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For The Record: Quick News On Fat Joe, T.I., R. Kelly, Transplants, Jimmy Eat World, Green Day & More

Fat Joe comic on the way, R. Kelly names his next album, Powerman 5000 to tour.

Fat Joe in superhero tights? Not quite, but the New York rapper will get the comic-book treatment later this month, thanks to the folks at Marvel. Fans who pick up a copy of Fat Joe's forthcoming All or Nothing when it hits stores on June 14 will receive a copy of "The Heist," a promotional comic book that features Joe, Twista, T.I., Fabolous, Trick Daddy and Lil' Kim. The rappers team up, X-Men style, to recover a stolen diamond, with each hip-hopper using his or her superhero skills to defeat an evil army of clones. Only a select number of record retailers will carry the comic book, but Fat Joe's fans can log onto Atlantic Records' Web site and enter a contest to win a copy of the book. One grand-prize winner will even score a Sony PSP. ...

R. Kelly has chosen a title for his next album: TP3 Reloaded. The LP will hit shelves on July 5. ... Jimmy Eat World will return to the studio after their tour with Green Day wraps at the end of the summer. "We've been writing a little, but the hardest thing about writing on the road is it's difficult to get deep and flush out an idea -- you always have to go do something," singer Jim Adkins said. ...

Despite what you might think, the Transplants are really quite the tech-savvy bunch. Witness the relaunch of their Web site, TheTransplants.com, which is now loaded with promotional videos, interviews and photos all hyping the release of the band's sophomore album, Haunted Cities. Visitors to the site can also stream the album's first single, "Gangsters and Thugs," or download a ring-tone version of the tune. Haunted Cities is due in stores on June 21. ... Australian rockers the Vines are holed up in a Sydney studio with producer Wayne Connolly, working on material for their third disc. It'll be the band's first batch of new songs since it was revealed that singer Craig Nicholls suffers from Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by problems with social interaction. According to a posting on the Vines' Web site, "Craig is in a great frame of mind and is healthier than he's ever been. The band will demo 13 new songs which are sounding brilliant -- mainly heavy, poppy and melodic, plus two amazing acoustic numbers." ...

The latest album of Latin punk rock covers from the all-star Manic Hispanic crew (past and current members of Agent Orange, the Adolescents, Cadillac Tramps, 22 Jacks and others), is titled Grupo Sexo and is due out on June 28. The album features covers of Fear's "Big Baloney" ("Big Chorizo"), Green Day's "Welcome to Paradise" ("Welcome to Paramount"), the Descendents' "I'm Not a Loser" ("I'm Just a Cholo") and the Ramones' "Havana Affair" ("Tijuana Affair"). ... Powerman 5000 will be touring the nation to remind people they've got a new album on the way, even though the album's not yet done, doesn't have a name, and won't be released until late this year. Nevertheless, the band kicks off a 28-date tour on Wednesday in Traverse City, Michigan, that'll criss-cross the Midwest and East Coast, concluding August 23 in Beaumont, Texas. ... Cold's forthcoming disc, previously called The Calm That Killed the Storm, will now be titled A Different Kind of Pain. The LP will drop on August 30. ...

06.02.2005

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." ...

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