The Rolling Stones will have Kanye West pumping up the crowd for the first three dates of their A Bigger Bang tour's fall North American leg. The rapper will perform before the rock vets during concerts at Boston's Gillette Stadium (September 20); Halifax, Nova Scotia's Halifax Commons (September 23); and East Rutherford, New Jersey's Giants Stadium (September 27). ...

According to Attleboro, Massachusetts' The Sun Chronicle, a 42-year-old man from Cranston, Rhode Island, was charged with indecent assault following Ozzfest's August 1 stop in Mansfield, Massachusetts, for allegedly reaching under a woman's skirt. Joseph Rinaldi was released on $860 bail following his arraignment on Wednesday. The victim told police he'd grabbed underneath her skirt as she was walking back to her tour bus with a friend. The victim's identity has not been revealed. Rinaldi was also charged with possession of a class-B substance when police found he was carrying Vicodin. ...

Religious leaders are lashing out at Madonna in advance of her Sunday concert in Rome, The Associated Press reports. The singer plans to stage a mock crucifixion at the show, as she has been doing throughout her Confessions tour. "To crucify yourself in the city of the pope and the martyrs is an act of open hostility" toward the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Ersilio Tonini told Italian daily newspaper La Stampa on Wednesday. Mario Scialoja, president of the Muslim World League in Italy, called the demonstration "an act of bad taste," while Riccardo Pacifici, a spokesperson for Rome's Jewish community, said, "It's a disrespectful act, and to do it in Rome is even worse." ...

Rihanna will perform at Teen Choice 2006, which will air August 20 at 8 p.m. on Fox. Nick Lachey, Snoop Dogg, Jessica Alba, Kristen Bell, Sophia Bush, Brandon Routh, Kristin Cavallari, Wilmer Valderrama, Paula Abdul and the cast of "High School Musical" will also be appearing at the awards show. ... Making a TV performance of a different variety is David Hasselhoff, who will sing "Jump in My Car" on "America's Got Talent" Thursday night (August 3), with his former "Knight Rider" co-star KITT in tow. ...

Alabama's Bureau of Tourism & Travel is erecting six billboards with the pictures of Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice under the words, "Where America finds its voice. Alabama." The billboards will go up just before "American Idol" auditions begin in Birmingham on August 21. ...

In other ex-"Idol" news, Clay Aiken is heading back to the '70s for his next album. The singer's A Thousand Different Ways features 14 tracks -- 10 are covers of hits from the 1970s through the 1990s, including Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again," which Aiken switched up from a country track to a pop ballad. The LP, due September 19, also includes the singer's take on hits by Elton John, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion and Foreigner as well as a new track written by Jon Bon Jovi called "These Open Arms." "This is an album of love songs," Aiken said, "but they are about all different kinds of love." ...

Snoop Dogg is among the guests on funk star Bootsy Collins' new holiday album, Christmas Is 4-Ever, due October 31. Snoop raps on "Happy Holidaze," while Charlie Daniels plays fiddle and sings on "Sleigh Ride." ... Tiger Army will join longtime friends AFI on the West Coast leg of their fall tour. The September shows will be the last Tiger Army appearances until after the recording of their follow-up to 2004's III: Ghost Tigers Rise. ... Aaron Carter has been discharged from the hospital after getting into a surfing accident earlier this week, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. The singer, whose car exploded after a collision last year, is recovering at home after his more recent mishap. ...

"There comes a time in a man's life when he's got to pull up his pants," Common told Men's Health in an interview featured in the magazine's September issue. "Not everyone wants to see your ass." The rapper explained that a man expresses himself through his clothing and revealed that there's a bonus to refining one's style: "Dressing like a gentleman brings respect." Common, who says a hat "gives a man another way to put on his crown," is working on a line of head coverings he's named Soji. Men's Health hits newsstands everywhere August 15. ([article id="1537802"]Check out photos from Common's "Guide to Style" layout here[/article]). ...

Gnarls Barkley and Modest Mouse will headline the Bang! Music Festival at Miami's Bicentennial Park on November 11. Tiësto, Los Amigos Invisibles and Kinky are also on the bill, with more acts to be announced. ... Matisyahu, the Polyphonic Spree and Gomez are teaming up for a run of West Coast dates in September. The Spree are also headlining shows in Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin, Texas, that will include Pilotdrift and Philip E. Karnats, two acts signed to Polyphonic frontman Tim DeLaughter's Good Records Recordings. ... Frankie J, Nina Sky, Jeannie Ortega, Luis Fonsi and Orishas are heading out on tour together for the Lo McXimo de la Música concert series. Tour sponsors McDonald's will contribute $3 from every ticket sold to the Ronald McDonald House Charities/ Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources scholarship program. The tour kicks off in Phoenix on August 30 and hits cities including Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Miami and New York before wrapping up September 24 in Washington, D.C. ...

The Flaming Lips, DFA and legendary Detroit DJ Carl Craig are among the artists who remixed Goldfrapp songs for We Are Glitter. The collection of Supernature remixes is due October 17. ... A double-CD version of the recently released Black Crowes DVD "Freak'n'Roll Into the Fog: The Black Crowes All Join Hands" is due September 19. The album was recorded at San Francisco's Fillmore last year and includes an encore featuring their take on the Band's "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down." ... Citizen Cope will release a new album, Every Waking Moment, September 12. Fans who preorder the LP will receive an autographed copy along with a bonus four-song EP. ...

Sister Hazel have set an October 10 release date for their next album, Absolutely. Shawn Mullins appears on the first single, "Mandolin Moon." ... Animal-protection organization In Defense of Animals will honor Moby with its Guardian Award. "Moby embodies the true spirit of what it means to be an animal guardian," IDA's president and founder, Dr. Elliot M. Katz, said in the statement. "We are proud to present him with our Guardian Award and look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit our animal friends." The musician will be honored August 13 in Alexandria, Virginia, as part of the Animal Rights 2006 National Conference. ... All-female tribute bands including the Iron Maidens and Cheap Chick are uniting on a compilation called Girls Got Rhythm, due August 22. Three of the acts honor AC/DC.

08.02.2006

My Chemical Romance will release their still-untitled new album on October 24. The band is putting the finishing touches on the disc -- produced by longtime Green Day associate Rob Cavallo -- but plan to road-test some of the new material at a handful of U.S. dates, including a stop this weekend at San Diego's Street Scene festival. Details on the project are scarce, though a spokesperson for MCR did confirm that they will be shooting a video for an unidentified song off the album with director Samuel Bayer ("Boulevard of Broken Dreams") this week. ...

Los Angeles prosecutors have filed three counts against Mel Gibson following his Friday arrest, The Associated Press reports. The actor/director has been charged for misdemeanor drunken driving, the open liquor container that was found in his car, and having an elevated blood-alcohol level. An arraignment has been set for September 28 in California's Malibu Superior Court. ...

Kelis sung three new songs (including "Bossy") and three older cuts (including "Milkshake") at New York dance club Crobar Tuesday night. Her husband Nas, NBA All-Star Chris Webber, Jermaine Dupri, Mario, Floetry and Patti LaBelle all came out to see her perform. ... That's not the only New York venue where Dupri cropped up Tuesday night. The producer paraded out some of the artists on his Virgin Urban Music label at Eugene in conjunction with Vibe magazine. Young Capone, Brooke Valentine, Daz and singer/songwriter Johnta Austin all took the stage. ...

Attention fashion lovers: The schedule for Olympus Fashion Week's presentation of spring 2007 collections is finally up. One of the surprises for the year's event, which runs from September 8 to 15, is Kenneth Cole's absence. He'll be handing over his traditional opening-day spot to menswear designer John Bartlett, who will kick off the event bright and early that Friday morning. Cole will be showing his collection in a more "intimate" setting in October, FashionDaily.com reports. ... Kimora Lee will present her Baby Phat line at 8 p.m. on Fashion Week's opening night, while Chris Aire's show, set to close out the first day, will be a surefire spectacle. Known as the Iceman for decking the necks of Ashanti, Wyclef Jean and Tyson Beckford with bling, Aire once featured a model wearing a dress dripping in 15.5 pounds of diamonds. JoJo, Nelly, Nick Lachey, Will Smith and LL Cool J are also fans of the designer. ...

Designers including Nicole Miller, Tracy Reese, Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Cynthia Steffe, Oscar de la Renta, Betsey Johnson, Nanette Lepore, Heatherette, Anna Sui, Calvin Klein and Zac Posen will be showcasing their collections throughout the week. "Project Runway" season-three finalists will present their work for judging at 9 a.m. on the event's last day, while the long-awaited line from first "Runway" winner Jay McCarroll will hit the catwalk at 5 p.m. ... Sportswear designer Fila is also joining the Fashion Week mix in an attempt to revamp its fashion image. Expect to see top musicians and fashion insiders lined up in the front row seeking freebies and sponsorship. Fila is also outfitting 10 acts for Lollapalooza this weekend, including Gnarls Barkley and 30 Seconds to Mars, and will partner with Hard Rock Hotels to host a VIP lounge for Lolla acts including Kanye West and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. ...

The soon-to-launch CW network has announced plans for a reality show called "The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll." The series -- produced by director McG ("Charlie's Angels"), Interscope Records boss Jimmy Iovine and "America's Next Top Model" producer Ken Mok -- will be a combination of "Model" and "American Idol," with the winner getting a spot in the Pussycat Dolls singing group. The show will air during the 2006-07 season. ... After weighing her options, Ashanti has decided that she won't choose between writing a behind-the-scenes look at her life or a book for teens -- she's going to do both in one. To follow-up her 2002 collection of poetry "Foolish/ Unfoolish: Reflections on Love," the singer is writing a life-and-style guide titled "Ashanti Style," which will be an autobiography as well as a tip sheet on fashion and beauty. Ashanti says her "Style" will reveal some "little tricks" that stars use and "things that happen behind the scenes, and things that people really don't know about as far as celebrities or artists are concerned. It's going to be cute. It's going to be very helpful." Ashanti will co-write the book with former Vibe editor Orlando Lima. "Ashanti Style," which will be published via a Disney imprint for children called Jump at the Sun, is set for release in fall 2007. ...

Coheed and Cambria will be heading out for a nine-date U.S. run that's scheduled to kick off Thursday in Columbus, Ohio -- but they'll be doing so without drummer Joshua Eppard and bassist Michael Todd. Instead, frontman Claudio Sanchez and guitarist Travis Stever will be joined by bassist Matt Williams (a partner with Sanchez and Stever in the Nyack, New York, band Jumblehead) and drummer MP (formerly of Samiam). The band revealed the news in a cryptic MySpace post: "We'll discuss [Williams' and MP's] future at a later date, but right now, all we want to do is to get out and play for our fans," Sanchez wrote. "Travis and I are excited to share the stage with Matt and MP, because they add a new flavor to the songs and it makes performing them even more fun." The tour is expected to conclude August 14 in Pomona, California, and the band will begin writing new material this fall. ...

The Panic Channel -- featuring former Jane's Addiction members Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney fronted by singer/guitarist Steve Isaacs -- will release their debut album, (ONe) on August 15. The band will debut their single "Why Cry" August 10 on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." ... Chuck D has been named the keynote speaker for the National Association of Recording Merchandisers' 48th Annual Convention & Marketplace, which runs from Wednesday (August 2) to Saturday in Kissimmee, Florida. ... Blood Brothers and ... And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead will hit the road together for a 41-date North American trek that's set to kick off October 27 in Denver. The tour will make stops in cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Boston, New York, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Seattle before winding down December 14 in Salt Lake City. Trail Of Dead will release their as-yet-untitled LP on October 3, while the Blood Brothers' Young Machetes will surface October 10. ...

The lawyers representing Michael Jackson in a suit filed by the financial company Prescient Acquisition Group, which claims the singer owes them $48 million, have quit the case. According to The Associated Press, a federal judge in New York gave attorneys at Wachtel & Masyr permission to withdraw from the case on Monday, after attorney William Wachtel wrote a note to the judge describing his difficulty in communicating with Jackson due to a revolving door of spokespeople representing the pop singer. The lawyers said the final straw came in June, when Jackson dropped off the map after meeting with the firm in Paris and promising to be in better touch. It's the second time in a year that a law firm representing Jackson in this case has quit after claiming they hadn't been paid and couldn't get him on the phone. The judge said he'd give Jackson until September 5 to reorganize his legal team, but if he doesn't hire a new lawyer by then, Jackson himself has to appear in court. ... For the next five Wednesdays, Southern Californians can catch some live music while they shop. The Grove, a shopping center in Los Angeles, is hosting the "Summer at the Grove" concert series, presented by the CW television network. The shows kick off this week with Cheyenne Kimball. Anna Nalick (August 9), Mat Kearney (August 16), Tyler Hilton (August 23) and Jewel (August 30) will also perform as part of the series.