Isaac Hayes, 63, was checked into a Memphis hospital on Tuesday after suffering from exhaustion after performing
shows in Atlantic City, Washington D.C. and Mississippi last week.
The Beach Boys have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit through their Brothers Records, Inc. corporate entity
against Allan Gaba, Roy Sciacca and Gem Systems Inc. for alleged violations of the band's copyright and trademark
rights as well as theft of 13 to 25 boxes of memorabilia with plans to sell them at auction.
A court of appeals in Spain has ruled in favor of Tom Waits in his lawsuit against Volkswagen-Audi and a Spanish
ad agency. Both companies were found guilty of using Waits' image and song, "Innocent When You Dream,"
to sell Audi products after the singer refused their request to use it in the ad. Waits was awarded 66,000 euros
for copyright infringement and moral right violations. A similar lawsuit is pending against General Motors' Opel
and a German ad agency over the singer's voice being impersonated in their ads.
Lil' Joe Wein Music (owned by Joseph Weinberger the former attorney for 2 Live Crew frontman Luther Campbell) has
filed a lawsuit against rapper 50 Cent claiming the lyrics for the hit "In Da Club" were stolen from
Luther Campbell's 1994 song "It's Your Birthday." Lil' Joe Wein Music owns the copyright to the song.
Bon Jovi's private plane skidded off the runway while landing in severe weather conditions at the Hamilton International
Airport at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. The plane was carrying the band, their touring staff and flight crew returning
from a performance in Buffalo, NY. No serious injuries were reported.
An inspector for the Department of Agriculture was sent to check up on Michael Jackson's pets at Neverland Ranch
after a complaint was filed last month by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. According to a spokesperson
for the USDA, "I'm unaware of any violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Neverland."
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon won for best actor and actress in a movie musical or comedy for their portrayal
of Johnny and June Carter Cash in Walk The Line at the Golden Globe Awards. Walk The Line also won for best musical
or comedy film.
Billboard's inaugural Money Makers chart (bringing together data from Nielsen Music, Billboard's Boxscore, album
sales and digital downloads to create a top 20 chart of acts generating the most income during 2005) has named
U2 #1 for last year bringing in $255,022,633.35.
Axl Rose broke his silence about Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy recently saying that "people will hear music
this year." He has finished 26 of a planned 32 songs of which they will pick a final 13 for the album. Rose
has called the album very complex in its arrangements.
Madonna holds the the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles #1 spot for a 10th week with her recent single, "Hung Up."
There is also more talk about Madonna touring this summer with a more dance-oriented setlist.
"Dani California" will be the first single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' new 24-track double-disc album,
Stadium Arcadium, due out on May 9th.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release the DVD Dune: Extended Edition on Jan. 31st. The original 1984
cult classic film (as well as the extended edition) includes Sting in the cast.
Bob Dylan - 1975-1982: Rolling Thunder & The Gospel Years will be released on DVD via Music Video Distributors
and Highway 61 on Apr. 4th.
The Flaming Lips' new 12-track studio album, At War With The Mystics, will be released on Apr. 4th. The first single
from the album will be "The W.A.N.D." which is now available for digital download.
Hi-Tack has a current top 10 single in the U.K. with "Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)" which samples Michael
Jackson's vocals from his 1983 hit "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney.
On Feb. 19th, HD Net will be premiering Rick Springfield's 2005 sold-out performance at the Coronado Theater in
high-definition.
Bobby Brown will be in the New Edition line-up for a reunion tour in 2008. Meanwhile, Brown has denied rumors that
he and Whitney are on the way to divorce court.
According to a post on the Suicidal Tendencies Web site message board by frontman Mike Muir, the band have started
work with producer Paul Northfield on their first new studio album in 6 years.
America plan to head back into the recording studio with producers James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and Adam Schlesinger
(Fountains of Wayne) to record more material for a new album. The band are reportedly in negotiations with the
new Burgundy Records imprint via Sony.
Bang Tango have signed with Perris Records to release their follow-up to Ready To Go, From The Hip, on May 9th.
The soundtrack to the upcoming film Madea's Family Reunion will feature new songs by LL Cool J, Johnny Gill, the
O'Jays, Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert and Al Green when released on Feb. 21st.
Vernon Reid & Masque will release their second album, Other True Self, via Favored Nations Recording on Apr.
18th.
Morrissey is under heavy scrutiny by political groups for showing his support and understanding for groups paying
back "fur-farmers and so-called laboratory scientists" with violence in a post on Jan. 5th on the true-to-you.net
Web site.
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee has reportedly recorded a cover of The O'Jay's classic "Love Train" for
the soundtrack to Final Destination 3.
Since their first album in 1987, the Melvins have been a guitar, bass and drum trio. But their problem with holding
onto a bassist has pushed them to break with their format. The band has expanded into a quartet by including the
bassist and drummer from Big Business. This does give the band 2 drummers which they plan to experiment with. The
new line-up expects to head into the studio after touring. Meanwhile, a live CD is in the works comprised of live
performances of their 1993 album, Houdini.
Vocalist Marq Torien of the Bulletboys mentioned plans for a 2006 Bulletboys reunion during his appearance on The
Hairball John Radio Show. The show was later contacted by original drummer Jimmy D'Anda to clarify that any reunion
tour or album would not include the other original members.
Prince has been scheduled for his first appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live since 1981 on Feb. 4th to promote
his new album, 3121, due out Mar. 21st. The video for the first single, "Te Amo Corazon," premiered on
VH1 last month.
A new Poison DVD recorded at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 1993 entitled Seven Days Live is in the works with
distribution by Music Video Distributors and Cherry Red on Mar. 14th.
With maximum exposure of frontman Pete Burns,on the U.K. reality TV series Celebrity Big Brother, Dead Or Alive
will reissue their single "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" followed by a reissue of their recent hits
compilation Evolution.
Asia are in the studio working on their next studio album, Architect Of Time, with new drummer Jay Schellen for
release as early as May.
Emmy-nominated late-night talk program The Tomorrow Show hosted by Tom Snyder will be revisited on a double-DVD
release containing interviews with Joan Jett, Paul Weller, John Lydon and Patti Smith as well as performances by
Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Iggy Pop, The Plasmatics, The Jam and the Ramones.
Def Leppard's covers album, Yeah!, will be released this spring followed by a summer tour followed by a return
to the studio to work on their next album.
Alan Jackson plans on releasing his new studio album, Precious Memories, on Feb. 28th which contains several gospel
standards.
The Panic Channel (the new band featuring former Jane's Addiction members Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris
Chaney) have finished mixing 7 songs for their debut album tentatively due out in late spring.
Elton John and Yamaha pianos will produce the Elton John Limited Edition Signature Series Red Piano which was inspired
by his current show, The Red Piano, at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace. Only 50 of the hybrid acoustic/digital pianos
which are programmed to play John's songs will be made.
Scott Walker plans to release his first new studio album in over a decade, The Drift, in May. A documentary chronicling
the making of The Drift, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, by director Stephen Kijak is expected to be released later
this year.
Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Sting, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, David Crosby, Dr. John, Carole King and Randy
Newman are among the artists confirmed to perform as part of the 2006 MusiCares Person of the Year dinner honoring
James Taylor on Feb. 6th.
Among their other upcoming reissues due out on Mar. 7th, Cheap Trick will release Next Position Please -- Authorized
Edition via digital download outlets. The 1983 album had 3 tracks removed from the LP version when released in
favor of a cover of the Motors' "Dancin' The Night Away" and their original "You Say Jump."
The new version puts back the 3 songs ("Twisted Heart," "Don't Make Our Love A Crime" and "You
Talk Too Much") into the track list.
Lenny Kravitz has written a new song, "Breathe," for use in a new music venture with Absolut Vodka (also
dubbed Absolut Kravitz..) The video for the track is a free downloaded www.absolutkravitz.com.
David Gilmour will release his new studio album, On An Island, on Mar. 7th.
Legendary soul vocalist Wilson Pickett, 64, died of a heart attack on Thursday at a Reston, Virginia, hospital
near his home. The 1991 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is credited with 25 U.S. studio albums (3 during
the 1980's) and remembered for his classic hits: "In The Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally"
which were included in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time last year.