It seems like forever (forever, ever, ever, ever) since Outkast's Andre 3000 and Big Boi signed on for the HBO film they initially dubbed "My Life in Idlewild." The flick -- a musical set in the 1930s, which is at the moment untitled -- has been filmed and sitting in the can. On Friday (September 9), the project got a shot in the arm as Universal Pictures announced that it would pick up the movie for distribution, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It's slated to be released in 2006. ...

It's been more than two years in the making, but Green Day leader Billie Joe Armstrong's big-screen debut is finally slated for release. Armstrong stars in "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!," a stop-motion animated musical inspired by the Charles Manson family murders. The "American Idiot" singer portrays a young man who adopts a book about the killings as his bible and preaches about a better world through "music, murder and mayhem." The film also features the voice of Rancid/Transplants member Tim Armstrong, as well as fellow members of Green Day, Rancid and the Transplants; actress Asia Argento; and members of the bands X, Good Charlotte, Blink-182 and AFI. The flick will be released in early 2006, according to The Hollywood Reporter. ... Benji and Joel Madden's production team, the Dead Executives, are going from recording tracks with Hilary Duff to punk band the Bottom Line. "[Our] band always comes first, though," Joel said. "Right now we're exclusively working on Good Charlotte." ...

Rapper-turned-producer Kwamé, coming off Lloyd Banks' "On Fire" and Will Smith's "Switch," is in the studio with Janet Jackson, Chingy and Christina Aguilera. "[Christina and I] just did a song called 'Understanding,' " he said. "It's very different, very avant-garde. It reminds you of old blues. It's more or less a ballad, live strings, live band." ... Cool & Dre, the Miami producers behind Terror Squad's "Lean Back" and the Game's "Hate It or Love It," are currently working on tracks with Snoop Dogg, Christina Milian, Mya, Shakira, Joe, Fabolous and Tyrese. Cool is also nearly finished with his solo album and has Hype Williams lined up to direct the first video. ...

Dashboard Confessional have booked three charity gigs, the ticket and merchandise proceeds from which will be donated to various relief organizations working to assist the thousands of people who've been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Those concerts have been scheduled for September 18 at the Phoenix in Toronto, September 19 at Chicago's House of Blues, and September 28 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. ... After finding them wandering the streets, Houston rapper Lil' Troy has taken 10 Hurricane Katrina evacuees into his home, providing them with food and clothing, according to his spokesperson. Troy has also teamed with the nonprofit Black Heritage Society in asking for people to donate clothes, canned goods, toys, books and magazines for those affected by the disaster. You can send donations to: Black Heritage Society, 2900 Woodridge, Suite 311, Houston, TX 77087, or go to blackheritagesociety.org for more information. ...

It looks like an alien pet and works like a freaky speaker. The new animatronic DJ toy from Zizzle called iZ will be unveiled at a nightclub-themed party for kids at the Toys "R" Us store in New York's Times Square on September 29, with live performances by Rihanna, Lifehouse and DJ AM. iZ users can mix and scratch their own beats, change up rhythms or use it as a dancing speaker for their iPods. ... A museum dedicated to the Ramones will open in Berlin on September 16. It will boast more than 300 original memorabilia items, collected between the band's earliest stages all the way up through the final Ramones concert nine years ago. Along with hundreds of press clippings and gig flyers, the museum features one of the first Ramones concert T-shirts, a pair of Johnny Ramone's jeans, sneakers and drumsticks used by Marky, and Joey's old stage glove. There's even a leather jacket along with the Ramones' debut on vinyl -- both signed by all four members of the groundbreaking punk act. ...

Veronica Mars is doing a crossover of sorts, with one of the bands on the show's soundtrack. The Faders, an all-girl poppy rock band that's already got a buzz in the U.K., shot the video for their single off the soundtrack, "No Sleep Tonight"; several castmembers are featured in the clip, which was shot Thursday in San Diego. In return, the band makes an appearance on the fifth episode of the series' new season, which shoots Friday, to air October 26. Also on the soundtrack, due September 27, are the Dandy Warhols, Spoon, Tegan and Sara, Mike Doughty, Stereophonics and Ivy. Season two of the UPN show premieres September 28 at 9 p.m. ET. ...

09.08.2005

Along with co-hosting Wednesday's 2005 Lady of Soul Awards in Pasadena, California, Ciara also took home two awards, tying no-shows Mariah Carey and Destiny's Child. Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott were also not present to collect their trophies or watch Aretha Franklin perform after accepting the Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievements. The show will be syndicated for broadcast later this month. ...

The Game just shot a video in Los Angeles for the final single from The Documentary, "Put You on the Game." Timbaland, who produced the track, guests in the clip. "All we needed was me and Timbaland, a couple ladies and some nice cars," the rapper said of the video. ... At Switchfoot's free concert Saturday at the Santa Monica Pier, the San Diego rockers' nonprofit organization, Lowercase People, will be collecting donations on behalf of the Salvation Army to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Switchfoot kick off their fall tour October 17 in Ventura, California. ... Cedric the Entertainer has been tapped to host the 33rd annual American Music Awards on November 22 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The show will air live at 8 p.m. on ABC on the East Coast, and delayed on the West Coast.

You might think Wind-Up Records isn't too happy about its business arrangement with Creed, since the label filed a lawsuit against former Creed members Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips and Scott Stapp seeking "discharge of any liability to pay them royalties." But Wind-Up says the suit isn't representative of any animosity, but rather seeks clarification for just how and to whom those royalties should be paid. The label said it received "inconsistent directives from certain members of Creed," and to avoid making any improper payments, Wind-Up filed what's known as an "interpleader action," which gets the court to determine to whom payments should go. ... Depeche Mode have announced a North American arena tour kicking off November 2 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and running through December 9 in Washington, D.C., in support of their album Playing the Angel, due October 18. The Bravery and the Raveonettes will alternate opening duties. ...

Prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria have rolled out a bunch of fresh tour dates for their upcoming trek with the Blood Brothers, Dredg and MeWithoutYou. The itinerary includes stops between October 17 and November 12 in cities such as Las Vegas, Dallas and Washington, D.C., as well as two shows at the new Nokia Live Theatre in New York's Times Square on November 16 and 17. ... Shortlist Prize winners TV on the Radio have released a new song on their record label's Web site (www.TGRec.com) called "Dry Drunk Emperor." "Did you buy the bull they sold you?/ That the bullets and the bombs and all the strong arms/ Would bring home security?" vocalist Tunde Adebimpe sings on the track. TVOTR are currently working on the follow-up to their album Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes. ...

Playing among pop royalty such as Destiny's Child and Gwen Stefani, indie-rockers the Arcade Fire might appear like the anomaly of Thursday's (September 8) Fashion Rocks event in New York, but musical patron David Bowie would like to think otherwise. Bowie will perform with the Arcade Fire during their performance of "Wake Up," and the band will return the favor backing him on a cover of his classic "Five Years." Speaking of the track "Wake Up," U2 have been playing the song for months now to announce their entrance to the stage, and now the Arcade Fire have been handpicked to open for the Irish rockers for three dates in Canada, including two in their hometown of Montreal. ...

New Jersey's Senses Fail have given guitarist Dave Miller the old heave ho, replacing him with Midtown's Heath Saraceno -- but just for the band's upcoming fall tour with Saves the Day. According to the group's Web site, "It was all done on good terms, and we wish Dave the best with whatever he does." The note also said a new album is in the works. ... Guitar virtuoso and human enigma Buckethead has signed a deal with Serjical Strike Records, System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's label. The first release produced as part of this new partnership will emerge October 25 in the form of Enter the Chicken. Tankian and Death by Stereo's Efrem Schulz are among those who'll lend their pipes to the effort, because, well, Buckethead don't sing. ...