Ladies and gentlemen, Sponge has left the building.

• Sponge

It's been over four years since Sponge's debut album, "Rotting Pinata," spawned the alt-rock hits "Plowed" and "Molly." The band's sophomore effort, 1996's "Wax Ecstatic," didn't take off.

• Sponge

Sponge has a new album slated to drop April 13 named "New Pop Sunday." The album will be the Detroit-based band's first record since 1996's "Wax Ecstatic." The group, which includes singer Vinnie Dombroski, guitarists Mike Cross and Joey Mazzola, bassist Tim Cross and drummer Charlie Grover, made its debut in 1994 with "Rotting Pinata" on Columbia, but are now signed to the BMG-distributed Beyond label (see "Sponge Returning To Form").

• Sponge

Sponge is bouncing back. The Detroit-based alternative hard rock band was dropped by their previous record company, Columbia, and they lost their manager when Seattle music maven Susan Silver retired early last year. But Sponge is now set to return with a new album next year on the new BMG-distributed Beyond label. Their management is being provided courtesy of the Beyond-affiliated Left Bank group. The move makes them roster and label mates to Blondie, Motley Crue and Yes.

Sponge had been in the process of recording a third album, this time with help from hotshot producer Kevin Shirley, when Columbia pulled the plug, and the majority of that material is expected to be included on the pending CD, although the band apparently later recorded additional tracks. Shirley is best known as the producer of the latest albums by Aerosmith and Silverchair.

A Beyond spokesperson confirmed that the company had signed the band and that a new CD was recorded and due out in March, but declined to release any details.

Sponge debuted in 1994 with "Rotting Pinata," a near million seller. They followed it up with "Wax Ecstatic" in the summer of 1996 which sold a respectable but comparatively disappointing quarter million.

The band last made news when they headlined last year's R.O.A.R. tour by default after Iggy Pop was forced to pull out with a shoulder injury. At that time singer Vinnie Dombroski was arrested and fined for repeatedly using obscenities onstage (see "Sponge Singer Soaked For Dirty Language").

• Sponge

July 10 [7:55 EDT] -- Sponge frontman Vinnie Dombroski got a break from the Oklahoma State District Attorney's office late Tuesday when the prosecutor declined to file charges in the singer's arrest for obscenity, over the weekend.

Dombroski was arrested Sunday in Tulsa, for violating a city ordinance against abuse and violent language when he spiced up Sponge's R.O.A.R. Tour show with liberal use of the notorious "F" word.

Although his $5,700 in fines and bond were returned to him, Dombroski's not totally off the hook yet. At a more local level, The Tulsa City prosecutor may press charges yet.

• Sponge

July 8 [16:00 EDT] -- Although Iggy Pop has backed out of his "Roar" tour due to a shoulder injury, the tour continues on, with Sponge, the Nixons, and the Reverend Horton Heat on the bill.

And it hasn't been uneventful. On Sunday night, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sponge singer Vinnie Dombroski got arrested and fined after the show for repeatedly using obscenities onstage.

Spokespeople say sponge got to the gig a bit late and was unaware of an earlier warning that each expletive would cost $500.

Between his fines and the bond for his release, Dombroski paid more than $5,700.

The "Roar" tour moves on to Dallas, Friday.

• Sponge

April 16 [14:00 EST] -- Ah spring... when a young man's fancy turns to summer festival tours.

The folks putting together this year's band spankin' new R.O.A.R. tour (featuring Iggy Pop, Sponge, and the Rev. Horton Heat) have announced that the line-up will make its debut on May 24 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The tour, which takes its name from Revelation Of Alternative Rhythms, will also feature sets from Tonic, the Bloodhound Gang, Linda Perry, Ryan Downe, and Treadmill Trackstar when it rolls across America this summer.

The tour will sport the traditional festival second stage, as well as an interactive center that boasts a virtual reality simulation theater, sumo wrestling, and a Velcro fly wall among other attractions.

Here's how the first leg of the R.O.A.R. tour looks:

• 5/24 - Omaha, NB @ West Fair Amphitheater
• 5/25 - Minneapolis, MN @ Apple River
• 5/26 - Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater
• 5/28 - Kansas City, KS @ Sandstone
• 5/30 - Cleveland, OH @ Blossom
• 5/31 - Chicago, IL @ World
• 6/1 - Davenport, IA @ Le Claire Park
• 6/3 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend
• 6/5 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob
• 6/6 - Columbus, OH @ Polaris
• 6/7 - Indianapolis, IN @ Deer Creek
• 6/10 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers

• Iggy Pop
• Sponge