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." ...