Lance Bass arrived in Moscow last week to complete his physical examinations to qualify for a seat on a Russian rocket mission this fall. He's scheduled for a centrifuge test on Thursday (May 23) and a pressurized chamber test next Tuesday. The deadline for the Russian Space Agency to pick their candidate is May 30. ... One of the candidates vying against the 'NSYNC singer has dropped out of the race, leaving Bass and former NASA official Lori Garver in the lead, should the Russian Space Agency elect to send a space tourist instead of an additional cosmonaut. Polish banking magnate Leszek Czarnecki, who would have paid for the $20 million rocket ride out of his own pocket, didn't complete his physical examinations in time to make the cut for the trip and hopes to go next year instead. ...

Madonna is collaborating with French composer Michel Colombier (Serge Gainsbourg, Zero 7) on "Can't You See My Mind," the title song to the upcoming James Bond movie, "Die Another Day." Colombier, who first worked with Mrs. Ritchie on "Don't Tell Me," is also scoring Madonna's upcoming film, "Swept Away," and working with the singer on her next album. ... 3LW just finished up production of their video for "I Do" in L.A. The song, which was co-produced by P. Diddy and Mario Winans and features Loon, is the first single off of their second album, A Girl Can Mack, due in September. ... The hair-metal resurrection continues as Dokken, Ratt, Warrant, L.A. Guns and Firehouse unite to embark on the month-long Rock Fest tour, which kicks off June 20 in Fargo, North Dakota. ...

Though C-Murder's next scheduled motion hearing date in his second-degree murder trial was to be May 22, Judge Martha Sassone granted a continuance until June 3. The Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, district attorney's office has until then to comply with a court deadline to provide witness information to the defense; a trial date has not yet been set. ... While emos like Saves the Day and Dashboard Confessional may threaten to put old-school singer/songwriters out to pasture, emus put a temporary thorn in the side for Tom Waits during the filming of his "God's Away on Business" video. The gruff artist was supposed to perform alongside three emus, but the night before the shoot, the birds were eaten by wild coyotes, causing director Jesse Dylan to delay the shoot while he searched for suitable replacements. ...

Ice Cube is in negotiations to rewrite and executive produce the MGM comedy "Race" about a cab driver who becomes the only black man participating in the NASCAR circuit. Cube, who will not act in the film, is expected to executive produce the soundtrack. ... The Sun Ra Arkestra, the band that backed legendary avant-garde jazz artist Sun Ra, marked what would have been the late jazz great's 88th birthday with a concert at Joe's Pub in New York on Wednesday night. Sun Ra, born Herman Sonny Blount, passed away in 1993. ... Surviving Morphine members Dana Colley and Billy Conway are two-thirds of the Twinemen, the first original project since the death of their old singer Mark Sandman in 1991. The band, rounded out by Laurie Sargent, a former member of the nine-piece tribute Orchestra Morphine, will release their self-titled debut July 9. ...

05.22.02

Jennifer Lopez got nothing but J. Love Tuesday night as Foxy Brown, Kelis, the Cash Money Millionaires, Angela Bassett, Ananda Lewis and Tyson Beckford all hit the New York City premiere of her new movie, "Enough," at the Sony Theater in Lincoln Center. Post-flick, everyone headed to the Roseland Ballroom to celebrate at the afterparty. ... Ricky Martin will follow up 2000's Sound Loaded with two albums, one in English and one in Spanish. The Latin pop star, who was recently added to Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee concert June 3, is recording the new material now, which is expected to be released in the fall. ...

Busta Rhymes celebrated his birthday Tuesday by going on New York radio station Hot 97 and announcing that he will be a part of Summer Jam, the station's biggest event of the year. Later he hit the Circa Tabac tobacco lounge in Soho, where Tweet and Cormega were also present. ... Havoc from Mobb Deep also turned another year older on Tuesday, which would have marked the 30th birthday of Notorious B.I.G. ... Volume six of the Plastic electronic music compilation series is due July 23 and will feature new remixes of Fatboy Slim's "Drop the Hate," Felix Da Housecat's "What Does It Feel Like?" and the Chemical Brothers' "Star Guitar." Area2 artist DJ Tiesto's "In My Memory" is also included. ...

Ice Cube, the Cash Money Millionaires, Timbaland and Lil' Jon appear on Mack 10's new release, Mack 10 Presents Da Hood, due July 23 on his own Hoo Bangin Records. The first single, "LA Fo Ya," features the album's central vocalists, K-Mac, Deviossi, Skoop, Cousteau and Techniec. ... Bleak electronic/industrial pioneers Skinny Puppy have reformed after six years apart. While vocalist Nivek Ogre was already playing with Puppy programmer Cevin Key in the less death-obsessed Ohgr, the two have reunited with longtime producer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie to work on new Puppy treats and plan to release Ohgr's second album this winter. ... A U.K. pathologist investigating the death of EMF's Zac Foley attributed his demise to a lethal combination of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, barbiturates and alcohol. The bassist was found dead January 2 in Camden, England. ...

Machine Head guitarist Ahrue Luster left the band on the eve of their upcoming European tour. ... Nile have completed In Their Darkened Shrines, which hits on August 20. The band will hit the road with Arch Enemy, Hate Eternal and Origin starting July 6 in Atlanta. ... Bouncing back from a missed tour with now-broken-up Godflesh, High on Fire are going out on their own in support of their new album, Surrounded By Thieves. The tour starts June 6 and features Mastodon as the opener. ... Warhammer's new album, Curse of the Absolute Eclipse, arrives on July 9. ... Christian noisecore group ZAO plan to break up after embarking on a farewell tour this summer. ...