Gwen Stefani will open the American Music Awards on November 14 with a performance of her debut solo single, "What You Waiting For?" ...

Dorian Moore, the producer of Nelly's "Tilt Ya Head Back," told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the song was originally meant to be a duet for Nelly and Britney Spears, but that Jive, Spears' label, pulled out because the song sounded too "urban." Moore said that Christina Aguilera and Janet Jackson were considered next before Aguilera eventually landed the song. ... Britney Spears' mother wrote in to the singer's Web site about how surprised she was at her daughter's recent last-minute wedding. "I know I've said we've had a whirlwind week before, but this one took the cake!" she wrote. "We were ALL surprised. And that's really saying something because it is very unlike Britney to be able to keep a secret." After some shock and some lingering thoughts about the other plans that had been made, Lynne Spears said that "there were happy tears." "The kind of wedding Britney had -- small and intimate, with a grand celebration in the works for later -- was always my dream and I couldn't have been happier," she added. "On top of it all, Britney and Kevin have a brand new beautiful home which they are going to be moving into ... it reminds us of the kind of landscaping you would find in rural Mississippi -- with the creek, trees and overgrown greenery. Getting their home in order will be Britney's next project." ...

Louisiana state judge Alan Green was indicted last week on corruption charges after a lengthy investigation of the Jefferson Parish courthouse in which authorities say he took more than $20,000 in bribes. Green was the judge presiding over the murder trial of rapper C-Murder, who is currently facing a mandatory life sentence for the crime. ... Fantasia will portray her idol, Aretha Franklin, on an upcoming episode of "American Dreams." Meanwhile, the "American Idol" winner is working with Missy Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, the Underdogs and Rodney Jerkins on her debut album, due November 23. ... Jerkins is also producing tracks for Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks and his wife, Joy Enriquez. The Orlando, Florida-based producer is recording his own instrumental album, Versatility, due early next year. ...

The three-CD/DVD Nirvana box set will hit stores on November 23, the band's label, Geffen, confirmed Monday (October 4). ... The Pixies have added two New York shows to wrap up their North American fall reunion tour, both on December 18 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Mike Watt and the Secondmen will open the 7 p.m. show and 50 Foot Wave will open the midnight show. ... Two albums for the price of one, a sneak preview of another LP and previously unreleased songs -- Cormega is offering it all on October 19. Mega's albums The Realness and The True Meaning are being re-released as a two-for-one special-edition CD. Included as a bonus on the set are the records "Squad Up" and "How We Ride," which features Tupac Shakur. Mega will also be giving fans a sample of his previously unreleased Testament LP, which was recorded several years ago and will finally hit stores on February 22. ...

Mandy Moore is now a brand -- the singer has launched a line of vintage contemporary tees called Mblem, featuring classic lyrics like Blondie's "Gonna getcha, getcha, getcha," as well as nostalgic family photos. "I'm a real jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl," Moore said in a statement. "I'm constantly searching for the perfect T-shirt, so I figured I'd just create my own." ... Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children -- which took place Saturday in Las Vegas and featured performances by John Mayer, Josh Groban, India.Arie and Faith Hill -- ended up raising more than $6 million for charity. "It is gratifying to know that the money we raised tonight will directly benefit children who require our immediate assistance," the tennis star said in a statement. The money raised benefits the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, a not-for-profit organization assisting at-risk youth in Vegas. ...

Charlie Watts, drummer for the Rolling Stones, has won his battle with throat cancer and will be able to join his bandmates for a new world tour, according to CNN. After a four-month struggle with the disease, which included six weeks of radiotherapy treatment at a London hospital, the 63-year-old Watts has reportedly been given a clean bill of health. ... The Rolling Stones are documenting their 2002-2003 world tour with a two-CD live set. "Live Licks," out November 2, features guest appearances from Sheryl Crow on "Honky Tonk Women" and Solomon Burke on "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," as well as 11 tracks never before released on a Stones live disc, including "Neighbours," "Monkey Man" and "Rocks Off." ...

Tom Waits will only play one show in the U.S. this year: October 18 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. The gravelly voiced singer's 20th album, Real Gone, which features Marc Ribot on guitar and Brian "Brain" Mantia on drums, is due out Tuesday. Waits is considering a U.S. tour next year. ... Banyan, Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins' side project, will release Live at Perkins Palace on October 12. Former Minutemen/ Firehose bassist Mike Watt, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and former Death Row Records session musician Willie Waldman join Perkins on the album. ...

10.01.2004

Justin Timberlake already has one movie in the can -- the film "Edison," which still hasn't found a distributor -- and he's already on to a new role, in a picture that might make it into theaters first. Timberlake is just about to sign on for a role in the movie "Alpha Dog," according to The Hollywood Reporter. It's a supporting part, the best friend of a real-life character called Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever to wind up on the FBI's most-wanted list. Also attached to the project are Emile Hirsch and Sharon Stone. The film will start shooting on October 25. ...

Britney Spears' wedding invitations are going for big bucks on eBay. The original invites for the October 16 wedding date, of which there are 100 total, feature hand-beaded lace and crystals and are worth approximately $300 each, but some are going for as high as $4,000 on the auction site. ... Coldplay's Chris Martin has been given a warning by police in England for attacking a photographer who was trying to take a picture of him and Gwyneth Paltrow. The incident, which left the freelance photographer with minor cuts and scratches, occurred in April as the couple were leaving a London restaurant. ...

Good Charlotte are planning to take over a block in New York for the release of their new album, The Chronicles of Life and Death. On the day of release, on Tuesday, the band will perform outside the Tower Records in New York's Greenwich Village, and will also sign CDs. ... Guns N' Roses may have found a replacement for departed guitarist Buckethead, who left Axl Rose's band in March. According to a post on the official site of the New York band Bumblefoot (www.bumblefoot.com), their guitarist Ron Thal says he was invited to join GN'R's tumultuous ranks, though he's yet to make a decision. ...

Courtney Love has more legal troubles — she's being sued by a travel agency that claims she owes them nearly $50,000 for airline tickets. The lawsuit claims Love asked the company to book tickets for herself, her family, agents and staff last year, but later withdrew authorization to her credit card and sent checks — one from a closed bank account and one that bounced. New Act Travel is seeking money for the tickets as well as service and bank charges, damages and court fees. ... G-Unit, DJ Clue, Dead Prez, the Sugarhill Gang, DJ Whoo Kid and others are set to perform on Comedy Channel's "The Block Party." The hip-hop and comedy concert, which will promote the importance of the youth vote along with Rap the Vote and Rock the Vote, will take place October 15 at New York's Beacon Theater at 8 p.m. ET. ...

John Kerry will be featured on a prime-time special on BET next week. The Democratic presidential candidate's interview will air on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. ... Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder and other artists on the Vote for Change Tour -- which kicks off Friday (October 1) in Pennsylvania -- have released a series of video statements explaining why they have joined the tour and why they feel the need to speak out against the current administration. "They went out of their way, I believe, to lie to the American people about Iraq and made us feel unsafe and that we had to do this when we really didn't," Vedder said. "There was no imminent danger. Saddam Hussein didn't have anything to do with 9-11." Springsteen said, "If you mislead the country ... you lose your job. It's not rocket science." Sundance is airing a documentary film about the tour and a live performance from the Washington, D.C., show called "National Anthem: Inside the 'Vote for Change' Concert Tour," on October 11, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. ...

A Los Angeles judge has ruled that the FBI must turn over its remaining secret files on John Lennon to a college professor who has waged a 20-year battle to obtain them. Jonathan Wiener, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, first sued the U.S. government back in 1983 to procure the late Beatles singer/guitarist's files under the Freedom of Information Act. In 1997 he received 248 pages as part of a settlement. Wiener originally requested the files for his 1984 book "Come Together: John Lennon in His Time." ... After curating the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in Los Angeles on November 6, Modest Mouse's work is far from over. Three days later, they'll play New York's Radio City Music Hall before heading to London. Upon their return Stateside, a gig in Chicago on December 4 stands between the band and a four-night residency in Portland, Oregon. ...

Aerosmith, the Pixies, Aimee Mann and Fountains of Wayne were some of the winners at the 17th annual Boston Music Awards on Wednesday. The ceremony, which took place at the Avalon Ballroom in Beantown, honored the region's top musicians. ... The nominations for next year's Grammy Awards will be announced on December 7 at the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood at 8:30 a.m. PT. Four new categories have been added -- Best Surround Sound Album (in the field of production), Best Electronic/Dance Album, Best Gospel Performance, and Best Hawaiian Music Album -- bringing the total number of categories to 107. The 47th annual Grammy Awards will be held February 13 and will air on CBS. ...

Billy Corgan has finished his solo record, and plans to spend the next three weeks mixing it, according to a post on his Web site. "I am very excited about the album, as I feel I have created something relatively fresh and vibrant and exciting to my ears," the former Smashing Pumpkins/ Zwan frontman wrote. "I know that I like it, and that makes me smile." He anticipates the album will be released in the spring. Meanwhile, he's also just released his first book of poetry, "Blinking With Fists," and plans to promote the book with a few appearances in San Francisco and Seattle next month. ... Jack Johnson is working on his third album, which will be released in March. Meanwhile, the singer/songwriter/surfer will perform with Donavon Frankenreiter and Tommy Guerrero on October 9 in Laguna Beach, California, at the Moonshine Festival of Film, Music, Art and Photography, where video directors the Malloys are screening their latest surf movie, "A Brokedown Melody." James Mercer of the Shins and Matt Sweeney (formerly of Zwan) are performing October 10. ...

Sasha has added six North American dates to his Involver world tour, beginning October 8 in Houston and hitting Toronto, New York, Minneapolis and Denver before ending October 23 in Los Angeles. The DJ is promoting the November 16 release of a special edition of Involver featuring a retrospective collection of remixes that includes tunes from the Chemical Brothers, U.N.K.L.E. and Gus Gus. ... Although she hails from north of the border, Alanis Morissette has some "American Dreams" in her future. The Canadian songstress is the next artist to appear on the NBC show; she'll perform an original song in an episode scheduled to air later this year. ...