Amy Winehouse
Photo: Vince Bucci/ Getty Images

When it comes to Amy Winehouse, never believe what you read. Despite reports that she would be appearing at the Grammys on Sunday, the singer's publicist told MTV News a decision hasn't been made either way. And no, Amy hasn't left rehab yet, although she did depart the Capio Nightingale clinic, where she's been staying the last few weeks, to make a pre-scheduled meeting at the United States Embassy. According to her rep, the meeting was arranged so that the singer could discuss renewing her visa. ...

It sounds like Snoop Dogg may be welcome in England again. The rapper, who has been banned from the U.K. since a melee at London's Heathrow Airport in 2006, told Larry King on Friday that he's been given the green light to travel to the country again. After writing to the British government recently in a bid to get his ban overturned, the rapper told King, "I was wrongfully accused, and now I've been accepted back in. The judge overturned it. He looked at the evidence and looked at what I've been doing, just checked my character out and found me to be innocent, and now I'm able to go back out there. So, everybody in the U.K., big Snoop Dogg will be back to come give you all what you want." British authorities have not yet confirmed the rapper's claims. ...

Raymundo Ortega, the man who is suing Lindsay Lohan for her collision with his van in October 2005, has dropped his claim against the Ivy — the restaurant in West Hollywood, California, where Lohan had dined before the crash — according to TMZ.com. Ortega has alleged that Lohan, who was 19 years old at the time, drank alcohol at the Ivy before the crash, but the restaurant insisted Lohan did not. The next court date is reportedly set for March 21. ...

The Spice Girls' triumphant world reunion tour has hit a roadblock. The group announced on Friday that dates in Australia, China, South Africa and Argentina have been scrapped due to "family and personal commitments." The last stop of the tour is now going to be in Toronto on February 26. "Sadly the tour needs to come to an end by the end of February due to family and personal commitments for Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria," the group announced on its Web site, explaining that the rest of the dates were canceled "due to the phenomenal demand for tickets in the U.K. and the U.S., along with the touring logistics for such a massive production [that] it was not possible to fit everything in." And though there is rumored tension once again in Spice World, the note ends with the good news that "as the girls return to normal family life and the kids go back to school, they are reviewing all the options, who knows what the future might bring!" ...

Muse will release a live DVD/CD on March 17 in the U.K., although it's yet unclear if the set will see a U.S. release. H.A.A.R.P. - Muse Live at Wembley Stadium shows the band onstage performing tracks like "Knights of Cydonia," "Hysteria," "Butterflies and Hurricanes" and "Starlight" during a two-night stretch at the venue last summer. ... P.O.D. founding guitarist Marcos Curiel — who split from the band in 2003 — is back in the fold, and the group has signed a new deal with INO/Columbia that includes its new LP, When Angels and Serpents Dance. "Things are exciting again," singer Sonny Sandoval said in a statement. "When the four of us are in a room making music it's definitely right, and Marcos brings that passion for music into the band." Helmet's Paige Hamilton, Suicidal Tendencies' Mike Muir, the Marley Sisters — and a gospel choir! — crop up on the April 8 release, the first single of which is "Addicted." ...

The Arcade Fire are considering suing Fox after one of their songs was used in a Super Bowl ad, allegedly without the group's permission, according to Pitchfork. The ad, which promoted Fox's NFL coverage and also appeared on the network during the regular football season, features the group's song "No Cars Go." It's reportedly unclear if Fox asked the Arcade Fire for permission to use the song, if the network owes the band any money, or if the move was illegal. ... Iron and Wine will tour the U.S. with Califone throughout April. The gigs start April 9 in New Orleans and end April 20 in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Grizzly Bear are hitting the big time. The New York indie-rockers will give their biggest performance yet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the city's Walt Disney Music Hall on March 1. Following that, the Grizzlys will hook up with Paul Simon for a three-part series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The veteran singer/songwriter handpicked the group for "Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon," which will take place April 23-27. ...

The green dress Keira Knightley wears during key romantic scenes with James McAvoy in "Atonement," which is up for seven Academy Awards, is being auctioned for charity on ClothesOffOurBack.org. Bidding was at $3,000 as of press time, and the auction will end March 1. Proceeds will go to Southern California children's charity Variety. ... Incubus' Make Yourself Foundation has ponied up $10,000 for Denver environmental-advocacy organization Rock the Earth — the largest single donation the group has ever received. RTE is aiming to boost its education, advocacy and outreach at concerts and other events by 50 percent within the next year. "One person working diligently alone can do wonders, but many people working harmoniously together can accomplish worlds," frontman Brandon Boyd said in a statement. ...

A TV station and a cameraman who had been accused of getting in the way of people as they fled Warwick, Rhode Island's Station night club during a 2003 fire that killed 100 people have reached a tentative $30 million settlement with survivors and victims' relatives, according to The Associated Press. It's believed to be the largest settlement of several reached so far with the dozens of people and companies who've sued over the blaze, which began when pyrotechnics used by the night's main attraction, Great White, ignited highly flammable soundproofing foam around the stage. Last month, Station co-owner Michael Derderian was granted early release from prison by a state parole board. He is set to be freed from prison in October 2009. ...

There's lots of news on the Vines front. Singer Craig Nicholls has been diagnosed and treated for Asperger syndrome — a developmental disorder that specialists say might be responsible for some of his bizarre episodes in the past — and now the group is hammering away at a new album produced by Rob Schnapf (Foo Fighters, Beck). The Aussies have lined up three dates to hype the release, which is due in the spring: They will play March 14 at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas; March 17 at New York's Bowery Ballroom; and two days later at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. But while the band is focused on the future, Capitol/EMI will take a look back on March 11 with The Best of the Vines, which culls tracks from the group's first three studio efforts. ...

Black Light Burns, the band featuring ex-Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland, are planning to release an album's worth of covers. According to a MySpace post from Borland, the band recorded several covers late last year, and "when we finished, we realized that it's super-fun and that we like a lot of songs, so we started to record more." The yet-untitled record will include the band's takes on PJ Harvey's "Rid of Me," the Jesus Lizard's "The Art of Self-Defense" and INXS' "Devil Inside." ... The recently reunited Mighty Mighty Bosstones have been added to the lineup for this year's Bamboozle festival. They'll share the stage with the likes of Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, and the Academy Is ... at the fest, which will take place May 3-4 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ... Seven Mary Three, the band that hit it big in 1996 with its song "Cumbersome," are back and will release their sixth album, Day&NightDriving, on February 19.

2.2.08

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee married actor Nick Cokas on Saturday in Beverly Hills, California, according to People.com. "[Nick] is the love of my life," McPhee told the site. "This is a once in a lifetime occasion and everything is just perfect." Fellow season-five "Idol" contestants Kellie Pickler and Mandisa were among the 305 guests in attendance, the site reported. McPhee and Cokas met in 2005 when they performed in a Los Angeles theater production of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir." ...

Jay-Z will headline June's Glastonbury Festival in the U.K., BBC News reports. Jigga wanted to "break with tradition this time and put on something totally different" for the three-day shindig, organizer Michael Eavis reportedly said. The rest of the roster is yet unrevealed, save for Neil Diamond, who will play the closing night, June 29. ...

R. Kelly is being sued by a Nevada concert promoter who says the R&B star failed to show up for a performance in Minneapolis for which he was paid $120,000, according to TMZ.com. Kelly reportedly missed the gig so that he could appear in a Chicago court for a hearing. A suit filed in Atlanta District Court this week by Royalty Records reportedly claims Kelly agreed to perform December 6 with Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole, but then rescheduled the show for December 20, the day he was set to appear in court. The promoters are seeking the return of the payment, TMZ.com says. ...

Amy Winehouse spent Wednesday night in a hospital ward after being rushed there from a rehab facility to be treated for dehydration. BBC News reports that the singer was put on an IV drip to rehydrate her after a bout of vomiting connected to her treatment for drug addiction. Her father, Mitch, said "everything is going according to plan, and she's perfectly OK," confirming that she has since been moved back to the rehab facility. He also reportedly told the Daily Mirror that he's not sure she's well enough yet to attend next week's Grammys, where she's up for six awards. ...

Madonna has pegged April 29 as the release date for her yet-untitled album, her rep confirmed to MTV News. ... Janet Jackson debuted her new single, "Rock With You," Friday (February 1) on Z100.com. The song is featured on the singer's new album, Discipline, which is due February 26. ... Michael Jackson's 25th anniversary Thriller celebration just got a bit more thrilling. Chris Brown, Akon, Nick Cannon, Quincy Jones, Imogen Heap, DJ Spooky, Will.I.Am and others have shared their thoughts about the iconic album for a related 40-episode podcast series that will run throughout the year. Grab the Thrillercast widget right here. ...

While Britney Spears is undergoing a mental-health evaluation at a Los Angeles hospital, one of Britain's leading modern-dance troupes, the Rambert Dance Company, will perform a piece called "Meltdown," described as a choreographic interpretation of the singer's recent problems. Agence France-Presse reported that the performance at the Southbank Center in London on Friday will feature music from Richard Thomas, who masterminded the tunes in "Jerry Springer: The Opera." An excerpt of the piece shown on BBC News featured a Spears character dancing in a skimpy pink top, black vinyl hot pants and a pink cowboy hat while being harassed by photographers dressed in black. She is later carried away by dancers dressed as doctors in white coats. ... Britney has some company in the psych ward, as various outlets are reporting that actor Justin Chambers, who plays Dr. Alex Karev on "Grey's Anatomy," checked himself into the same hospital as the singer to deal with exhaustion and a sleeping disorder on Monday. ...

There's some big Metallica news on the horizon, according to MetClub, their fan organization. The band, which will spend much of the summer touring Europe, is expected to reveal the dates for a North American trek next week. We'll keep you posted. ... The Roots recently got together with TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe to record a new song for the soundtrack to a Danny Glover-produced documentary on the civil-rights movement. Anthony Hamilton, the Blind Boys of Alabama and others also lent their skills to the musical accompaniment to "Soundtrack for a Revolution." ...

The Beatles might not be around anymore, but they're going into outer space thanks to a new NASA effort, The Associated Press reports. The space agency will broadcast the group's song "Across the Universe" across the galaxy to the North Star on Monday. NASA's first-ever beaming of a radio tune into deep space marks the 40th anniversary of the song and the 50th anniversary of the space agency. "Send my love to the aliens," Paul McCartney reportedly said in response to the event. ... "Law & Order" stay Jesse L. Martin will play Marvin Gaye in the upcoming biopic "Sexual Healing," according to Playbill.com. ...

Justin Timberlake, Madonna and others have some blockbuster Super Bowl ads in store for Sunday, but Eels are taking a slightly different approach. The experimental group is in talks to bring the shortest-ever Super Bowl ad to the airwaves — a one-second spot hyping its recently released collection Useless Trinkets (B-sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased. Eels made a five-second spot for the set but are trimming it down to just one second for the prospective Super Bowl TV spot. ...

Eva Mendes is in rehab for a substance-abuse problem, according to TMZ.com. The "We Own the Night" actress has reportedly been at the Cirque Lodge in Utah, where Lindsay Lohan was treated last year, for several weeks. According to FoxNews.com, Mendes' rep said, "Eva has been working hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that, while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support." ...

Wesley Snipes was acquitted of tax fraud but was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return in a Florida court on Friday, according to AP. Snipes had faced up to 16 years in prison if convicted on all charges but can now only get up to three years. The "Blade" star and two co-defendants had been indicted in 2006 after Snipes stopped paying, using tax-protest arguments long rejected by the courts. ...

With a song called "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" on fellow "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson's new album under her belt, Paula Abdul has announced on her Web site that she's prepping a solo album for this summer. It would be her first album of new material in 13 years. She also promises that she and Randy will give fans a "surprise" during the Super Bowl on Sunday. ... Tom Petty may be playing halftime, but "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will kick off the Super Bowl by performing the national anthem. Even before Sparks takes center stage, Alicia Keys will perform as part of the pregame show. ...

Fearless Records have assembled a compilation featuring punk bands' takes on crunk classics. Punk Goes Crunk is set to hit stores April 8 and will feature covers by All Time Low, the Devil Wears Prada, Hot Rod Circuit, New Found Glory and Say Anything, among others. ... Remember Lit, that guys with the music video in which they're climbing across Pamela Anderson like she's the Himalayas? Well, the "Miserable" band is back in writing mode, according to its Web site. "Lit is currently writing together, and I hope that there will be more news to give you this year," a post on the site claims. The band's last album, which was self-titled, hit stores back in 2004.

• Amy Winehouse
• Snoop Dogg
• Spice Girls
• P.O.D.
• Arcade Fire

Michael Stipe
Photo: MTV News

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Bright Eyes and Public Enemy's Chuck D are among the artists slated to appear at "Bring 'Em Home Now," a March 20 concert to benefit the anti-war organizations Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War. The concert — to be held on the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq — will take place at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and also feature a speech by activist Cindy Sheehan. Other artists scheduled to perform include Rufus Wainwright, Fischerspooner and Peaches. Tickets for the "Bring 'Em Home" benefit range from $28-$150, but if you can't afford it, you'll still be able to at least hear the show: Janeane Garofalo will broadcast her Air America Radio program, "The Majority Report," live from the Hammerstein. ...

Before kicking off their latest tour Friday in their hometown of Bakersfield, California, Korn will have a street in the city named after them. Mayor Harvey Hall will unveil Korn Row at a 3 p.m. ceremony. ... Gorillaz are upping their animated ante by launching a game for cell phones in April. The four bandmembers will be represented in a game whose graphics aim to blend old-school, arcade-style visuals with the band's already-established look and artwork. For more information about the mobile game, go to MrGoodLiving.com/Gorillaz. ... Nominees for the sixth annual Jammy Awards — which honor "artists who thrive in the live music environment" (read: jam bands) — were announced Thursday. Tennessee rockers My Morning Jacket are among the leaders with three nods, although Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band and Ryan Adams will be vying for awards as well. The hardware will be handed out during a concert/awards show to be held April 20 (4/20, dude!) in New York at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. For more information visit Jammys.com. ...

O.A.R. will tour college campuses across the country beginning March 29 at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and ending April 26 at the Northern University of Illinois in DeKalb. The video game "MLB '06: The Show," for which O.A.R. contributed an original track called "Of a Revolution," is sponsoring the trek. ... She Wants Revenge, who recently entered the Billboard albums chart at #38, have signed on to open for Depeche Mode on their North American spring tour. Dates have yet to be confirmed, but the outing is slated for April and May. ... "Rock of Ages," the Los Angeles musical that pays homage to hair metal and stars Tenacious D's Kyle Gass, has been extended through March 18. Beginning March 2, the show will move from the Vanguard to the larger RenMar Studios in Hollywood. ... Mudvayne will headline Tampa, Florida, radio station 98Rock's Livestock 15 on April 29. Set for Festival Park in Zephyrhills, the bill will also feature Staind, Rob Zombie and Saliva. ...

Jewel will headline the pre-race show for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday. Fox will televise the event. ... The Vines have settled on Vision Valley as the title for their forthcoming disc, due in stores April 4. The album will feature 13 tracks, including "Anysound," "Nothins Comin" and "Futuretarded." ... A new line of Jerry Garcia-inspired teas will hit premium tea shops and gourmet food stores starting next week. Called J. Garcia Artisan Teas, there are five blends in all named after the late Grateful Dead guitarist. A portion of the proceeds from the teas will benefit DrawBridge, a nonprofit that provides art supplies for children in homeless shelters. The teas in the Garcia line are Morning Brew, Shady Grown, Magic Herb, Spirit of Sage and Jerry Cherry. ... SideOneDummy Records will celebrate their 10-year anniversary March 22, 24 and 25 with a series of show at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello and MxPx are among the acts scheduled to perform. ... The Accident Experiment, former P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel's new band, will finally release their debut, United We Fear, in May. The band will promote the record with a performance at South by Southwest. ...

The Go! Team will trek across the States beginning March 15 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Dates in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Las Vegas will follow before the band hits Coachella April 30. ... Secret Machines will release their new record exclusively to online retailers for several weeks beginning February 28. Ten Silver Drops, featuring first single "Alone, Jealous and Stoned," is due in stores April 18. Former Afghan Wigs singer Greg Dulli will release the fourth album under his Twilight Singers moniker May 16. Powder Burns will feature appearances from Joseph Arthur and Ani DiFranco. ... Nothing like five 10- to 13-year-old kids singing "Whip It!" Devo have created a kids' group called Devo 2.0 that will debut with a CD and DVD on March 14. ... Police guitarist Andy Summer has signed a deal with U.K. publisher Portrait/ Piatkus to write his memoir, "One Train Later." Summer's autobiography is due later this fall and will include his early days in the London music scene to his superstar heyday with the Police. ... The Charlatans UK will release their new album, Sympatico, May 2. Steering away from their typical Brit-rock dance/techno vibe, the new disc will instead consist of light, upbeat reggae tunes. The Charlatans will perform at South by Southwest on March 18 and kick off a headlining trek after the album's release.

02.22.2006

Beyoncé — who worked on Destiny's Child's last album while shooting "The Pink Panther" — says she won't be pulling double duty with "Dreamgirls." "I've put mostly everything aside," she said. "Usually I'm writing an album and performing and touring and doing all these crazy things at the same time, and for the first time I've committed six whole months [to do nothing but the movie]. It's very scary, because performing, singing and writing, that's my comfort zone, so I had to have confidence in myself with the acting and tell myself, 'I know I can do this.' " Beyoncé plans to start her second solo album after the movie and release it this summer, "which means I have six weeks to record, but I've done that just about every album," so it shouldn't be a problem meeting the deadline, she said ...

Game's sophomore LP, The Dr.'s Advocate, will drop June 6, according to the rapper's camp. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Scott Storch and Timbaland are said to have beats on the LP. ... The party appears to be over: Kristin Cavallari's new show "Get This Party Started" has gone on hiatus after only two episodes. A UPN spokesperson said the show, which debuted February 7, will return, but no date has been set. Cavallari's acting debut has also been bumped — her guest-star stint on "Veronica Mars," scheduled to air February 15, has been delayed until March 15. ... Lil Jon, currently touring in Australia with 50 Cent, is nearly finished with his fourth album, Crunk Rock, which will feature E-40 on the first single, "Snap Yo Fingers." Jon will release the record later this year on TVT Records after settling a royalties dispute with the label. "TVT cut the check and now it's time for me to get back to work," the rapper said in a statement. Jon is also producing for two new TVT acts, rapper Chyna Whyte and R&B singer Oobie. ... Green Day will be among the recipients of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy Honors Award, celebrating those who have "improved the environment for the creative community." Jazz artists George Duke and Dave Brubeck are also being honored at the gala, to be held March 19 at Westin St. Francis.

Snoop Dogg tackled pee-wee football, and now he's got another league of his own. The hip-hop superstar will serve as the commissioner for the recently announced Hip-Hop Gaming League, which will have top athletes and musicians including NBA forward Carmelo Anthony, NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, Method Man and Paul Wall battling it out on the Xbox 360. ... The Killers are being sued by their former manager Braden Merrick for $16 million for breach of contract. The lawsuit — which also includes the band's current manager Robert Reynolds, who Merrick claims "intentionally interfered with the contractual relations" between him and the band — was filed late Tuesday in the band's hometown of Las Vegas. According to court papers, Merrick — who discovered the rock quartet in 2002 and "guided them to stardom," he claims — says he was kicked to "the nose-bleed seats" by the Killers as soon as they put out their debut LP, Hot Fuss. Merrick says the Killers' 2003 contract labeled him as the band's sole personal manager, but that agreement was terminated by the band (through Reynolds) in May 2005. ... Shakira and Daddy Yankee will heat up the stage for the 18th annual Premio Lo Nuestro awards, airing Thursday on Univision. The gyrating songstress and reggaetón king will join fellow performers Juanes, Laura Pausini and others at the ceremony honoring Latin-American music. ...

"Blood of a Champion," a gritty urban drama produced by Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and starring Bokeem Woodbine ("Dead Presidents") and R&B singer/actress Deborah Cox, will hit stores March 7. The film, which also includes original music composed by RZA, follows an ex-con just released from prison who enters the world of underground street fighting. ... Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Harper and Gomez will headline A Sounds Eclectic Evening, the annual benefit concert for influential Los Angeles public-radio station KCRW. This year's show, scheduled for March 25 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, will also include Lewis Taylor, Feist, Goldspot and more artists to be announced. ... Three months after Sony BMG Music came under fire for rootkit software that left millions of PCs vulnerable to hackers and viruses, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for companies to sell products that install susceptible software on a computer without the owner's knowledge. "The recent Sony experience shows us that we need to be thinking about how we ensure that consumers are not surprised by what their software programs can do," said Jonathan Frenkel, director of law enforcement policy for Homeland Security. Sony recalled the discs in November but still faces lawsuits and criticism — which should be a warning to other companies putting out similar software, Frenkel added. ... Voivod have settled on Katorz as the title of their forthcoming 13th album, which will hit stores this spring. The band recently finished mixing the effort with producer Glen Robinson (Annihilator, Gwar) and are now mastering the album in New York. Katorz will be Voivod's first record that the band did not record alongside Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, who died in late August from complications of advanced colon cancer. ... (Hed) p.e. will issue their sixth album, Back to Base X, May 16. The album will include 13 tracks, including "Lock and Load," "White Collars" and "Bewaredowego."

Blondie are getting mashed up with the Doors for the upcoming career retrospective Blondie: Greatest Hits — Sound & Vision. The collection includes 20 tracks and 16 video clips, including classics "Heart of Glass," "Atomic" and "Call Me," and previously unreleased remixes of "In the Flesh" and "Good Boys." The set also features "Rapture Riders," a mash up of "Rapture" with the Doors' "Riders on the Storm" — with a video to match. "This is a tremendous honor for us," frontwoman Debbie Harry said. "Ain't technology great?" Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek asked. "I've always had salacious dreams about Debbie Harry, and now it's a reality: the Doors and Blondie in a deep passionate embrace." Blondie will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13. ... "New York Doll," the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee chronicling the recent reunion of influential glam-rock pioneers the New York Dolls — and bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane's Mormon lifestyle — will be released on DVD April 4. Bonus features include a 20-minute interview with Morrissey and video of David Johansen singing a Mormon hymn. ... Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell will release Ballad of the Broken Seas with Mark Lanegan (Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees) on March 7, with a second album to follow later this year. Campbell is also hitting the road for her first-ever tour as a solo artist; the North American leg kicks off March 4 in Toronto and wraps March 15 in Brooklyn, New York. ...

• R.E.M.
• Korn
• Gorillaz
• O.A.R.
• She Wants Revenge

The Vines' Craig Nicholls
Photo: MTV News

Vines frontman Craig Nicholls has revealed that he suffers from Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by problems with social interaction.

Nicholls disclosed his diagnosis on Friday (November 19) during a court appearance in Sydney, Australia, where he was facing charges of assault and malicious damage stemming from a May 27 scuffle with a photographer (see "Vines Drop Off Incubus Tour, Citing Exhaustion"). The charges were dismissed.

Nicholls' condition is also being cited as the reason the band backed out of its spot as openers for Incubus on their North American tour last summer.

The singer was diagnosed after a Vines crew member noticed symptoms of the disorder and brought them to the attention of the band's management. Psychologists and psychiatrists had been attempting to diagnose Nicholls for years.

Asperger Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder that, among other things, affects the way an individual interacts with others. A form of autism, AS is characterized by difficulty with social relationships and communication, motor clumsiness, and sensory sensitivity, according to the Asperger's Syndrome Support Network.

Sufferers of AS may have problems with language development, and they may speak fluently but may not notice the reaction of people listening to them or they may seem insensitive the feelings of the listener. Individuals with AS may exhibit obsessive behavior — for example, a preoccupation with a hobby or extensive memorization.

According to the ASSN, adults with AS are often considered eccentric or peculiar. There is no specific course of treatment for AS, but options include psychotherapy, behavioral modification and medications for specific behavioral symptoms.

• The Vines

The Vines' Craig Nicholls (file)
Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Australian rockers the Vines are battling mental and physical exhaustion and must pull out of an upcoming tour with Incubus, a spokesperson for the group said Wednesday.

Incubus' North American trek launches June 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and runs through August 18 in Los Angeles. No new opening act has been announced.

The Vines' decision to cancel didn't catch everyone by surprise. On May 27, during the first song of a gig in Sydney, Australia, frontman Craig Nicholls kicked a photographer's camera, and then bassist Patrick Matthews stormed offstage and didn't return. The concert had been organized by Sydney radio station Triple M, which subsequently dropped the band from its playlist. The Vines canceled their show the next night, claiming a member of the band was ill.

"The band would like to sincerely apologize to Incubus, our fans and friends," the Vines said in a statement. "We would like to thank everyone close to us for the continued support."

The Vines have not broken up, the band's spokesperson emphasized.

"Ride," the first single from the group's second album, Winning Days, was used in a recent iPod television spot. Winning Days, which followed the band's acclaimed 2002 album, Highly Evolved, came out March 23.

• The Vines

Amidst the cavalcade of stars — including Prince, Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy — sitting courtside Thursday night at Los Angeles' Staples Center for game four of the Lakers/ Timberwolves playoff game were Justin Timberlake and Usher, seated side by side, looking like old chums. ... Though Timberlake's upcoming film "Edison" has yet to find a distributor or secure a release date, initial images from the movie are starting to become available. Timberlake co-stars with Morgan Freeman, who plays a semi-retired investigative journalist who helps Timberlake's rookie character make sense of evidence he's uncovered in a big city crime scandal. ...

Rapper T.I., who was sentenced to three years in Cobb County, Georgia, last month, was recently moved to a work-release program for the rest of his sentence. He'll now be able to go back to recording. A spokesperson for the Cobb County district attorney's office noted it was a common occurrence, saying they like to encourage those with jobs to continue working. T.I. is expected to only serve nine months to a year of his sentence. ... Bidding started at $5,000 two weeks ago for the Britney Spears room at Boston's Onyx Hotel, even though details about the room weren't fully available. Now, as it turns out, the room has been designed by Britney's mother, Lynne Spears, to resemble Britney's bedroom at home in Louisiana — with soft green shades and gold accents. The room will feature rare glass-beaded wallpaper, an honor bar stocked with Britney's favorite snacks and all of her CDs, and a 42-inch plasma-screen TV. Ten percent of the room's revenue supports the Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts. Bidding continues on the room through June 11 on www.stubhub.com and www.onyxhotel.com. ...

Want to smell like Paris? The Hilton heiress has signed on to develop, manufacture and distribute fragrances under her name via Parlux Fragrances (who've also done the honors for Perry Ellis, Ocean Pacific and Guess?). ... Courtney Love has added more tour dates to her schedule, including stops in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on June 22, Detroit on July 6, Chicago on July 7, Minneapolis on July 8, San Diego on July 14, Las Vegas on July 18 and San Francisco on July 21. ...

Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga, MC Lyte and Chuck D will be participating in the National Hip-Hop Political Convention this year, June 16-19 in Newark, New Jersey. A film festival, voter registration and, of course, concerts are all set to take place. ... Aussie garage rockers the Vines have canceled Friday's (May 28) show in Sydney, Australia, due to illness, according to the band's label. No other information was given. The cancellation comes a day after bassist Patrick Matthews walked offstage halfway through the first song of a radio show in Sydney, leaving singer Craig Nicholls and the rest of the band to continue the hour-long set without him. ...

Slipknot recorded a four-song live session earlier this week for London's BBC radio. The session, which features "(sic)," "The Blister Exists," "Duality" and "Pulse of the Maggots," can be heard in its entirety on bbc.co.uk. ... Mudvayne have completed a dozen songs for their third studio album. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2002's The End of All Things to Come is due this fall. ...

As they've been doing on their North American tour, the Pixies will be making available limited-edition live recordings of each of their four U.K. shows, June 2-5. The double-CD sets, limited to 1,000 copies per show, are being made available through DiscLive starting next week, while an additional 1,000 downloads of each set will be available through the company's NetBurn brand. The Pixies also plan to issue CD recordings for each of the shows on their expanded North American tour in the fall. ... The Beatnuts, the hip-hop duo responsible for a handful of club classics in the '90s, will return with a new album, Milk Me, on August 31. It'll feature such guests as Freeway, Rahzel and Akon. ...

A double-DVD 20th anniversary edition of Prince's film "Purple Rain" will be released on August 24 along with single DVDs of his other films, "Under the Cherry Moon" and "Graffiti Bridge." "Purple Rain" 's extra discs will include a number of bonus materials, including a featurette on the making of the movie and eight of Prince's music videos. ... A three-disc deluxe reissue of Jeff Buckley's classic Grace will include the newly remastered original album, 13 rare tracks (some previously unreleased) and a DVD with four videos, in-studio footage, interviews and live performances. The package is set to street August 23. ... A meeting between the ACLU, Luther Campbell and Miami city officials ended abruptly Thursday after a dispute over the number of police officers assigned to patrol Campbell's annual Umoja Festival this weekend in South Beach. Campbell and the ACLU feel that police are unnecessarily putting the festival under extra scrutiny. ...

05.27.2004

Blink-182 got in touch with their inner philanthropists on Wednesday when two of the three members helped paint a Habitat for Humanity house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to The Associated Press, drummer Travis Barker had to watch from the sidelines since recent foot surgery put him on crutches. The band was in town to play a show at nearby Hershey, Pennsylvania's Star Pavilion that night. ...

Ozzy is wondering if you have what it takes to share his stage. The Prince of F---ing Darkness and his wife are looking for eight unsigned bands to compete for the chance to perform on the main stage of Ozzfest, alongside headliners Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Slayer. Winners also receive a second-stage slot on Ozzfest 2005, music equipment and cash. More info is available on www.ozzfest.com. ... The Pixies have added another crop of dates to their reunion trek, filling in some blanks on a tour that runs through December 6 in Washington, D.C. New markets on the band's itinerary include Camden, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Birmingham, Alabama; Las Vegas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Nashville. ... Famed DJ Scratch is working on a documentary on the origins of his career in turntablism. "The DJ: The DJ Scratch Story" features interviews with Jay-Z, Redman, Busta Rhymes and others. The DVD is expected to drop this fall. ... Basement Jaxx have been added to Lollapalooza's main stage for four West Coast shows: July 15 in Seattle, July 18 in San Francisco, July 21 in Ventura, California, and July 23 in San Diego. The electronic duo's latest album, Kish Kash, was released in October. ...

Chaka Zulu, music entrepreneur and co-CEO of Ebony Son Entertainment/ Disturbing Tha Peace Entertainment, will be promoting fatherhood a little before Father's Day. Ludacris' longtime business partner and friend, Zulu will be the keynote speaker at the National Fatherhood Initiative's Seventh Annual National Summit on Fatherhood. The summit takes place on June 8 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta. ... U.K. hip-hop sensation the Streets will embark on a Stateside tour to support his second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free. Five dates of the three-week trek, which begins June 11 in Mountain View, California, are with fellow Brit b-boy Dizzee Rascal. ...

Former Queens of the Stone Age bassist and singer Nick Oliveri will release a solo acoustic record later this summer. Oliveri also continues to work with his band Mondo Generator on a new album, which is being produced by former Queens drummer Gene Trautmann. ... Megadeth's still-untitled new album will come out September 14. In addition, seven records from Megadeth's back catalog will be released July 27. Each disc will feature up to four bonus tracks. ...

Lars Frederiksen won't be seeing much of his humble abode this summer. The Rancid guitarist and his band the Bastards will set out on the Punks Vs. Psychos Tour (June 1-13) with the Horrorpops, Nekromantix and Disasters before beginning a headlining tour (June 14 to July 6) that will bleed into their monthlong stint on the Vans Warped Tour, which begins July 20 in Milwaukee. The Bastards' second album, Viking, is set to drop July 29. ... Thrice and indie label Sub City Records were honored last week at the first Sub City/ Thrice Scholarship awards ceremony at the A Place Called Home youth center in South Central Los Angeles. The band and label raised over $57,000 for the center by donating a portion of each sale of Thrice's 2002 album, The Illusion of Safety. A portion of sales from the group's 2003 Island Records album, The Artist in the Ambulance, has also gone to charities. ...

The Allman Brothers Band will release the first anthology to span their 35-year career on June 8. The two-CD Stand Back: The Anthology will feature 32 digitally remastered recordings, at least one from each of their 13 studio albums and Live at Fillmore East. ... Rush will release an eight-song covers EP on June 29 to celebrate their 30-year anniversary. The disc features versions of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and "Mr. Soul," the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things," the Who's "The Seeker," Alice Cooper's cover of Love's "Seven and Seven Is," Blue Cheer's rendition of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" and Cream's take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads." Rush launched their 30th anniversary tour on Wednesday in Nashville. Dates run through August 22 in their hometown of Toronto. ...

• Justin Timberlake
• Usher
• T.I.
• Britney Spears
• The Vines

The Vines (file)
Photo: Capitol

Depending on what song from their new album, Winning Days, is playing, the Vines are snotty, post-grunge rockers; ambitious, psychedelic poppers, jangly pop torchbearers; or heavy metal hotheads.

Because the bandmembers are all too aware of the schizophrenic aesthetic, they're the first to admit that their second album isn't for everyone.

"We've rolled a mixed bag," singer Craig Nicholls said. "There's a lot of country rock, and there's also a lot of heavy metal, which is untraditional, but we never think of traditional when we are playing in the Vines. So maybe [Winning Days] will confuse some people. Some people are going to like it. Some people are going to love it. Some people are going to hate it. And some people are going to be so angry they'll want to hit us on the streets."

For fans who embraced the Vines' debut, 2002's Highly Evolved, to the tune of 656,000 copies sold, the eclecticism of Winning Days, released Tuesday, shouldn't come as much surprise. Where that album bounded from shimmering Brit-pop to slapdash garage rock, so does its follow-up. But for as much as the songs on each album differ from each other, the two albums are remarkably a lot alike.

Highly Evolved's breakthrough single, "Get Free," drew immediate links to Nirvana, and their new single, "Ride," doesn't do much to sever those ties. And where "Factory" touched upon dreamy pop, so does the new song "TV Pro." There's even an update of "Autumn Shade," appropriately titled "Autumn Shade II," on the new album.

"If people are expecting the whole album to be heavy, or in one manner, they're going to be disappointed," Nicholls said. "There's stuff on there that is like the Beatles or the Kinks. There's really as much Beatles or Pavement as there is Nirvana."

Nicholls said his band's diversity stems from the music that had the greatest impact on its members: Nirvana and the Beatles to be sure, but less obvious influences also add to the band's musical amalgam.

"People are always going to draw comparisons," Nicholls said, "so I don't think they're either positive or negative. ... As cliché as this may sound, I don't feel like we're tied down to any particular style."

"Ride"'s follow-up single has yet to be chosen, but the decision is likely to be made after the Vines finish their North American tour with Jet in mid-April (see "Graffiti Gone Wild: Bathroom Babe Shimmies In Jet Video"). Nicholls said he hopes whichever track makes the cut will further the band's enigmatic perception.

"Hopefully we can get a single out which is more acoustic," he said. "I guess that's the risk, or the good thing, about how your band is perceived. Sometimes it works out great, and sometimes it works out not so great. But I definitely can't complain about anything."

Following a tour of Europe, Japan and their native Australia, the Vines will return Stateside to open for Incubus, beginning June 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

• The Vines

Usher (file)
Photo: Arista

Get ready for revenge of the N.E.R.D. This week, super-producers the Neptunes put the spotlight on their rock outfit, N.E.R.D. Their second album, Fly or Die, features the single "She Wants to Move" and a guest appearance by Good Charlotte's Benji Madden on "Jump."

Next up is Usher's Confessions. The hit "Yeah!" features cameos by Ludacris and Lil Jon, but the album isn't all good times. Usher gets dark on "Confessions Part II," "Burn" and "Caught Up."

Eagles of Death Metal, the hard-rock band featuring Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme's drumming alter ego, Carlo Von Sexron, release Peace Love Death Metal this week alongside the Vines' new one, Winning Days. On the follow-up to the ubiquitous Highly Evolved, frontman Craig Nicholls noisily expresses touching sentiments like "F--- the World."

As we all know by now, Now That's What I Call Music! puts popular current hits on one album. The 15th edition features "Toxic" by Britney Spears, "Holidae In" by Chingy, "I Don't Want You Back," by Eamon and "With You" by Jessica Simpson. In other compilation news, Ruben Studdard and Simple Plan appear on the "Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" soundtrack.

Two live classic-rock double-disc sets will be released this week. The Allman Brothers Band's One Way Out was recorded at the Beacon Theater in New York, and Lou Reed's Animal Serenade was taped at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

Cypress Hill's Till Death Do Us Part finds the rappers waxing poetic about their favorite subject on such songs as "Ganja Bus" and "Bong Hit." Meanwhile, ethereal Alpha go Stargazing and Carl Thomas says Let's Talk About It. If he meant the rest of the new releases, he's onto something.

Out Tuesday, March 23:

• 7 Sons of Soul - 7 Sons of Soul (Verity)
• Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out (Peach/Sanctuary)
• Ben Arthur - Edible Darling (Bardic)
• Avion - Avion (Console/Image Entertainment)
• Bonnie Prince Billy - Greatest Palace Music (Drag City)
• Blockhead - Music by Cavelight (Ninja Tune)
• Borialis - What You Thought You Heard (Capitol)
• Joyce Cooling - This Girl's Got to Play (Narada Jazz)
• Cypress Hill - Till Death Do Us Part (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Till Death Do Us Part (Columbia)
  
• Angel Dean & Sue Garner - Pot Liquor (Diesel Only)
• Descendents - Cool to Be You (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Die Form - InHuman (Metropolis)
• Cara Dillon - Sweet Liberty (Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Wasis Diop - Everything Is Never Quite Enough (Artemis)
• DJ Sh--bird/Revenge - Welcome to the Party (Narnack)
• Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal (Ant Acid Audio/Rekords Rekords)
  Read: "Queens Frontman Takes Passenger Seat In Eagles of Death Metal"
• Eyedea and Abilities - E&A (Epitaph)
• Lorraine Feather - Such Sweet Thunder (CMC Int'l/Sanctuary)
• Mimi Fox - She's the Woman (Favored Nations)
• Eliza Gilkyson - Land of Milk and Honey (Red House)
• Sarah Harmer - All of Our Names (Zoë/Rounder)
• Joni Harms - Let's Put the Western Back in the Country (Wildcatter)
• RJ Helton - Real Life (Jive)
• Honeydogs - 10,000 Years (United Musicians)
• Ellis Hooks - Uncomplicated (Artemis)
• The Hurt Process - Drive by Monologue (Victory)
• Hyper - Wired (Thrive)
• Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop)
• Jackass - Plastic Jesus (BYO)
• The Kite-Eating Tree - Method: Fail, Repeat (Cowboy Versus Sailor/Suburban Home)
• Bernie Leadon - Mirror (Really Smart)
• Leftover Salmon - Leftover Salmon (Compendia)
• Levinhurst - Perfect Life (Full Contact)
• Lowgold - Welcome to Winners (Sanctuary)
• Madison Park - Boutique (BasicLux)
• Ian McLagan & the Bump Band - Rise & Shine (Gaff)
• James McMurtry - Live in Aught — Three (Compadre/RED)
• Bruce Molsky - Contented Must Be (Rounder)
• David Lee Murphy - Tryin' to Get There (Audium)
• N.E.R.D. - Fly or Die (Virgin)
  Read: "N.E.R.D. Step Up Their Game On Fly Or Die, Reminisce About Teen Years"
  Buy Now: Fly or Die (Virgin)
• Andy Narell - The Passage (Heads Up)
• Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City)
• Onelinedrawing - Volunteers (Jade Tree)
• Panurge - Throw Down the Reins (Nettwerk America)
• Particle - Launchpad (Or Music)
• Pastor Troy - By Any Means Necessary (Universal)
• The Rasmus - Dead Letters (Interscope)
• Jon Rauhouse - Steel Guitar Rodeo (Bloodshot)
• Lou Reed - Animal Serenade (Reprise)
• The Riddler - Dance Mix NYC 5 (Tommy Boy)
• Curtis Salgado - Strong Suspicion (Shanachie)
• Langhorne Slim - Electric Love (EP, Narnack)
• Smugglers - Mutiny in Stereo (Lookout!)
• Soil - Redefine (J)
• The Standard - Wire Post to Post (Yep Roc)
• Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band - Tour 2003 (Koch)
• Start Trouble - Every Solution Has Its Problem (Columbia)
• Sticks and Stones - Shed Grace (Thrill Jockey)
• The Hiss - Panic Movement (Sanctuary)
• Carl Thomas - Let's Talk About It (Bad Boy)
• Nestor Torres - Sin Palabras (Heads Up)
• Usher - Confessions (Arista)
  Read: "Usher Lets Skeletons Out Of The Closet On Confessions"
  Buy Now: Confessions (LaFace)
• Vines - Winning Days (Capitol)
  Read: "Vines Saddle Up And 'Ride' To End Of The World"
  Buy Now: Winning Days (Capitol)
  
• Peter White - Confidential (Columbia)
• Widespread Panic - Night of Joy (Sanctuary)
• Wumpscut - Bone Peeler (Metropolis)
• Various artists - Bring You to Your Knees: A Tribute to Guns N' Roses (Law of Inertia)
• Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 15 (Capitol)
• Various artists - "The Punisher" soundtrack (Wind-Up)
• Various artists - "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)
• Various artists - Sing Along with Putumayo (Putumayo)
• DVD: Harry Connick Jr. - Only You (Columbia)
• DVD: Andy Cooper - Hot Jazz Festival (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Iggy and the Stooges - Live in Detroit 2003 (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Kelly Osbourne - Live at the Electric Ballroom (Sanctuary)
• DVD: Switchfoot - Live in San Diego (Columbia)

March 30:

• Aerosmith - Honkin' on Bobo (Sony)
  Read: "Aerosmith Blues Album Inspired By Bike Crashes And Funny Phrases"
• Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series 6: Concert at Philharmonic Hall (Sony)
• Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (Virgin)
  Read: "Janet Jackson Making Sexiest Album Yet, Producer Says"
  Buy Now: Damita Jo (Virgin)
• Various artists - Music From "The O.C." Mix 1 (Warner Bros.)

April 6:

• Barry Manilow - 2 Nights Live (BMG)
• Paul Oakenfold - Greatest Remixes (Topaz)
• Tamia - Still (Elektra)

April 13:

• Various artists - "Kill Bill 2" soundtrack (Maverick)

April 20:

• Hanson - Underneath (3CG)

May 4:

• Kimberley Locke - One Love (Curb)
  Read: " 'American Idol' Finalist Kimberley Locke Is Radio's '8th Wonder'"

• Usher
• N.E.R.D.
• Eagles Of Death Metal
• Cypress Hill
• The Vines

Jet perform in Houston, March 11, 2004
Photo: Wire Image

HOUSTON — Geographically, Jet and the Vines had to travel halfway around the world for the Aussie Invasion Tour, which kicked off Thursday at the Engine Room. In every other respect, the bands appeared to have flown in from the year 1975.

With a Pete Townshendesque windmill swing, Jet lead singer/guitarist Nic Cester initiated the first attack volley of the night with an opening amplifier crunch that led into "Cold Hard Bitch" from the group's breakthrough, Get Born. His corrugated falsetto bayed into the microphone with misplaced passion while guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson and Nic's brother Chris, the drummer, kicked out a dirty buzz of nostalgia. Ghosts of their influences — AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, even the White Stripes — lived in their fingers and throats, lashing out as if from archival concert footage.

"Get What You Need" galloped to a two-tone beat seared with Nic's nicotine-choked declaration, "Now I'm in a rockin' band/ No one has to hold my hand." The buzzing bass of "Rollover DJ" was an obvious come-on, but effective when followed by the songs mixing funky fuzz and bluesy swing. Cester undulated in front of it all like Mick Jagger on training wheels. Whether it was the Sgt. Pepper pop charm of "Look What You've Done" or the zig-zagging arena rock gestalt of "Get Me Outta Here," Jet succeeded by capitalizing on the familiar and revered.

Jet were a tough act to follow, but the promise of previewing new songs from the Vines' second album, Winning Days (due March 23), was more than enough to keep the crowd around for the band's midnight start. Much like Jet now, the Vines' punk-pop bleating was all the rage two summers ago; the Aussie Invasion Tour is the group's opportunity to show its staying power. They came out swinging.

Opening with "Evil Town" and "Ride," two blasts of sonic savagery from Winning Days, lead singer Craig Nicholls found his lyrical comfort zone in the key of wail. The rest of the band — guitarist Ryan Griffiths, bassist Patrick Matthews and drummer Hamish Rosser — have further perfected the art of raggedly harmonizing with a faux-apathy once associated with the Ramones.

It was five songs in before "Autumn Shade," from the band's first album, Highly Evolved, made an appearance. Strumming an acoustic guitar, Nicholls cleared his throat to reveal a caramel-coated tenor. The bass-loop psychedelia of "Mary Jane" further smoothed out the notes, but it was a momentary high. With a crack of feedback, Nicholls screamed "I wanna get free!" and the room exploded into the hit "Get Free," which was followed closely by the scorching apathy of a new song, "F--- the World," before a final blast of snot-pop on "Outtathaway!"

Over four hours of sonic assault later (including an opening set by Warped Tour veterans the Living End), the Aussie Invasion declared its mission accomplished.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Jet
• The Vines

Jet (file)
Photo: Candice Lawler

Animation worked so well for Jet on their first video, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl," the Australian rockers are sticking with it for "Cold Hard B****."

The song will be pushed to rock radio in the next week, and the video will go out in February. Tomorrow's Brightest Minds, who have worked with the Distillers, Bad Religion and the Datsuns, directed "Cold Hard B****," shot Tuesday and Wednesday in Australia. According to the treatment, most of the footage will be raw and grainy and filmed documentary-style to contrast with the animated fantasy sequences.

An '80s-looking Jet pinball machine will give the clip a classic vibe, and throughout the video will be edits of the bandmembers posing, laughing and playing the boisterous tune. When singer Cameron Muncey picks up a napkin stained with a lipstick print, the lips will start to mouth the lyrics to the song, according to the treatment. When Muncey walks into the men's room, a drawing on the wall of a busty woman will come to life and start to shimmy. And when he stares into the jukebox, the musicians in a photograph of a '60s girl group will sing along with the band.

Jet will be in Australia on the traveling Big Day Out festival through February 1. On February 4 they'll launch a tour of Japan and Europe that'll run through March 9 in London. This spring they'll join the Vines on a North American tour.

"Going with the Vines and hanging with a bunch of Aussies was the best offer we got," drummer Chris Cester said.

"We always go have a few drinks and catch up," added guitarist Nic Cester. "Those guys are great."

Jet and Vines tour dates, according to Capitol Records:

• 3/11 - Houston, TX @ Engine Room
• 3/12 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 3/13 - Atlanta, GA @ Roxy Theatre
• 3/15 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 3/16 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 3/17 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 3/19 - Boston, MA @ Avalon Ballroom
• 3/20 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 3/22 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
• 3/23 - Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
• 3/24 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo's
• 3/26 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
• 3/27 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 3/28 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest
• 3/30 - Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
• 3/31 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium
• 4/1 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
• 4/3 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
• 4/4 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel - The Joint
• 4/7 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
• 4/8 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
• 4/10 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
• 4/12 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
• 4/13 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
• 4/14 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

• Jet
• The Vines

The Vines (file)
Photo: Tom Sheehan

The Vines sported a blazing, bratty sound reminiscent of early Nirvana when they emerged in July 2002. But there was more to them than that. While half of their debut, Highly Evolved, channeled Kurt Cobain, the rest seemed more rooted in '60s psychedelic pop.

The Australian quartet grows even farther away from the grunge tree with its sophomore effort, Winning Days, out March 23. The group's moody new rock and pop songs jangle, buzz, snarl and grin. The first single, "Ride," which hits radio in February, bridges the Vines' debut's whirlwind fury and second album's more mature songwriting.

On it, frontman Craig Nicholls plays searing guitars and shouts like his larynx is on fire. But between the ripping riffing and megatonic solos lie spangly guitars, handclaps and a harmonized chorus.

" 'Ride' is a short, sharp song we really like," Nicholls said. "We're at our heaviest and craziest. But it's really melodic as well, which is equally important."

Whoever the Vines pick to direct the video will have a tough time following the lyrics. "It's the most abstract thing on the album and doesn't have any meaning at all," Nicholls admitted. "It's just a bunch of random images and words."

Three of the words in the song, "f--- the world," echo through the disc's final track as well as another song inventively titled "F--- the World." It's a surprising sentiment for a band whose latest record seems far more upbeat than its debut, but it's not as cut and dry as it seems. The grungiest number on the record, it addresses environmental cataclysm with more ambivalence than nihilism.

"There's a couple angles to it," Nicholls said. "It's an environmental song where I'm kind of being sarcastic in the 'f--- the world' chorus. It's really not a good idea to do that. The way people abuse the planet is bad. Then there's the other side of it, which is, 'F--- it, I don't care. I'll do what I want and we'll all go down together.' "

Whether Nicholls is pro-environment or hell-bent on destruction depends on what day it is. Sometimes he adamantly supports one side over the other; usually he's pretty indecisive.

"I definitely think the world is a good place," he said. "But maybe it would be better if people didn't hate so much and kill animals. At the same time, it's like, whatever. It's just a planet, that's all."

• The Vines

MTV2 $2Bill Concert: The Vines & Jet at the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA

• Jet
• The Vines

MTV2 Handpicked Tour Photos 11/02

• The Vines
• Seether
• The Music

• The Vines