Coldplay will be among the performers for the 45th annual Grammy Awards on February 23 in New York, according to the band's label. The British quartet is competing for Best Alternative Album, for A Rush of Blood to the Head, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal, for "In My Place." ...

Nappy Roots and their label Atlantic Records are being sued by Willie Woods, who claims he wasn't compensated for composing and performing music for the Grammy-nominated "Po' Folks," off the Kentucky rappers' Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz. The St. Louis musician is seeking copyright ownership and damages. ...

Beth Orton is scheduled to bewitch the girls of "Charmed." The singer will perform her new single, "Thinking About Tomorrow," on an episode set to air February 9 at 8 p.m. on the WB. ...

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis took his first steps as a label mogul by signing Lo-Pro to the new, as-yet-unnamed imprint he founded with Geffen president Jordan Schur. Lo-Pro, currently recording their debut album in L.A. with producer Don Gilmore, are composed of former Ultraspank members Pete Murray (vocals) and Neil Godfrey (guitar), departed Godsmack drummer Tommy Stewart, and guitarist Pete Ricci. ... Stereomud will drop their second album, Every Given Moment, March 11, four shows into this year's Jagermeister Tour, on which the quintet will share a stage with Saliva and Hed (Planet Earth). The album follows Stereomud's 2001 debut, Perfect Self. ...

David Bowie's classic concert film "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - The Motion Picture" will be released on DVD on April 1, along with the double-disc soundtrack. The features on the DVD include commentary from director D.A. Pennebaker and DVD-Rom extras, such as a screen saver, desktop patterns and icons. ... George Harrison Tribute: Songs From the Material World, featuring covers of the late guitarist's Beatles and solo material by the Kinks' Dave Davies ("Give Me Love [Give Me Peace on Earth]"), late Who bassist John Entwistle ("Here Comes the Sun"), ex-MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer ("It's All Too Much") and They Might Be Giants ("Savoy Truffle"), is set for release February 25, which would have been Harrison's 60th birthday. ...

01.23.03

The NBA's All-Star weekend (February 6-9) always packs its share of ballers, and this year's no different, with Nelly, Ja Rule, Jermaine Dupri, the Clipse, Nappy Roots, and B2K among the artists playing the Club NBA music stage. They join Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, who'll perform at the televised "Read to Achieve" charity event on February 8, as artists heading to Atlanta for the gala weekend. ...

As the Super Bowl approaches, even more performers are being added to an already-crowded entertainment lineup. Sting is the latest addition to the halftime-show bill, joining the previously announced No Doubt and Shania Twain. Other performers throughout the show include the Dixie Chicks, Bon Jovi, Santana, Michelle Branch, Beyoncé Knowles, Styx, Celine Dion and Bonnie Raitt. ... Electronic music guru BT is producing a couple of tracks for Sting's upcoming album. "They're letting me do some very punk rock stuff that I didn't know if they were going to go for," BT said recently. "I've done some really crazy vocal treatments and stuff. It's like, 'Wow, Sting is now in a blender.' [There are] chunky breaks with Detroit techno sounds and then like Latin guitar and percussion." ...

Foo Fighters and Transplants are teaming up for a couple of shows at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheater on April 17 and 18. The concert marks the Transplants' first live show since releasing their self-titled debut in October. ... Blink-182 are preparing to enter a rented house in San Diego to record their next album with longtime producer Jerry Finn (Green Day, Sum 41). A camera will record the action, and fans can watch on the band's Web site. ... Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ozomatli, Chuck D & the Fine Arts Militia, and poet Saul Williams will perform a sold-out concert January 31 Berkeley, California, to benefit the anti-war organization Not in Our Name. ...

Marilyn Manson has finished mixing the final track for his upcoming album, The Golden Age of Grotesque, he wrote on his official Web site. He also revealed that the artwork for the disc is also complete, but he remains cryptic about everything else. "I have put the dirt back in my mouth and drank from the dead, regardless of what these powdered wig witch doctors prescribed," he wrote. "We will not be censored." ... Ben Falgoust, vocalist for the New Orleans extreme metal bands Soilent Green and Goatwhore, has nearly fully recovered from serious injuries he and Soilent Green bassist Jon Modell sustained in a van accident while on tour with Gwar last year. Soilent Green are writing the follow-up to A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down, while Goatwhore, whose second album will be released next month, will tour throughout March, sharing stages with the likes of Hate Eternal, Dying Fetus and Anal Blast. ...

Tool drummer Danny Carey won't just spin on his drum stool while Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan finishes up work on the second record by his other band, A Perfect Circle. Instead, he's formed a side project with King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew and ex-Primus bassist Les Claypool. The trio's first recording session was January 19, but as yet there are no concrete album plans. ...