Great White's former tour manager Dan Biechele, 29, is expected
to plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2003 Station nightclub fire. Biechele had previously
claimed that the venue's owners had given him permission to set off the display (a claim the owners have denied)
and was responsible for triggering the pyrotechnics that set the foam lining the club's ceiling and walls on fire.
In exchange for the plea, Biechele will not serve more than 10 years in prison. Great White have yet to be charged
with any wrongdoing.
Boy George appeared in New York City criminal court on Wednesday. The drug possession case against the singer has
been postponed until Mar. 8th.
Heather Locklear has filed for divorce from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora after 11 years together. Locklear
cited irreconcilable differences and requested physical custody of her and Sambora's child, 8 year-old Ava Elizabeth.
Sting has filed a breach of confidence lawsuit against his former chauffeur Mick Madadi who claimed in a U.K. newspaper
interview that the singer's marriage to to Trudie Styler is on the rocks. Sting recently campaigned to stop British
prime minister Tony Blair from upgrading the legal categorization of cannabis from a class C to class B drug.
The Rolling Stones' performance at Sunday night's Super Bowl XL halftime show utilized the ABC imposed 5-second
tape delay during segments of their songs "Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice" they found objectionable.
Stevie Wonder had no such problem performing a medley of hits with John Legend, Joss Stone and India.Arie.
INXS were forced to reschedule their U.S. performances on Feb. 1st, 2nd and 3rd in St. Charles, Kansas City and
Minneapolis due to new lead singer J.D. Fortune being diagnosed with bronchitis. Fortune was under doctor's orders
to rest his voice and was able to resume the tour on Feb. 4th.
Elton John and his partner David Furnish will host the 14th Annual Academy Award Viewing and After Parties on Mar.
5th benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Among the co-chairs of the event this year are Ozzy Osbourne and
his wife Sharon. Elton's new musical, Lestat, finished a 6-week run in San Francisco and is expected to get a revamp
before opening in New York.
Madonna has been busy recently filming the video for her next single, "Sorry," which will be released
on Feb. 28th in the U.S. The maxi-single will include several remixes including one by the Pet Shop Boys. Meanwhile,
Madonna has chosen French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to design the costumes for her upcoming summer tour.
She will also open the 48th annual Grammy Awards paired with the a 3D color animated version of the 'virtual band'
Gorillaz for an currently unknown collaboration. Madonna's single, "Hung Up," has held the #1 spot on
the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles list for 12 consecutive weeks.
Rhino Entertainment will release a new 20-track Los Lobos hits compilation entitled Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los
Lobos on Feb. 14th. This is the first ever single-disc collection of the work from the triple-Grammy-winning group
and includes the previously-unreleased track "Border Town Girl."
A new compilation, World's Best Mum: 40 Songs To Show How Much You Care, will be released on Mar. 13th and include
songs by Simply Red, Eurythmics, Michael Bolton, Neil Diamond, Bette Midler, George Michael, Michael Jackson, ELO,
Fleetwood Mac, Gloria Estefan, D.C. Lee, Isley Brothers and Ricky Martin among others.
Nick Van Eede's Grinning Souls project has been signed to new publishing and recording deals. After much contemplation
they will be re-releasing their Capture album under the Cutting Crew name. The first single has been voted on by
fans and will be, "Hard On You." Song samples can be heard at www.grinningsouls.com in the Music section.
Blondie will release a new CD/DVD compilation entitled Greatest Hits: Sound And Vision on Mar. 7th which includes
20 songs and 16 videos. Blondie will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame on Mar. 13th.
According to Father Guiseppe Moscati of the Edizioni Musicali Terzo Millennio, people close to Michael Jackson
have expressed interest in setting several of Pope John Paul's prayers to music. Moscati's company has the rights
to 24 of the late Pope's prayers.
Split Enz have announced they are reuniting (the True Colours line-up) for an Australian arena tour in June. While
no other dates are planned, band member Tim Finn has mentioned interest in U.S. and New Zealand dates. When asked
if a new studio album could come of the reunion, Neil Finn remained hesitant. The band reunited to perform at their
induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2005. This will be their first concert tour of this magnitude since 1984's
Enz With A Bang! Tour.
Van Morrison will release his country album, Pay The Devil, on Mar. 7th in the U.S. and has already begun their
tour in support of the European release.
Dinosaur Jr. plan to head into the recording studio this month to begin work on their first new material since
1997's Hand It Over. Their first-ever DVD featuring their full performance at New York City's Irving Plaza will
be released this summer.
Vocalist Ian Astbury of the Cult has recorded vocals for three songs for the third studio album by James Lavelle's
UNKLE project. The album is currently being mixed and is expected for release this summer. Astbury has been hopeful
of recording with the Cult and has written several songs already. The Cult announced their 2006 tour will start
on Mar. 1st in San Francisco.
Bob Geldof has released a new 4-disc solo material box set, Great Songs Of Indifference: The Anthology 1986-2001.
Geldof has also released his new BBC documentary, Geldof In Africa, on DVD.
John Mellencamp will be appearing in a series of TV spots highlighting CBS Sports' coverage of the 2006 Men's NCAA
College Basketball tournament. The verses of Mellencamp's "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." have been adapted
to include references to contending teams. The spots have already started airing on CBS and will continue through
the annual 'March Madness.'
Pete Townshend has claimed that the Who will release their first new studio album since 1982's It's Hard "sometime
in the early summer."
It's been confirmed that former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has traveled to Portland, Oregon, to collaborate with
Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock on new material for the next Modest Mouse album. Marr has recently guested on
albums by Jane Birkin and Lisa Germano while finding time to finish up his second album with the Healers (due this
spring.)
Bono gave a speech at the National Prayers Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. He requested that the U.S.
government give an additional 1% of its budget to the world's poor and thanked President George W. Bush in helping
fight global malaria and AIDS.
Morrissey has posted a full-length sample of, "You Have Killed Me," from his upcoming new studio album,
Ringleader Of The Tormentors, up on his MySpace account www.myspace.com/morrissey
DMC (a.k.a. Darryl McDaniels) of Run-D.M.C. will release his long-awaited solo debut, Checks, Thugs and Rock'n'Roll,
on Mar. 14th featuring collaborations with Doug E. Fresh and Sarah McLachlan among others. Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton
and Joey Kramer, the Cars' Elliot Easton and Run-D.M.C. colleague Rev. Run guest on tracks and slain Run-D.M.C.
member Jam Master Jay is credited with producing some songs. "Machine Gun" is slated to be the first
single. Meanwhile, Rev. Run recently signed a book deal.
Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson have been pushed by Jackson's boyfriend Jermaine Dupri to record a song together.
Jackson's new album is due out soon.
With no signs of a new Devo studio album in the near future, Gerald Casale is pursuing his solo project, Jihad
Jerry and the Evildoers. The group plan to release their debut, What's In A Name, in March. "Beehive,"
"The Owl" and "Army Girls Gone Wild" are already available for download via digital music services.
A video has already been filmed for "Army Girls Gone Wild." The only new Devo recordings in the future
is Devo 2.0 (a group of pre-teens re-recording the band's songs) due out Mar. 14th.
Plans for Asia's new studio album, Architect Of Time, have been put on hold as the original members (Downes, Howe,
Palmer and Wetton) will be recording a CD and DVD with a planned world tour all to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
Jimmy Buffett has been working in the studio on his follow-up to 2004's License To Chill and has finished 10 tracks
with three more he plans to record in this month. The new album is expected out in the fall. He also has several
songs he will contribute to the Hoot soundtrack including a new duet with Alan Jackson.
The Pretenders will release a 5-disc career-spanning box set, Pirate Radio, on Mar. 14th. The set is comprised
of 4 CDs containing early demos, singles from rare imports, live recordings and previously unreleased material.
The DVD will include live performances from 1979 to 1995.
Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch have reformed the Eurogliders and recorded their first new studio album in 18 years.
The band scored their biggest hit, "Heaven," in 1984. The new album will be self-titled and a follow-up
entitled Blue Kiss is already expected later this year.
R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe has recorded a version of Joseph Arthur's "In The Sun" which has been made available
for download via iTunes exclusively benefitting Gulf Coast relief. Meanwhile, bandmate Peter Buck have finished
work on the next Minus 5 studio album, The Minus 5 (a.k.a. The Gun Album), which contains guest appearances by
Wilco and John Wesley Harding. The first single from the album will be entitled "Twilight Distillery."
Olivia Newton-John's next studio album, Stronger Than Before, will be a special one. The album will include guest
performances by many female artists including Patti LaBelle and actress Diahann Carroll. Each of the guests are
cancer survivors. Originally released in October through Hallmark Gold Crown, the album will receive wider distribution
via Festival Records and Warner Music.
Paul McCartney has been added as a performer for the Grammy Awards, his first despite 13 Grammy wins. Bonnie Raitt
and James Taylor have been added as presenters.
A double-disc reissue of Elvis Costello's 1993 collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet, The Juliet Letters, will
be released on Mar. 21st. The first disc will be a remastered version of the first album. The second disc will
include an eclectic collection of rare and previously-unreleased material.
According to a spokesperson for Audioslave's record label, they will release their third studio album in June.
Very little information beyond that and the planned summer tour are available at this time.
Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has confirmed in an interview with La Republica that the group's recent appearance at
Live 8 was the last ever. "I am 60 years old. I don't have the will to work as much anymore. Pink Floyd was
an important part in my life, I have had a wonderful time, but it's over."
Alan Jackson plans to revisit his gospel roots on his new 15-track studio album, Precious Memories, which is due
out on Feb. 28th. The album was originally recorded as a Christmas gift for his mother.
Peter Gabriel's 1986 hit single, "Big Time," has been named the official World Wrestling Entertainment's
"Wrestle Mania 22" theme song. The song will be used to promote the Apr. 2nd live pay-per-view event.
A link to the petition asking the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp for Roy Orbison can be found at his official
Web site www.royorbison.com. Meanwhile, a reissue of Orbison's live CD, Black & White Night, hits stores this
week featuring guest performances by Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello among others.
Aerosmith have plans to start work on their follow-up to 2004's Honkin' On Bob in late spring. According to frontman
Steven Tyler, "It's going to be just like what the White Stripes are doing, and like a couple of songs on
Sheryl Crow's new album."
Work has been completed on Survivor's new 12-track studio album, Reach, and a release date has been scheduled for
Apr. 21st.
VH-1's upcoming Behind The Music special focusing on Ratt will air in the first week of April according to former
frontman Stephen Pearcy. Pearcy will release his solo album, Fueler, in Europe on Mar. 7th.
A double-disc 34-track Judas Priest compilation, The Essential Judas Priest, will be released on Apr. 4th via Columbia
Records/Legacy Recordings.
Hall & Oates have reportedly been signed to play themselves on an episode of Will & Grace. The duo will
play a hired band for a surprise wedding ceremony.
After years in production limbo, the Marvin Gaye biographical film, Sexual Healing, has got the green light. Jesse
L. Martin is set to play Gaye in the independent drama written and to be directed by Lauren Goodman.
A new 22-track double-disc collection of remastered Prince hits and remixes entitled Ultimate will be released
on Mar. 14th (one week before the new Prince album 3121.)
Erasure will release the 4-track Boy EP on Mar. 20th in the U.K. which features the version of title track from
their upcoming acoustic album Union Street. A live BBC Radio version of "I Bet You're Mad At Me," the
instrumental track "Jacques Cousteau" and the Union Street sessions leftover "Cry So Easy"
round out the rest of the EP. Union Street will be released in the U.S. on Apr. 18th.
One of Axl Rose's pre-Guns N' Roses bands, Rapidfire, are mixing several songs from his time in the band during
the early 80's. No release date has been announced.
James Taylor has started working on his follow-up to 2002's October Road. According to Taylor, he has several things
started and near completion with hope to have something ready as early as March but expect a release date later
than that.
Luther "Luke Skyywalker" Campbell is releasing his new dual audio book, Uncle Luke: My Life And Freaky
Times, prior to the book release this April. A tribute compilation third disc will be included.
According to an interview with GQ magazine, Ray Davies plans to meet with his former Kinks bandmates to evaluate
if a reunion would be relevant and not nostalgia.
Jeff Scott Soto has plans to release The Essential Ballads collection via Frontiers Records due to unexpected airplay
of some songs on U.K. radio. His new album, Bar, with Talisman is also in the works.
Dead Or Alive's 1985 #1 U.K. single "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" has jumped back into the U.K.
Singles chart at #5 in the wake of vocalist Pete Burns' new notoriety from his appearance on the U.K.'s Celebrity
Big Brother. Bon Jovi entered the chart at #19 with "Welcome To Wherever You Are."
Iceland's biggest band,The Sugarcubes, release two DVDs this week. Live Zabor is a collection of 13 live performances
from 1988 to 1989 with band member interviews. The second release, The DVD, gathers all of their videos.
Chicago's XXX will be their first all-original studio album since 1991's Twenty 1when released on Mar. 21st. The
first single, "Feel," hits Adult Contemporary radio later this month.
Ozzy Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne impersonator John Culshaw have filmed an ad for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
as the product launches it's new campaign pointing at how difficult it can be to tell the two apart.
The Levellers have released their second single from Truth & Lies, "Last Man Alive," as a CD single
(with "When Loves Runs Out Of Time as a B-side) and download bundle (with an additional B-side "Lowlands
Of Holland (live).)
Dr. John plans to release, Mercernary: The Songs Of Johnny Mercer, a collection of reworked Mercer songs on May
23rd. Also included in the collection is the Dr. John-penned "I Ain't No Johnny Mercer."
Cracker are scheduled to release CD and DVD packages under the title Get On With It: The Best Of Cracker on Feb.
21st.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that former Rich Kids On LSD frontman Jason Sears, 38, died in Tijuana, Mexico,
on Tuesday where he was receiving treatment for a drug addiction at an alternative detox clinic. The cause of death
was determined to be pulmonary thrombosis. Sears led the band from 1983 to 1989 and reunited with RKL from 1994
to 1996.
Poison Idea founding guitarist Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts, 47, was found dead in his Portland, Oregon,
home on Tuesday morning. No cause of death had been determined but he was reportedly suffering from an untreated
kidney infection and flu in recent weeks. The punk act was founded in 1980 and disbanded in 1993. Roberts was known
for his size (sometimes weighing more that 450 lbs.) as well as for his drinking and living life on the edge.