Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA

• Guns N' Roses
• Macy Gray
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Patti Smith
• Kittie

Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell  
Photo: Interscope

Just days after their third, self-titled record is released later this month, Smash Mouth will start recording another one.

No, they're not taking a digital studio on the road and jamming during down time, they're bringing producer Eric Valentine out with them to work on a live album, which they hope to release by this time next year.

"It's not that easy to make a live record, because you've really gotta be on your game," vocalist Steve Harwell said recently. "But now the shows are good enough to where we can record them and they'll sound really good."

The disc will likely feature songs from each of the band's albums recorded in a variety of cities.

"I don't want to do it all in one venue because there are so many great places I love to play," Harwell said. "You never know exactly when the magic moment will come, but when it does it's amazing."

To make sure the magic is captured properly, Smash Mouth's soundman will tape all the shows Valentine is unable to attend. In addition, the band has hired a cameraman to videotape backstage action for an upcoming DVD. Harwell said he wants to get Hollywood hotshot McG ("Charlie's Angels") to edit the footage once it's completed.

"He's really good at that. And he kind of owes me one since he backed out of directing our 'Pacific Coast Party' video" (see "Smash Mouth Confront Crisis, But Keep The Party Rollin'").

In addition to rehearsing the material from their new disc, Smash Mouth have gone back and relearned tunes they haven't played in years.

"I want to be able to play it all," Harwell said. "You go see U2, they play everything. And it's easy to do — you just have to go rehearse it and get prepared. In the past, people have requested stuff that we hadn't rehearsed, and I felt bad. I don't want that to happen again."

Smash Mouth tour dates, according to the band's publicist:

• 12/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 12/2 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
• 12/4 - Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue
• 12/5 - Cedar Falls, IA @ UNI Dome
• 12/6 - Eau Claire, WI @ Zorn Arena
• 12/8 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Sir Winston Cruise Ship
• 12/10 - Atlanta, GA @ Atlantic Civic Center
• 12/31 - New York, NY @ Planet Hollywood
• 1/18 - Reno, NV @ Reno Hilton Hotel
• 1/19 - Lake Tahoe, NV @ Caesar's Tahoe
• 1/20 - Lake Tahoe, NV @ Caesar's Tahoe

• Smash Mouth

Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell
Photo: Interscope

What's not to love about the splashy video for Smash Mouth's new single, "Pacific Coast Party"? It's got zipping jet skis, vixens with hula hoops, clear-blue ocean shots and a busty babe clad in an American flag bikini. As successful as the patriotic "Party" vid might be, though, it wasn't the band's first choice.

Originally, Smash Mouth were planning to work with director McG ("Charlie's Angels," Sugar Ray) and an all-star roster of celebs. But at the last minute, McG canceled the shoot to work on the upcoming film "Dreadnaught."

"That totally sucked," vocalist Steve Harwell said in a recent phone interview. "We went to L.A. and sat down with him, and we came up with this crazy treatment. It was the most over-the-top cameo appearance treatment you'd ever see in your life. We were trying to get Travolta to do this dance scene. We wanted him to come back and do it and put the ["Saturday Night Fever"] suit on. He's trying to get in a movie that McG's doing , so we were gonna try to pull the favor. But then McG couldn't do it and this other treatment came along by this new guy Tryon George, which was really cool, too. So we went with that."

Harwell described the song as the band's version of "West Coast disco," and said he's pleased that the sweeping strings and funk-fueled guitars are a departure from Smash Mouth's trademark alt-surf-pop sound. At the same time, he's worried that the group's fans might not be ready for the sudden directional shift.

"I just hope it works for everybody else because it's a little different for us," Harwell said. "You put that on, and you're like, 'Who's this!?!' But I like the challenge of having something so different coming from us because I love to f--- with people. And something like this throws everyone in a tizzy. The thing is, we can't keep giving them the same thing over and over. People are gonna get bored. We can't give you 200 'Walkin' on the Sun's and 200 'All Star's. Those were great songs, but this is a great song, too."

As much of a romp as "Pacific Coast Party" is, it's not completely indicative of the rest of the band's new self-titled album, which comes out November 27. Sure, Smash Mouth are still a party band at heart, but they're no longer whooping it up 24-7. Much of that has to do with the hardships they've endured since they stopped touring for their last LP, Astro Lounge. There have been the pressures of creating another hit record, the departure of drummer Kevin Coleman (who was replaced by Michael Urband), the devastating loss of Harwell's son Presley Scott to lymphatic leukemia in July (see "Smash Mouth Singer's Infant Son Dies") and the recent horrors of September 11.

"I've been through a world of sh-- lately," Harwell said with a sigh. "We have a song on the new album called 'Out of Sight,' and that kind of starts out where I'm saying that there's all this bullsh-- going on, but that we can deal with it. You know, for everybody that's been killed and everyone that lost their lives and people that have lost family members, [I feel like] the ones that are gone are okay, and everything's gonna be alright. It just makes you think a little bit."

Another song on the record, "Sister Psychic," is about late night TV prognosticator Miss Cleo, though the track also leaves room for pause and reflection.

"There's a line in there that goes, 'Are we in our finest hour or headed for disaster,' Harwell said. "It's kind of weird because every song on this record fits what's going on in the world right now."

In times of crisis, Harwell copes with emotional turmoil by immersing himself in his work, which explains why he only canceled two shows after his son died.

"I was just going crazy at home," he explained. "Especially when it happened. It sucked for my girlfriend because she wasn't able to come out with us on the road, but at the same time, she knew I had to get out and start playing shows and get back to work and just try to make people feel good. That's what I'm trying to do — just put a smile on everybody's face just for two hours out of the day. If that's all I can do, that's worth it to me."

• Smash Mouth

• Smash Mouth