Justin Timberlake is preparing to sue the British tabloid News of the World over claims that he cheated on girlfriend Cameron Diaz with model Lucy Clarkson. Timberlake's attorney characterizes the story as bogus, and is drafting letters to the tabloid asking for a retraction, an apology and a financial settlement, otherwise they'll sue. ... Paris Hilton and Backstreet Boy Nick Carter called it quits on Thursday, according to the hotel heiress' rep. "This is the time of my life," Carter told People magazine. "I'm back in the studio ready to go on tour with the guys. I want to be free to date other people and I got tired of all the rumors [of trouble with the relationship]." ...

DMX's court appearance scheduled for Friday (July 23), where he was to face drug and weapons charges stemming from an incident last month at New York's JFK Airport, was adjourned to September 21. The rapper faces up to seven years in jail if convicted in Queens County criminal court. ... "Russell Simmons Presents: Hip-Hop Justice," a one-hour documentary that explores the link between the law and hip-hop artists, will air on Court TV October 6. Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, will look into cases involving C-Murder, Tupac Shakur and Irv Gotti's the Inc. Records. ...

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne took a day off from Ozzfest to visit wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers, airmen and Marines in the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. In addition to listening to stories of war and recovery from 30 service members, Ozzy gave autographs to the troops, one of whom said he would get his made into a tattoo. ... Meanwhile, Sharon and Ozzy's spawn Jack was at Thursday night's Axe Touch Dark Party in New York. Between chilling with Cameron Douglas and hanging with various Penthouse Pets, Jack took a turn DJing, much to the delight of fellow partygoers Mekhi Phifer, Mila Kunis and "TRL" host Hilarie Burton. ...

While many artists dabble in writing political lyrics, Everclear frontman Art Alexakis is about to show and prove that he's the real deal when it comes to politics. As the elected delegate for the third congressional district of Oregon, Alexakis will represent at the Democratic National Convention in Boston on Monday. ... Rob Zombie will produce an animated film based on "El Superbeasto," the comic he created for Spookshow International. Zombie will write the story and will executive produce the film, which is based on the crime-fighting adventures of a washed-up wrestler. In addition, Zombie will appear at the Comi-Con comic convention on Saturday in San Diego, along with his wife, Sheri Moon, and others involved in his "House of 1000 Corpses" sequel, "The Devil's Rejects," including Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Leslie Easterbrook and Wayne Toth. ...

Alicia Keys wants to publish her diary, but a legal snafu may hold up the book from being published. Her now-former literary agent Noah Lukeman sold the book to Bantam Dell for more than $1 million, but then another agent, David Vigliano, started shopping the project around as if it were new. He then sold the project to Putnam Books for a million-dollar, multiple-book deal, in which they would also publish a book of poems by the singer. Lukeman is now suing Keys for breach of contract. ... Did Lil' Romeo play fair on Game Time? The young rapper is being sued in Federal Court in Houston by a writer claiming to have penned six songs on Romeo's second album without receiving credit or pay. ...

Who do Voodoo? This year it will be the Beastie Boys, Velvet Revolver, the Pixies, Green Day and the Killers, among many others, performing at the sixth annual Voodoo Music Experience Festival, set for October 16 and 17 in New Orleans. ... Grammy winner Warren Zevon, who passed away in September, is being honored with a tribute album featuring such artists as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, the Pixies and even Adam Sandler, who will be covering one of Zevon's best-known songs, "Werewolves of London." The LP, produced by Jorge Calderone, is slated to be released this fall. ...

The Donnas are taking a break from working on their new album to rock out at the Sunset Junction Street Fair in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, on August 21 and 22. Other performers include L.A. punk legends X, Ben Kweller, Ima Robot and Camper Van Beethoven. The event will raise money for local youth programs. ... Coldplay, the Shins, Iron and Wine and Simon and Garfunkel have contributed to the soundtrack to "Garden State," the film by "Scrubs" star Zach Braff. The soundtrack is available August 10 on Epic Records. The film opens July 28. ...

The Soundtrack of Our Lives are going back to the beginning for their fourth album. Origins, the follow-up to 2002's Behind the Music, is scheduled for a February release. A U.S. tour is expected to begin early next year. ... This year's Locobazooka! festival will include performances by Helmet, Clutch and Kittie. The event will take place September 25 and 26 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, at the Municipal Airport. Last year's concert featured Staind, Shinedown and Powerman 5000, among others. ...

07.22.04

Xzibit has signed on to play an arms dealer in Ice Cube's new flick "XXX: The State of the Union." On the music front, X has finished his next solo album, Weapons of Mass Destruction, which will be released in October. ...

Lindsay Lohan has been dating Wilmer Valderrama ("That '70s Show") for a while now, but she wasn't public about it until her birthday party earlier this month, when she turned 18. The actress told People magazine that Valderrama made the first move. "A girl should never do that," she said. "He's a great guy. Seriously, I think he's one of the best guys any girl could be with. He's really sweet." ... While Shar Jackson was giving birth on Tuesday, her son's soon-to-be-stepmom, Britney Spears, was spotted purchasing flowers while barefoot in Los Angeles. Her fiancé, Kevin Federline, was not present for the birth, but visited the hospital afterward. ...

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor didn't have the time to write music for the video game "Doom 3," so Id Software did the next best thing -- it recruited former NIN drummer Chris Vrenna to take the reins for the game's theme song. "Doom 3" is scheduled for release August 3. ... The Ice Cream line of sneakers that Pharrell Williams is developing for RBK is ready to roll. The shoes are due to hit retail stores in mid-September. ...

Modest Mouse have added 11 dates to their North American tour in July and August, including dates in Toronto, Boston, New York, Cleveland and Denver. The Walkmen will open most dates on the trek. ... Hip-hop's straight-up menace is finally putting out his next album. MC Eiht has signed on with Native Records to release Veterans Day this fall. ...

Heavy metal forefathers Judas Priest will drop their first album in 14 years with singer Rob Halford on board on December 28. The as-yet-untitled album marks the band's 30th anniversary. A world tour will follow the release. ... Rock and Rock Hall of Famers David Crosby and Graham Nash, whose musical collaboration began 35 years ago (ask your parents about it), have entered the presidential race as "Joint Presidents" on the "Party Party" ticket. The two will campaign for their cause (which includes the platform promise of free money) when not touring this summer with Crosby, Stills & Nash. ...

Having returned from her European travels, Grammy-hoarding pianist/singer Norah Jones has altered the itinerary for her upcoming North American tour. With diminishing ticket sales affecting numerous summer tours, Jones seems to be following the trend, with several venues downsized from amphitheaters to smaller theaters. ... Saves the Day will release an album of odds and ends called Ups and Downs: Early Recordings and B-Sides on August 24. The 19-track disc will include "Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off to Heaven," "The Art of Misplacing Firearms" and live and studio versions of "Jessie & My Whetstone." ...

Andy Dick disclosed during Howard Stern's show on Monday that he's dating one of the female contestants from "The Assistant." His publicist confirmed the news and said that the couple started going out after the show wrapped. On the show, Dick is picking from a dozen people who want to make it in the entertainment industry, with the winner getting a new wardrobe, new car and an entry-level job. ... Backstreet's back -- to tour China. The Backstreet Boys are heading to Asia in September, according to the company promoting the tour. It's one of a number of Chinese events being pushed by Emma Entertainment, which is also backing a Sunday Whitney Houston concert in Beijing as well as the September China Tennis Open. ...

Playwright Josh Frank's proposed upcoming biography on the Pixies, "Fool the World: An Oral History of the Pixies," has been sold to St. Martins Press. It's slated for release in 2005. ... The Bonnaroo festival, known for its eclectic mix of music, is giving fans the opportunity to download EPs from many of the artists who performed there last month, including Kings of Leon, the Dave Matthews Band, Primus and My Morning Jacket. Now you can enjoy all the rock-show sounds, at Livebonnaroo.com, without having to sleep in the dirt next to old hippies only there for the Dead. ... Heart have released their latest album, Jupiters Darling, simultaneously through retail and file-sharing services -- the first rock band to do so. The Distributed Computing Industry Association said that the album is being sold via the secure Weed format, which is distributed through peer-to-peer software programs such as Kazaa and Grokster. ...