First-time voters are up for grabs in the upcoming presidential election, according to a poll conducted by Pace University on behalf of Rock the Vote. The poll reveals that 33 percent of those who have registered to vote since the 2000 election consider themselves Republicans while 35 percent consider themselves Democrats. Half of these new voters say that they would vote for John Kerry, while 40 percent say they would vote for George W. Bush. ...

Missy Elliott lent a hand to Christina Aguilera as she recorded her remake of yet another disco classic, Rose Royce's "Car Wash," for the upcoming movie "Shark Tale," which hits theaters October 1. The dynamic duo's joint is joined by tracks from Ziggy Marley and Sean Paul; Mary J. Blige, and Will Smith. The soundtrack is due September 27. ...

U2 may consider rush-releasing their upcoming album, tentatively titled Vertigo, on Apple iTunes. In an interview with the U.K.'s The Daily Telegraph, Bono said that if the music stolen recently during a photo shoot appears on the Internet, they would "release it immediately as a legal download on iTunes, and get hard copies into the shops by the end of the month." The album was otherwise slated for a fall release. U2's label, Interscope, did not have a comment at press time. ... One of LL Cool J's trademarks is his affinity for hats, so it's only right that after 20 years in the game he now gets to design his own. New Era has announced that Cool J has just signed on for its 59Fiftyat50 celebrity campaign, where such artists as Spike Lee, Cam'ron and Fabolous get to conceptualize their own fitted ball caps. MTV's La La and DJ Green Lantern will also design hats for the company. ...

Dame Dash has the money, now he's got the time, too. The Roc-A-Fella boss is launching a collection of luxury watches called Tiret New York. Prices for the bejeweled timepieces will range from $18,000 to $175,000. ... Dry your eyes, Phishheads. Your hearts may be broken at the news of Phish's retirement and you may not be able to make their final shows in Vermont, but there's still hope. The Coventry festival, August 14-15, can be heard live on XM Satellite radio and seen in select Regal, Edwards and United Artists movie theaters. ...

In an encore of his Winter Music Conference performance in Miami this past March, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will reteam with dance DJs Erick Morillo and Steve Lawler for a one-off show in Pacha, Ibiza, off the coast of Spain on August 9. "The show we did together in Miami at the Winter Music Conference was absolutely jaw-dropping," Morillo said. "I am sure this will be another one for the record books." ... The legacy of the Ramones lives on forever in the new documentary "End of the Century." Following its premiere at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in May, the film will screen at a half dozen theaters, including New York's Angelika Film Center and the Landmark Theatres in Berkeley, California; San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, in August and September, before showing in an expected 22 cities in October. For dates and locations visit the band's official site, www.ramones.com. ...

Guitarist Scott Ian said on his Web site that Anthrax's upcoming greatest-hits album is scheduled for release November 23. Anthrax fans chose which tracks would be re-recorded for the album. Favorites including "Among the Living," "Caught in a Mosh" and "Belly of the Beast" are expected to make the final cut. ... Ministry's Evil Doer North America Tour will kick off in Las Vegas on September 7. The band will be joined on the road by guests My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. There will be more featured guest artists announced throughout the tour and more dates added weekly. The tour will run through November 22. ...

All City, the second album from female rap trio Northern State, is slated to drop August 17. For the follow-up to 2002's Dying in Stereo, the New York group collaborated with hip-hop heavy-hitters the High & Mighty and the tightie-whitie-wearing Har Mar Superstar. The album will be prefaced by the first single, "Girl for All Seasons." ... Erudite singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen will release his eleventh studio album, Dear Heather, on September 28. His first album of new material since 2001's Ten New Songs includes 12 new compositions and one live track, a cover of the country-western standard "Tennessee Waltz." ...

7.23.2004

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. ...