Incubus have hired ex-guitarist for the Roots Ben Kenney as their new bassist. Kenney will replace Dirk Lance, who was recently released from duty after 12 years with the band. In a press statement, frontman Brandon Boyd said the band decided to let Lance go after Incubus finished touring for Morning View. ...

Bad Boy P. Diddy is among the nominees for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Sean Combs will compete against the likes of Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors when the awards are presented June 2 at the New York Public Library. ... John Mayer and the Counting Crows have teamed up for a two-month co-headlining jaunt, beginning July 7 in Englewood, Colorado. In the meantime, Mayer is working on his new album, the follow-up to 2001's Room for Squares, some of which he'll premiere on the road. ...

After years of dating, Liv Tyler and Royston Langdon of Spacehog wed March 25 in a Caribbean villa. It's the first marriage for both the 25-year-old daughter of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and the 30-year-old musician best known for the 1996 hit "In the Meantime." ... The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, was released from a hospital in Nashville on Tuesday, following a lengthy battle with pneumonia. Cash, 71, was admitted to Baptist Hospital on March 10. ...

Sneering Skid Row frontman turned Broadway thespian Sebastian Bach, who has starred as Jesus for the past six months in "Jesus Christ Superstar," has been replaced following a conflict with the show's producers. The friction surfaced last week after the director wanted to change the ending of the show to make the curtain call appear less "rock and roll," Bach wrote on his Web site. In protest, the singer boycotted the next two shows, but planned to return on April 1 in Atlanta. He was told not to bother and his understudy is now playing his part. ... David Lee Roth will release his new solo album, Diamond Dave, on July 8. The record will feature the former Van Halen frontman screaming some originals as well as covers of songs by Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Beatles, the Steve Miller Band and Savoy Brown. ...

A man who had been impersonating Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy was arrested in New York on Wednesday. Before he was caught, the man used Portnoy's identity to ingratiate himself in rocker circles, then steal their credit cards, cell phones, wallets and house keys, according to Dream Theater's official Web site. The man even called drum manufacturers and used Portnoy's name to get free equipment. Recently, he landed a jam session with Savatage guitarist Chris Caffery, who figured out something was amiss: "He was still hammered, but he was not a good drummer," Caffery posted. ...

04.03.03

Lots of artists say they support U.S. troops. Linkin Park are putting a foot forward to demonstrate their devotion. A to-be-determined percentage of tickets from all shows on the band's Projekt Revolution Tour will be reserved for military men, women and their families. The passes will be provided free of charge, and will likely be distributed either through a lottery or on a first-come, first served basis. Projekt Revolution launches April 8 in Rochester, New York, and runs through August 30 in Little Rock, Arkansas. ...

A pop star's true best friend is still his dog, even if he does have bladder-control issues. 'NSYNC singer Lance Bass' pooch Jackson had a few problems with "finding the right time to go to the bathroom," so Bass took his dog to Animal Planet's resident pet psychic Sonya Fitzpatrick for a little pet pep talk, with the idea that perhaps she could help Jackson visualize the correct behavior. The "Pet Psychic" episode will air April 21 at 8 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. ...

An "American Idol" video game, in which players create, style and train a singer to compete for Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, is due in the fall for PlayStation 2 and PC formats. Meanwhile, former real-life contestants, including EJay Day and Vanessa Olivarez, will headline a 21-city "American Idol" mall tour, beginning Saturday. ... The controversial film "Biggie & Tupac" will be released on video and DVD on April 29. The movie was shot by English documentarian Nick Broomfield and chronicles the story of the two friends-turned-bitter-rivals and the events that led to both of their still-unsolved murders. ...

"You Got Served," the "Breakin' "-like hip-hop dance film featuring B2K, has gone into pre-production, according to the producers. Omarion and IMX's Marques Houston (a.k.a. Batman) are handling the lead roles in the movie, formerly titled "Dance." ... Michelle Branch has signed on to open for the Dixie Chicks on the second leg of their summer tour, beginning June 19 in Boston. Joan Osborne will open the first batch of dates, beginning May 1 in Greenville, South Carolina. ...

The Breeders, Sleater-Kinney with the B-52's' Fred Schneider, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Yo La Tengo with Yoko Ono, and the Bens (Ben Kweller, Ben Folds and Ben Lee) are among the artists slated to pay homage to the transgender cult musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Proceeds from Wig in a Box: Songs From Hedwig and the Angry Inch, due in October, will benefit New York's Hetrick Martin Institute, home to the Harvey Milk High School for gay, lesbian and transgender students. ... Legislation informing parents, schools and employers of the illegality of Internet file-sharing passed unanimously in the California State Assembly Tuesday. House Resolution 5, which condemns online music, movie and software piracy, falls in line with a previously launched awareness campaign by the music and movie industries and is directed at parents, and corporate, governmental and education institutions. ...

Junkie XL, the electronic music mastermind behind last year's remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," will release the double album Radio JXL - A Broadcast From the Computer Hell Cabin on June 2. Public Enemy's Chuck D, Sasha, former Republica singer Saffron, soul legend Solomon Burke, Gary Numan and the late Peter Tosh provide vocals on the collection, which is split into 3 p.m. and 3 a.m. discs. ... Former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon will stage a solo performance, his first full gig since exiting the British pop band, in England on April 18. Blur will release Think Tank, their first album since his departure, on May 6. ...

Ex-MK Ultra drummer Matt Torrey has joined Jets to Brazil, replacing founding member Chris Daly, who split from the group last year. The band is planning a summer tour. ... Speaking of Jets to Brazil, guitarist/ vocalist Blake Schwarzenbach's seminal indie band Jawbreaker are set to get the tribute treatment courtesy of Dying Wish Records. Artists set to cover tunes by the influential band include Sparta, Face to Face, Kill Your Idols, the Reunion Show and over a dozen others. ...

Clinic are working on their third album, Winchester Cathedral, the follow-up to last year's Walking With Thee, set for release later this year. ... Fred Hell, drummer for California "psychobilly" punk trio Tiger Army, is at home resting after being released from the hospital. Hell had been shot four times during a botched home invasion while hanging out at a friend's apartment. ...

Powerman 5000 and Stone Sour will embark on a tour together beginning April 15 in La Crescent, Minnesota. The trek, PM5K's first to support Transform, due May 20, concludes May 29 in New York. ... First he had an unsuccessful one-album run with Mötley Crüe as Vince Neil's replacement when the platinum screamer was out of the fold in the mid-'90s, and now John Corabi is parting ways with Brides of Destruction, Nikki Sixx's new band, before the group even releases a note. "It's amicable," Corabi said in a statement. "We're still friends, I am just really excited about the songs I've been writing and want to get a jump on my solo career." ...  

• Incubus
• Diddy
• Spacehog
• John Mayer
• Johnny Cash

The Offspring's<BR>Dexter Holland
Photo: Sony

The Offspring are asking fans to "Come Out and Play" when they roll through 12 cities on an upcoming tour. The Orange County, California, punk band has announced a string of shows in support of its sixth album, Conspiracy of One. Beginning with the tour's first date — April 22 in Houston, where the quartet will be joined by Linkin Park, Orgy, Spacehog and Eve 6 — radio festivals are peppered throughout the trek's itinerary (see "Dylan, Offspring, Run-D.M.C. Sign On For Atlanta Fest"). The brief outing will keep the band touring behind the album's second single, "I Want You Bad," at least until a May 9 gig in Kansas City, Missouri, according a Columbia Records spokesperson. More dates are expected to be added to the itinerary.

A three-week break follows the U.S. shows before the Offspring set sail for Europe, where they'll spend another few weeks showing the Old World SoCal's take on punk rock.

The last time the Offspring brought their music to the people was in November, when they set out with Cypress Hill and MxPx in tow (see "Offspring Taps Cypress Hill, MxPx For Tour").

Conspiracy of One debuted at #9 on the Billboard albums chart in November, selling more than 125,000 copies in its first week, according to SoundScan. At press time, the follow-up to 1998's Americana is nearing 1 million copies sold.

Offspring tour dates, according to the band's publicist:

• 4/22 - Spring, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (w/ Linkin Park, Orgy Spacehog, Eve 6 and others)
• 4/24 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 4/25 - Pensacola, FL @ Bayfront Auditorium (w/ FenixTX and Sum 41)
• 4/27 - Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park (w/ 3 Doors Down, Staind, Linkin Park, Disturbed, and others)
• 4/28 - Zephyr Hills, FL @ Festival Park (w/ 3 Doors Down, Staind, Linkin Park, Disturbed, and others)
• 4/29 - Orlando, FL @ WJRR's Earthday Birthday (w/ Disturbed)
• 5/3 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues (w/ FenixTX and Sum 41)
• 5/4 - Atlanta, GA @ Music Midtown Festival (w/ Black Crowes, Our Lady Peace and American Hi-Fi)
• 5/5 - Memphis, TN @ Beale Street Festival (w/ Ben Harper, Ohio Players, Vertical Horizon, Crazy Town)
• 5/7 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
• 5/8 - Springfield, MO @ The Shrine Mosque
• 5/9 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater (w/ FenixTX and Sum 41)

• The Offspring
• Linkin Park
• Spacehog
• Eve 6

Spacehog's<BR>Royston Langdon
Photo: MTV News

Appropriately enough, rockers Spacehog — featuring the fraternal team of Royston and Antony Langdon — have been tapped as the openers for the Black Crowes/Oasis Tour of Brotherly Love.

The Langdon brothers join Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher and the Black Crowes' Chris and Rich Robinson for the tour, which kicks off May 11 in Las Vegas. Dates for the tour have changed slightly from an earlier announcement.

Fans can buy tickets for the Tour of Brotherly Love via the Internet beginning on Wednesday, as long as they register in advance at a special Ticketmaster Web site.

Visitors to www.ticketmaster.com/promos/brothers/ can register for a password beginning Friday (March 9), and then purchase tickets online from Wednesday until 10 p.m. the day before the shows go on sale at non-Internet outlets, according to Billboard. Spacehog, best known for their 1996 hit "In the Meantime," plan to release their next album, Hogyssey, this spring.

The Black Crowes are set to release their new album, Lions, on May 8, while Oasis will release a DVD/VHS companion to their recent live set, Familiar to Millions, on March 27.

Oasis/Black Crowes/Spacehog tour dates, according to Pollstar (followed by general on-sale dates):

• 5/11 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint (3/17)
• 5/12 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl (3/24)
• 5/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre (3/24)
• 5/17 - Denver, CO @ Fiddler's Green (3/16)
• 5/19 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center (3/24)
• 5/20 - Tinley Park, IL @ New World Music Theatre (3/25)
• 5/22 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheater (3/23)
• 5/24 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center (3/17)
• 5/25 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center (3/23)
• 5/30 - Camden, NJ @ Blockbuster - Sony E Center (3/17)
• 6/1 - Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music (3/14, no password required)
• 6/2 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre (3/24)
• 6/3 - Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center (3/24)
• 6/5 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (3/16)
• 6/7 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall (3/15)
• 6/11 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center (3/14, no password required)

• Spacehog
• The Black Crowes
• Oasis

Reports of the demise of Spacehog's upcoming U.S. tour have been greatly exaggerated. Contrary to reports circulating on other music websites, Spacehog frontman Royce Langdon did not recently break his ankle forcing the band to cancel some upcoming shows.

A spokesperson for the band's management told MTV News that the singer did indeed twist his ankle while skateboarding recently, but said the singer only suffered torn ligaments. Langdon is currently undergoing physical therapy, and the band's tour is still expected to kick off, as planned, next month. The group's dates opening up for Pearl Jam remain unaffected as well (see ""Spacehog, Mudhoney, Frank Black, Iggy Pop, X To Open For Pearl Jam").

• Spacehog

Spacehog, Iggy Pop, X, Mudhoney and Frank Black are among the artists that have been tapped to open for Pearl Jam on its upcoming Yield Tour, which kicks off on June 20 in Missoula, Montana.

News of the openers had filtered out slowly over the last few weeks, as groups ranging from Cheap Trick to X (see "X Hopes Summer Plans Include Dates With Pearl Jam...") were rumored for specific dates of the Yield Tour, but the Pearl Jam camp had refrained from confirming any acts until now.

Several tour dates still remain without an opening act, including a batch of Northwestern shows, as well as concerts scheduled for New York, Washington and Boston.

The list of opening acts slated for Pearl Jam's Yield Tour are:

• 6/20 - Missoula, MO @ Grizzly Stadium - w/ Goodness
• 6/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Canyons - w/ Goodness
• 6/23 - Denver, CO @ Fiddlers Green Amphitheater - w/ Frank Black
• 6/24 - Rapid City, SD @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center - w/ Frank Black
• 6/26 - East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theater - w/ Frank Black
• 6/27 - East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theater - w/ Frank Black
• 6/29 - Chicago, IL @ United Center - w/ Frank Black
• 6/30 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center - w/ Frank Black
• 7/2 - St. Louis, MO @ Riverport Amphitheater - w/ Murder City Devils
• 7/3 - Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater - w/ Murder City Devils
• 7/5 - Dallas, TX @ Reunion Arena - w/ Murder City Devils
• 7/7 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum - w/ Spacehog
• 7/8 - Phoenix, AZ Arizona @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum - w/ Spacehog
• 7/10 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena - w/ Spacehog
• 7/11 - Las Vegas, NV @ Sam Boyd Stadium - w/ X
• 7/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Forum - w/ X
• 7/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Forum - w/ X
• 7/16 - Sacramento, CA @ Arco Arena - w/ X
• 7/18 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena - w/ TBA
• 7/19 - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific National Expo Center - w/ TBA
• 7/21 - Seattle, WA @ Memorial Stadium - w/ TBA
• 7/22 - Seattle, WA @ Memorial Stadium - w/ TBA
• 8/17 - Indianapolis, IN @ Deer Creek Music Center - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/18 - East Lansing, MI @ Breslin Arena - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/20 - Montreal, QUE @ Molson Centre - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/22 - Toronto, ONT @ Molson Park - w/ Cheap Trick
• 8/23 - Detroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills - w/ Cheap Trick
• 8/25 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Starlake Amphitheater - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Blockbuster Music Center - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Blockbuster Music Center - w/ Iggy Pop
• 8/31 - Raleigh, NC @ Blockbuster Amphitheater - w/ Mudhoney
• 9/1 - Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater - w/ Mudhoney
• 9/3 - Birmingham, AL @ Jefferson Civic Center - w/ Mudhoney
• 9/4 - Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center - w/ Mudhoney
• 9/6 - Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena - w/ Mudhoney
• 9/7 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Virginia Beach Amphitheater- w/ Mudhoney
• 9/8 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Arena - w/ TBA
• 9/10 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden - w/ TBA
• 9/11 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden - w/ TBA
• 9/13 - Hartford, CT @ Meadows Music Theater - w/ TBA
• 9/15 - Boston, MA @ Great Woods Center - w/ TBA
• 9/18 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion - w/ TBA

• Frank Black
• Pearl Jam
• The Pixies
• Iggy Pop
• Spacehog

Aerosmith appears to have yet more life left in its Nine Lives Tour, as the band has scheduled a slew of dates in the U.S. and Canada for April through June, with Brit-rockers Spacehog opening.

As we previously reported (see "Aerosmith's U.S. Tour Ends On Off Note"), the earlier leg of Aerosmith's tour went out with a whimper rather than a bang, and the band was even forced to cancel a date in Dayton, Ohio -- which it is making up this time around on May 25.

The dates announced for the next leg of the Aerosmith tour are:

• 4/18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
• 4/20 - Denver, CO @ McNichols Arena
• 4/22 - Colorado Springs, CO @ World Arena
• 4/24 - Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena
• 4/27 - Anchorage, Alaska @ Sullivan Arena
• 4/29 - Anchorage, Alaska @ Sullivan Arena
• 5/2 - Fargo, ND @ Fargo Dome
• 5/3 - Duluth, MN @ Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
• 5/5 - Mankato, MN @ Mankato Civic Center
• 5/7 - Omaha, NE @ Omaha Civic Auditorium
• 5/9 - La Crosse, WI @ La Crosse Center Auditorium
• 5/11 - Rockford, IL @ Metro Center
• 5/13 - Moline, IL @ The Mark
• 5/15 - Peoria, IL @ Civic Center
• 5/17 - Ft. Wayne, IN @ Memorial Auditorium
• 5/19 - Louisville, KY @ Freedom Hall
• 5/21 - Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Center
• 5/23 - Evansville, IN @ Roberts Stadium
• 5/25 - Dayton, OH @ Nutter Center
• 5/27 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
• 5/29 - Toledo, OH @ Toledo Sports Arena
• 5/31 - Hamilton, ONT @ Copps Coliseum
• 6/2 - Montreal, QUE @ Centre Molson
• 6/4 - Quebec, QUE @ Colisee De Quebec

• Aerosmith
• Spacehog

In following up the success of their breakthrough debut, Spacehog have turned to a number of new sounds for their sophomore effort, including the voice of R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe. Stipe turns up on a track called "Almond Kisses" on the band's latest effort, "The Chinese Album," and guitarist Antony Langdon recently told our associates in the MTV Radio Network how the union came about.

"One day I just said to him, 'Well I've got this song that we'd recorded that was never really a song,'" Langdon explained.

"It was a song I wrote, but it was never really a song. It was just like a bunch of ideas, and we recorded it, and it was one of those ones that became magic, and the sound of it was just awesome.

"I said, 'Well, do you want to come sing it?' and he came in and... he's just got such an amazing voice, that it made the song kind of feel like it was to me. Before it was just like a bunch of things, a bunch of ideas, and he finished it off, and that was it really. There was nothing more grandiose than that, you know. Other than just he came and had a listen, liked it, said 'I'll do it,' sang it, and was beautiful about it" [800k QuickTime]

Langdon explained the project after the band played an acoustic version of "Carry On" [400k Audio], one of the new offerings on "The Chinese Album," at the MTV Radio headquarters in New York. In preparing the follow up to their debut, "Resident Alien," the band also brought in a harpsichord and a 13-piece string section to fill out its sound on "The Chinese Album," which arrives on March 10.

Meanwhile, the Spacehog/Stipe union will continue in the upcoming film from Stipe's production company Single Cell. Langdon has a small cameo in the film, "Velvet Goldmine." If Langdon's role proves to small for your liking, you might get the chance to see much more of the guitarist and the rest of the band. Langdon says the band is planning to shoot a film based on "The Chinese Album." While Langdon says the project is very much a "work in progress," he says that the band has a script and the funds, and now just needs to find the time to shoot the film. They had hoped to begin filming in January, but have now pushed that back to July.

"It's basically about a band that comes to New York and gets signed, make an album, but ironically, then they get dropped," Langdon explained.

.

If the script raises questions, the whole idea of the project raises a few as well, as Langdon admits.

"What's going to help the movie be successful in truth is the band being successful. I mean, why would anybody want to watch a movie about Spacehog at this point... except that it'll be extremely funny and entertaining" [400k QuickTime], he said.

• R.E.M.
• Spacehog

Matthews plays the lead singer of a trash glam band, which is loosely inspired by '70's artist Susi Quatro. The soundtrack, which is being produced by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, features Placebo, who are covering the T-Rex song "20th Century Boy," which will be the first single. While Matthews joins Teenage Fan Club in covering the New York Dolls song, "Personality Crisis."

The soundtrack also features several all-star collaborations with Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood joining Andy MacKaye of Roxy Music. Bernard Butler, formerly of Suede, will be covering three Roxy Music songs, "Ladytron," "2HB," and "Bittersweet."

Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Steve Shelly collaborate on another song with Mike Watt, and Ron Ashton of the legendary band, The Stooges.

Meanwhile, Michael Stipe turns up on the second Spacehog album, titled "The Chinese Album" due out in March. Stipe, a pal of guitarist Antony Langdon and his brother, singer Royston, lends his vocals to a song called "Almond Kisses".

• Elastica
• R.E.M.
• Radiohead
• Spacehog