01.16.02

Jay-Z and P. Diddy were among the luminaries in the audience for a press screening of the Roc-A-Fella movie "State Property," starring Beanie Sigel, Tuesday night at a theater in Times Square. Police were on the scene to alleviate crowding in the overpacked house. ... That same night, Brandy unveiled her new album, Full Moon, during a listening party at Man Ray in Manhattan's Chelsea district. The LP is due March 5. ... Michelle Branch will embark on a month-long club tour, her first as a headliner, to promote last fall's The Spirit Room beginning February 6 in San Francisco. The 18-year-old singer will perform her latest single, "All You Wanted," on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Friday. ... Soul songstress Jill Scott visited "Sesame Street" recently to help the children's television show kick off its 33rd season. Scott can be seen surrounded by Muppets while singing a new version of "We Are All Earthlings" on the episode, which debuts on February 4 on PBS. ... Pitchshifter are in the Machine Shop studio in Hoboken, New Jersey, working on their yet-untitled follow-up to 2000's Deviant, which is scheduled for release April 23. The industrial metal act is working with producer Machine, who produced its 1998 record, www.pitchshifter.com. ...

New and unreleased tracks from Coldplay, New Order, Starsailor and 15 other British artists are available on a new CD put together by Club Bang, a British music nightclub in Hollywood. Rarities Volume 1, which includes a live version of Coldplay's "Trouble," is available at the club or through First Floor Radio Promotions. ... Smash Mouth filmed a video Wednesday for "Holiday in My Head," the second single from their self-titled third album. The song will also serve as the lead single from the soundtrack to "Clockstoppers," a sci-fi thriller starring Jesse Bradford ("Set It Off"). ... Dave Matthews Band, Bilal and City High will be featured in a series of concert specials presented by Music Choice throughout January and February. The hour-long programs will air free of charge on cable systems across the U.S. ... Girls Against Boys are set to release their sixth, still-untitled LP on May 14 through Jade Tree Records. The band, whose last album was 1998's Freak*on*ica, will kick off a two-week tour on March 10 in Bowling Green, Ohio. ... Chuck D is on the same lineup as Microsoft honcho Bill Gates — both are scheduled to take part in the Blacks in Technology Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center from February 2-3. The symposium series, which aims to stimulate networking and technological awareness in the African-American community, has separate events planned in Atlanta, Chicago and New York, and organizers are working out details with Prince, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones to attend.

For The Record, 01.15.02

Blink-182 and Green Day will team up for a co-headlining North American tour slated to kick off in mid-April and run through June, according to spokespeople for both bands. An itinerary for the nine-week trek has yet to be determined. ... Lenny Kravitz — or an animated approximation thereof — will appear on an upcoming episode of "The Simpsons." ... Jon Stewart will host the Grammy Awards for the second consecutive year. The 44th annual ceremony will take place at L.A.'s Staples Center on February 27. ... Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys DJ Mix Master Mike, Rahzel of the Roots and producer/performer BT are among the artists who will appear on the soundtrack to SSX Tricky, the sequel to the PlayStation 2 snowboarding game SSX. Due February 12, the record showcases electronic music and an unreleased remix of Run-D.M.C.'s "It's Tricky." ... India.Arie will tape an appearance for an upcoming episode of the PBS educational series "Between the Lions" on January 18. Brian McKnight is scheduled to film a role of his own the following week. ... Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh and ex-Mighty Mighty Bosstones guitarist Nate Albert have teamed up in the Brakes, a quartet with Johnny Rio and Bosstones drummer Joe Sirois. Their album, Osaka, is due out April 23 on Fenway Recordings. ...

Machine Head recorded a recent performance at London's Brixton Academy for a live album to be released later this year. The metal veterans will launch the Supercharging America Tour in support of last year's Supercharger on January 20 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with openers Darwin's Waiting Room and 3rd Strike. ... Speaking of Heads, Anthony Stewart Head, who plays Giles on TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," will release an album of downtempo electronica and soulful folk with composer George Sarah on February 5. Music for Elevators also features backing vocals by Amber Benson, who plays Tara on the series, and a song written by the show's head writer, Joss Whedon. ... Ryan Adams duets with his former Whiskeytown bandmate Caitlin Cary on a limited edition bonus disc to be included on her solo album, While You Weren't Looking. The LP is due March 26 on Yep Roc Records. ... Cake have lined up 12 winter dates in support of last year's Comfort Eagle. Their outing begins January 29 in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Ex-Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg will release his fourth full-length solo album, Stereo/Mono, on April 23. The LP is his first for Vagrant Records. ...

German DJ Timo Maas will release his debut studio album, Loud, in May. Maas will promote the record, which includes guest vocals by Kelis and Finley Quaye, with an appearance at the Winter Music Conference in March and a U.S. tour in May. ... "Cradle of Love," "Rebel Yell" and "Mony Mony" are among the 14 songs exposed on Billy Idol's VH1 Storytellers album, due February 26. After a year of touring behind a greatest-hits record, Idol will spend 2002 working on a new LP. ... Abandoned Pools, a.k.a. former Eels multi-instrumentalist Tommy Walter, will release "The Remedy" as the second single from his debut, Humanistic. The song will hit radio and video outlets on January 29. ... Southern California punks Unwritten Law will release their fourth album, Elva, on January 29. The record's first single, "Seein' Red," is in rotation on KROQ in Los Angeles. ... Sting has been named a presenter at the 59th annual Golden Globe Awards, which will be broadcast live on NBC on January 20 at 8 p.m. ET. Sting's "Until ... " from "Kate & Leopold," is nominated for Best Original Song From a Motion Picture, along with songs by Enya and Paul McCartney. ...

Indigo Girls will promote their eighth studio album, Become You, with a 16-date acoustic club tour set to kick off February 11 in Boulder, Colorado. Become You is due March 12 and its first single, "Moment of Forgiveness," will hit radio next month. ... Pete Yorn and Mix Master Mike will perform at E! Network's Sizzlin' 16 2002 bash at Club A.D. in Hollywood on January 30. "Alias" star Jennifer Garner and "Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones" star Hayden Christensen are among the young stars who will be honored.