Hank Williams Jr. has filed for divorce from his fourth wife, Mary Jane, after 16 years of marriage claiming
the former model has a problem with addiction. "My family has lived with the pain of Mary Jane's addiction
over the last several years and I have exhausted all efforts in the rehabilitation process. I've decided for the
sake of my children to create a healthier home environment during their formative years." The couple have
a teenage son and daughter together.
Former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio has been handed felony drug possession, driving while intoxicated and driving
under the influence of drugs charges in Vermont. Anastasio faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Jacque Hollander's claims that she was raped by the late James Brown at gunpoint
in 1988. The lawsuit by Hollander, Brown's former assistant, was thrown out of court in Chicago last year after
it was ruled that she waited too long to make the charges.
George Strait has scored his 42nd #1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with "It All Comes Natural."
Meanwhile, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Snow (Hey Oh)" holds the #1 spot on the Modern Rock singles chart
for a 5th week.
Loretta Lynn, 71, will receive an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee College of Music during her Grand Ole
Opry performance on Mar. 17th.
Charlie Louvin releases his new self-titled studio album this week featuring guest appearances by Elvis Costello
(on "When I Stop Dreaming") and George Jones (on "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face" and "Waiting
For A Train.")
Vocalist Ian Astbury has officially announced he will be leaving Riders On The Storm (which included former Doors
members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger) to be fully engaged in re-launching the Cult with guitarist Billy Duffy.
"I have decided to move on and focus on my own music and legacy."
Dolly Parton reportedly has recorded 24 new songs for her next studio album. A title has yet to be decided on but
it is due out later this year.
Cancer survivor Mike Peters of the Alarm has started the Love Hope Strength Foundation "as a way to payback
medical science for the skill and dedication show to me by the doctors and nurses in my hometown, which has so
far kept me alive and in remission and to provide others with the support network I had to win my battle."
Squeeze's Chris Difford is finishing work on his second solo album, Another Day Above Ground. He also expects that
a Squeeze reunion will happen in the future but isn't sure the time is right quite yet.
Marillion have finished work on their new studio album, Somewhere Else, which is due out on Apr. 9th in the U.K.
Pre-orders are available at Townsend Records with an exclusive bonus DVD, Something Else, which includes 3 of the
album tracks performed live at Marillion Weekend 2007
Chris Cornell has announced the split of Audioslave due to "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as
musical differences." The former Soundgarden vocalist plans to focus on his own music again with his second
solo album, Carry On, due out May 1st. The 14-track set will include Cornell's cover of Michael Jackson's "Billy
Jean" and the recent theme to the James Bond film, Casino Royale, "You Know My Name."
Original Guns 'N Roses drummer Steven Adler has recently claimed he and Axl Rose have buried the hatchet. Adler
has also said that he has talked with Slash, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan about a reunion.
Cleopatra Records release a new compilation this week entitled Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before:
A Tribute To The Smiths which includes contributions from Tiffany (on "Panic"), Bow Wow Wow (on "I
Started Something I Couldn't Finish") and Gene Loves Jezebel (on "Ask".)
Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame has released a new concert CD, Live At The Blue Note Jazz Club, Osaka, via his www.roddyframe.com
Web site. The recording took place in Osaka, Japan in September of 2006.
According to Daily Variety, Universal Pictures is developing a feature film about the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli.
Jeff Nathanson who wrote Catch Me If You Can will reportedly write and direct the film.
VH1 Classic Metal Mania Stripped Volume 3 will be released on Mar. 6th via Sidewinder Music and VH1 Classic Records.
The album features hits by Accept, Autograph, Dokken, Kix, Firehouse, Queensryche, Winger, Poison, Tesla, Ratt,
Tom Kiefer (of Cinderella), Jani Lane (formerly of Warrant) and many more.
According to a post by Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton at their Web site, the band will not have their new album
out by the middle of the year. "We've got a busy year coming up. After the European tour...we take a short
break and then go back to the studio."
According to a post by Tim Burgess of The Charlatans U.K., he has been in Los Angeles for the last two months and
has recorded 5 new songs with bandmates Mark Collins and Tony Rogers with expectations of bringing 8 back to the
U.K. to demo in their personal studio.
Vinnie Paul Abbott's new project, Hellyeah, have placed their first single, "You Wouldn't Know," on their
MySpace page. Their debut album is expected in stores on Apr. 10th.
Michael Jackson appears as a guest artist on New York rapper Tempermental's new song, "No Friend Of Mine (Gangsta)."
The song can currently be heard at the rapper's MySpace page. Meanwhile, Jackson's representative, Raymone Bain,
has told Access Hollywood, "There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that Michael Jackson is going to appear
on American Idol." The show's executive producer has also denied the rumors.
Thomas Dolby has been writing new material for his first new studio album since 1992's Astronauts & Heretics
(although he did release the Gate To The Mind's Eye soundtrack album in two years later.)
"Far Cry" is scheduled to be the first single from Rush's new studio album, Snakes & Arrows, due
out May 1st. The single is expected at radio stations in mid-March.
The first single from an upcoming album of all new material from the late Rick James, "Deeper Still,"
was the #1 most added song at Urban Adult radio during its first week.
Former Dio and AC/DC drummer Simon Wright will be replacing UFO's Andy Parker during their tour in March. Parker
slipped on a wet floor and broke his ankle (needing a plate and several screws in his ankle.)
Former Jam bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Jam's debut,
In The City, with a U.K. tour starting in May. This will be their first official tour together in 25 years. The
group's final concert performance (with third member Paul Weller) was in Brighton, England, in December of 1982.
Foxton and Buckler have also written new material with vocalist/guitarist Russell Hastings and guitarist/keyboardist
David Moore and plan to release a new studio album this summer.
Tracii Guns new version of L.A. Guns have released a new single, "I Do." The group have planned a tour
starting on Mar. 2nd. Meanwhile, the other version of the band will tour with Warrant and Firehouse on the 80s
Invasion Tour.
The Inspiral Carpets are planning an 8-date U.K. tour to promote their upcoming exclusive digital release of Keep
The Circle (which is composed of B-sides of their 13 U.K. Top 40 singles, rarities and the rare first ever recording
by the band "Garage Full Of Flowers") due out at download stores on Feb. 26th.
During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Queen Latifah said that she wants to adopt 18 kids but instead of going
outside the country, she would rather "help a kid in the hood."
Air Supply's Graham Russell has been working on a rock opera, The Heart Of The Rose, with wife Jodi Russell and
historical writer Graham Phillips (who penned the 1988 bestseller Robin Hood: The True Story.) The musical presents
the real story behind the myths of Robin Hood.
Poison's Bret Michaels has been handpicked by VH1 and producers Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego for the channel's new
series Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. The rock spin on Flavor of Love premieres in July.
The Hooters have been busy in the studio working on their new studio album. The disc, their first in 14 years,
is scheduled for release later this spring.
Throbbing Gristle's original four members (Chris Carter, Peter Christopherson, Genesis P. Orridge and Cosey Fanni
Tutti) will release their first new studio album in over 25 years, Part Two - The Endless Not, via Mute Records
on Apr. 3rd.
Carlos Santana and wife, Deborah, have announced a partnership with Dudum Sports & Entertainment Corp. to develop
Carlos Santana's Maria Maria restaurant which will specialize in Mexican cuisine.
Hard rock act Hurricane are regrouping to record a new studio album and plan to support it with a world tour.
A new 11-track Revolting Cocks remix album, Cocktail Mixxx, will be released via Mega Force on Mar. 6th.
An expanded version of the Goo Goo Dolls recent album, Let Love In, is on the way on Feb. 27th which will add a
DVD, Live And Intimate, featuring live performances, music videos and acoustic versions of the songs. The album
has already been certified gold and has spawned 4 hit singles.
Mute Records plans to release a 128-track 10 CD boxset, Mute Audio Documents, on Mar. 26th containing single releases
(the first 4 cover from 1978 to 1984) are meant to show the musical development of their label and artists. A 2-disc
set entitled Rarities will have rare tracks from The Normal, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Nick Cave &
The Bad Seeds. Noteworthy are the live Yazoo tracks from the label's vaults.
Ruffians have made a limited number (50) of signed copies of their new album, Desert Of Tears, available via OSM
Records at www.osmrecords.net/index2.html
Willie Nelson, Carlene Carter, Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello,
Billy Joe Shaver, Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris have contributed songs to the June Carter Cash tribute album,
Anchored In Love, due out June 19th.
The original musical score for Mark Ryden's Blood - Miniature Paintings Of Sorrow And Fear composed and produced
by Stan Ridgway and Pietra Wexstun will be released in a special pressing of 1000 in jewel box edition at CDBaby.com.
The new DVD, Yes: Live At Montreux 2003, will be released on Mar. 20th via Eagle Rock Entertainment subsidiary
Eagle Eye Media.
Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys is producing the new studio album by Rufus Wainwright entitled Release The Stars.
Theatre Of Hate will reunite with their original members this year in the studio (an early mix of one new song,
"The Swarm," can be heard at their MySpace page) and 25th anniversary tour starting in April.
Everything But The Girl vocalist Tracey Thorn will release her new studio album on Mar. 20th. Thorn did release
a solo album, A Distant Shore, in 1982.
The B-52's could release their first new studio album if 15 years later this year. According to an interview Fred
Schneider had with the Atlanta Journal, the band are halfway through recording.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, Duran Duran and Melissa Etheridge are among the first 25 (of 100 total) acts
signing on to perform for Live Earth -- the Concert for a Climate in Crisis concert series on July 7th.
David Lee Roth was interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine's Brian Hiatt (appearing in the upcoming issue due out
Feb. 23rd) about his reunion with Van Halen.
A new Tony Bennett documentary, The Music Never Ends, is on the way. The film is directed by Bruce Ricker and executive
produced by Clint Eastwood blending rare archival footage with unreleased clips of the singer's performance at
the Monterrey Jazz Festival and an interview.
EMI/Virgin will release a 5-CD boxset of classics from the decade, 101 80s Hits, on Feb. 26th.
Factory Record founder Tony Wilson, who managed the early careers of Joy Division, Happy Mondays, A Certain Ratio,
The Durutti Column and New Order, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Wilson underwent emergency surgery last
month to remove a kidney and chemotherapy treatment is expected to begin this week.