New shows or not, fans can't get enough of Dave Chappelle. The "Chappelle's Show: Season 2 Uncensored" DVD set has become the fastest-selling DVD of a TV show in history. According to Comedy Central, the three-disc set sold an unprecedented 500,000 copies its first day of release (May 24) and, with first-week sales of more than 1.2 million units, blew past the sales record held by the fourth season "Seinfeld" set. Meanwhile, no word yet on when -- or if -- production will resume on the delayed third season of the show. ...

Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson and Alicia Keys are among the multiple nominees for the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, which will air August 16 on FOX. Ashlee will compete against sister Jessica for Choice TV Personality award, although Jessica is the only Simpson in the Choice Hottie category. Fans can vote now at www.teenpeople.com. ... Master P is rolling out his fleet of custom cars on Saturday for the video shoot for his new single, "I Need Dubs." For the cameras, P will be outfitting his Rolls-Royce Phantom with custom, diamond-encrusted chrome wheels. ...

My Chemical Romance have written eight songs for their next album, which the group hopes to record by the end of the year. "I imagine we'll write in the high 30s and pick our favorites, whereas last time we only wrote about 16 songs, if that," singer Gerard Way said. "We know what we do well, but there's some more risks being taken, slower tempos, heavier stuff, more of an arena-rock element that was hinted at on the last record." ... First he was out. Then he was back in. And now, for the second time in less than a week, Chris D'abaldo is Saliva's former guitarist. On Wednesday afternoon, D'abaldo reunited with the band after a 72-hour break, and told Saliva's fans in a posting to the group's Web site that he needed to sort a few things out with his mates -- a process that seemingly took just a few short hours, as this morning, Saliva devotees awoke to find a new Web site missive. "I last said I would attempt to work things out with the band and would let you know how things went," he wrote. "After talking with members and management, I am now officially reporting that I am in fact gonna go my separate way. I wish all the remaining bandmembers the best of luck and fortune. It was great while it lasted, and I hope they have success in the future." ...

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has blocked off December for the recording of the next albums in his Dessert Sessions series. "That's the first open day in our schedule, so I'm gonna eat and go to the bathroom first," he joked. "In My Head," which first debuted on the latest Dessert Sessions, is the next single from Queens' Lullabies to Paralyze. ... The Strokes' forthcoming album could hit stores as early as January, according to an update that the band's manager, Ryan Gentles, issued to Strokes fans this week. "The band is 'wrapping up' production on the third album," he wrote, adding that there should be a single hitting the airwaves in late fall. The album has not been given a proper name, and neither have the songs, of which 13 are "nearly fully completed." There's also plans for a brief tour in late 2005. ...

From Christina Aguilera to Kill Rock Stars? Songwriter/producer to the stars Linda Perry (Gwen Stefani, Pink, Kelly Osbourne) will join the roster of the indie stalwart label with the September 13 re-release of her album In Flight. Written and recorded in 1995, the former 4 Non Blondes singer's first solo album was quietly released by Interscope Records in 1996 to little notice. Perry will tour in the fall in support of the album. ... If you're looking for a party on the Fourth of July, Philly is the place to be. In addition to the July 2 Live 8 show with Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5, the city will host a concert that same day featuring Ruben Studdard with Stephanie Mills and a July 4 HIV-awareness concert by Elton John with guests Patti LaBelle and Bryan Adams. ...

For a dude whose résumé includes playing a bunch of butt-kicking cops, a butt-kicking environmental agent and a butt-kicking chef on a Navy battleship, Steven Seagal is actually a pretty sensitive guy, as evidenced by his upcoming debut album, Songs From the Crystal Cave. On the disc, which has already been released overseas (and will hit stores in the U.S. later this year), Seagal sings songs "with a strong, understated voice, in the realm of Jack Johnson but with more energy," according to a glowing review in the Los Angeles Times last month. Seagal plans on touring behind Songs this spring. Evildoers, corrupt politicians and drug lords beware. ... Reel Big Fish are staging another Coast to Coast Roast Tour, with American Hi-Fi, El Pus, Punchline and Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer on this summer's bill. The outing kicks off June 22 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and wraps up August 12 in Milwaukee. ...

Guitarist Mark Weinberg has left Gratitude, blaming the departure on "touring issues." According to a posting on the band's Web site announcing Weinberg's exit, "the road isn't made for everybody," and Jonah Matranga will "be playing a little more guitar [on Gratitude's forthcoming U.K. tour] and the band will continue to play the songs they wrote while Mark was a member." ...

06.01.2005

Lindsay Lohan walked away uninjured from a car accident allegedly caused by a paparazzo on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Photographer Galo Ramirez was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after slamming into the singer/actress' car, police told The Associated Press. Lohan's mother, Dina, issued a statement in the wake of the crash, saying, "I thank God my daughter was able to walk out of the car." ... A Canton, Massachusetts, family court judge issued an arrest warrant for Bobby Brown on Wednesday (June 1) after he was a no-show for a child-support compliance hearing, according to The Associated Press. Brown's Canton attorney reportedly told the court the singer became ill on his way to the Atlanta airport to fly to Boston, but court officials were unable to get confirmation. Brown is late on child support payments to Kim Ward, and the judge could reimpose a 90-day prison sentence ordered in June that was suspended when he paid out back payments. ...

"American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood will release her debut single on June 14. The single will feature "Inside Your Heaven," which Underwood sang at the finale and was serviced to radio immediately following the taping, as well as a cover of Martina McBride's "Independence Day." ... 50 Cent filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against three video production companies, claiming they used footage from an interview without honoring their part of a deal to make a charitable donation, according to The Associated Press. The rapper said he agreed to do a free interview with Czar Entertainment about Kelvin Martin, a 1980s criminal who went by the name of 50 Cent, if a donation was made to Martin's family or to the rapper's charity, the G-Unity Foundation. Instead, the interview was used for a DVD called "The Original 50 Cent: The True Story of the Legend Who Inspired the Biggest Name in Rap" and no donation was ever made, the suit alleges. The G-Unit general is seeking a court order to bar the companies from selling the DVD, as well as unspecified damages and any profits made from the video's sale. Czar Entertainment issued a statement in response, saying, "Czar Entertainment remains committed to providing support to the family of Kelvin '50 Cent' Martin ... We have made arrangements directly with his family regarding the donation of proceeds from the DVD sales and feel confident that all relevant parties will be satisfied. Czar Entertainment is disappointed to learn of 50 Cent's lawsuit, which is completely without merit." ...

Promoters of Festimad in Madrid, Spain, were forced to postpone System of a Down's headlining show on Saturday after winds upward of 60 miles per hour blew the canvas and metal roof off the outdoor stage. However, after the crowd of 30,000 refused to leave, System took the stage at 3:45 a.m. and played until after 5 a.m., according to the band's spokesperson. ... R. Kelly's child-pornography case continues to move along slowly. The judge decided on Wednesday (June 1) to wait until the next hearing, on June 17, to make his ruling on two defense motions. ...

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will host its first summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Doug E. Fresh, Damon Dash, Reverend Run and Juelz Santana will be among those on hand at the Washington Convention Center for the summit on financial empowerment. ... Jason Mraz will sing the national anthem for the MBNA RacePoints 400 on Sunday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Mraz's new album, Mr. A-Z, is due July 26. ...

In a posting on the band's Web site late last week -- one that's since been removed and replaced with a second, much different posting -- Saliva guitarist Chris D'abaldo announced his departure from the group. "I feel it is necessary to let the fans know first that I have decided to leave Saliva," he wrote. "I'll be looking to forming or joining a new band that is dedicated to their fans and the band. I'm quitting for obvious reasons, as the band is not a unit anymore. I have been given no other choice in the matter. I love you all and look forward to seeing you again." But then on Wednesday morning, a new statement: "Hey guys, sorry for the alarming nature of my statement on [May 29] about leaving the band. There was a bit of an issue we're working through and we're looking forward to recording a new album later this year. We'll see you on the road this October! I miss you all very much." ... The Doors of the 21st Century -- featuring founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, with the Cult's Ian Astbury on vocals -- will be performing at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on August 5, and have invited an all-star lineup to join them onstage. Perry Farrell, who regularly covered the Doors' "L.A. Woman" live during the earliest days of his band Jane's Addiction, will step into the late Jim Morrison's shoes for "Touch Me" and "The Crystal Ship." Macy Gray, Antigone Rising and the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines will also be performing with the rock legends during a concert that's set to include Pat Travers and the original lineup of Vanilla Fudge. ...

Aerosmith have already written one bestselling autobiography ("Walk This Way"), so for their next career retrospective, they want to do something a little different. The band's literary agent is currently shopping a proposal to New York publishers to do a photographic history called "Aero/Vison," which would capture Aerosmith's emergence as rock icons, spanning their early years in high school and garage bands to headlining Madison Square Garden and beyond. The photos will come from the archives of private collectors, record labels and the portfolios of famous photographers, while the text (about 25,000 words' worth) will come from the bandmembers themselves, as they tell their story in their own voices, according to the proposal. ... O.A.R. will be heading out on a summer amphitheater tour, starting at Summerfest in Milwaukee on July 9. The quintet will also open four dates for the Dave Matthews Band that month. The trek will wrap with a headlining stint at the Feeling Better Than Everfine Festival in Chicago on August 20. ...

Interested in seeing the horrifying effect of direct sunlight on pale indie-rock skin? Want to eat pounds of funnel cake and Nathan's Hot Dogs? Well, then head on down to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, on July 16 for the 2005 Village Voice Siren Fest. The first handful of acts for the festival, now in its fifth year, have been announced, and they include Spoon, Brendan Benson and Q and Not U. Siren is free and open to the public, rain or shine. ... Former You Hear It First artists the Hysterics are among 19 bands featured on Music for Robots Volume 1, a just-released compilation from the popular music blog Music for Robots (music.for-robots.com). Other artists appearing alongside the precocious Brooklyn teenagers include Death From Above 1979, the National and Bumblebeez 81. ...