Malawi's High Court ruled today that Madonna
will not
be allowed to adopt a second child, 4 year-old Mercy James, from the
country. Court registrar Ken Manda later told reporters that
her adoption bid was rejected because the singer was not a resident of
Malawi. Judge Esimie Chombo warned against celebrity
adoptions, saying they lead to child trafficking. "Anyone
could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might
have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to
protect." An appeal to their Supreme Court is expected to
follow.
A judge has denied Michael Jackson's request to have hundreds of his
former possessions returned to him prior to an auction to be held on
Apr. 22nd. Plans for another motion for an injunction to stop
the sale are scheduled to be heard on Apr. 15th.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Apr. 4th will
see "a sort of family reunion" according to Metallica drummer Lars
Ulrich. The band (to be inducted by Red Hot Chili Pepper
bassist Flea) has invited former bassists Ron McGovney and Jason
Newsted, founding guitarist Dave Mustaine (who according to latest
reports is unable to attend) and Ray Burton (father of late Metallica
bassist Cliff Burton, who will accept on behalf of his son) to take
part in their moment in the spotlight. The band are
reportedly also planning to film a new live DVD on July 7th in Nimes,
France. Also being inducted will be Run-DMC, Jeff Beck and
Bobby Womack.
The late George Harrison will be honored on Apr. 14th with the
unveiling of his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Twilight soundtrack retained the #3 spot on the Billboard 200
albums chart this week on sales of 102,000 copies. U2's No
Line On The Horizon fell 4 places to #6 on sales of 51,000
copies. The Indigo Girls' Poseidon And The Bitter Bug debuted
at #29. The various artist compilation NOW That's What I Call
Power Ballads debuted at #30. Dolly Parton's Backwoods Barbie
re-entered the chart at #40.
Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis' "I Told You So" fell 16 places
to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Eminem, Dr.
Dre & 50 Cent's "Crack A Bottle" dropped 6 spots to #28.
The Pet Shop Boys' new studio album, Yes, debuted at #4 on the U.K.
Albums chart. Annie Lennox's The Collection fell 3 places to
#5. U2's No Line On The Horizon dropped 3 spots to
#9. Lionel Richie's Just Go fell 9 places to #19.
Lionel Richie & The Commodores' The Definitive Collection
dropped 6 spots to #20. Bette Midler's The Best Bette fell 14
places to #23. Pearl Jam's reissue of Ten entered the chart
at #29. ABBA's Gold: Greatest Hits climbed 2 places to
#37. U2's U218 Singles re-entered the chart at #38.
The Dubliners' The Very Best Of The Dubliners dropped 18 spots to #39.
The Saturdays' cover of "Just Can't Get Enough" dropped 10 places to
#14 on the U.K. Singles chart. Jenkins/West/Jones/Gibb's
Comedy Relief cover of "Islands In The Stream" fell 20 spots to
#23. Pet Shop Boys' "Love Etc" dropped 13 places to
#27. Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent's "Crack A Bottle"
fell 9 spots to #32.
Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland has a new project called
OHMphrey. The group includes two members of Poland's OHM
project and 3 members of Chicago-based jam-band Umphrey's
McGee. Their 8-track self-titled debut album is due out via
Magna Carta Records on May 19th. Meanwhile, OHM are readying
material for their next album.
It seems that the March performance by obscure Dallas rapper Blofly at
the SXSW conference has raised the ire of 70 year-old x-rated rapper
Blowfly. He's announced a 4 date tour in the area called
Tex-Ass 2009 to "squash a Dallas-based impostor." It seems
that this hasn't been the first time someone has tried to work under
the name as two metal acts were challenged previously.
The Smithereens have announced that they will release The Smithereens
Play Tommy, a tribute to the Who rock opera, on May 5th.
Former TKA member K7 (Louis "Kayel" Sharpe) has released his new his
new album, The King's Agenda, via CDBaby.com. Meanwhile,
former TKA members Angel and Aby are booking tour dates.
Kenny Loggins has made a musical contribution, "Underneath The Same
Sky," to the soundtrack to Disney's Tigger & Pooh And A Musical
Too due out on Apr. 7th. Loggins has also taped an appearance
on PBS' Legends & Lyrics that will air this month.
The award-winning documentary Anvil: The Story Of Anvil is gearing up
for a U.S. theatrical release but has already become the
highest-grossing music documentary in U.K. history and 3 major labels
are currently in a bidding war for the release of the
soundtrack. The resurgence of the band has inspired them to
work on a new album soon.
Terri Nunn & Berlin have entered an agreement with the Fuel
Label Group to produce a live DVD and CD of their Apr. 4th performance
at the House Of Blues -- Sunset in West Hollywood. The
double-pack DVD/CD is expected out in June and appear on digital
download retailers at the same time.
The Rolling Stones will see their 1980 album, Emotional Rescue, 1981's
Tattoo You and 1983's Undercover reissued by Universal Music Group in
June. 1986's Dirty Work, 1989's Steel Wheels, 1994's Voodoo
Lounge, 1997's Bridges To Babylon and 2005's A Bigger Bang will follow
in July. A collector's box of all 14 of their albums after
1971 is in the works as well as digital download versions of all the
reissues.
"Dust Devil" has been selected as the first single to be released from
Madness' upcoming album, The Liberty Of Norton Folgate.
Gipsy Lady, the first album from the Michael Schenker-Gary Barden
Acoustic Project heads to stores on CD and vinyl on May 19th prior to
their U.S. tour.
Motown/UMe have celebrated the 70th birthday of late R&B
vocalist Marvin Gaye with the release of the 14-track collection,
Marvin Gaye: Then & Now, out now.
Santana have signed a deal with Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino that will bring them to the 4,007-seat Joint starting May
27th. Plans are to have them perform about 36 concerts there
per year and will be the only place west of the Mississippi that fans
can see them perform live through 2010.
On Mar. 27th while in Mexico City for a concert as part of a brief
Mexican tour, Peter Gabriel met with Mexican President Felipe
Calderón and urged him to increase efforts to end the
violence against women and murders in Ciudad Juárez and
Chihuahua.
The double DVD of Ministry's Adios...Puta Madres (containing 15 live
tracks and a 45-minute documentary) will be released on May 26th in
North America. A CD companion-piece with the same title came
out earlier this week via 13th Planet Records.
Loverboy plan to release a new compilation, Greatest Hits...The Real
Thing, via Sony Music Entertainment Canada on Apr. 7th in their
homeland. The 16 track collection will include the
previously-unreleased track "I'm Alive" and "The Real Thing" from their
latest album.
Tyler Perry has cast 7-time Grammy-winner Gladys Knight in his latest
film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Production of the film is
underway and it is expected to be released on Sept. 11th.
The Goo Goo Dolls have released, "Real," their new single (which
originally was released on the AT&T USA Olympic Team
soundtrack) via iTunes. The band have been working in the
studio on their next album.
JG Thirlwell of Foetus has seen the release of The Venture Bros.: The
Music Of JG Thirlwell on CD via Adult Swim's online store and as a
digital download via iTunes and other retailers.
Erasure's Total Pop! Deluxe Box will be released via Rhino Records on
Apr. 7th. The set includes recently remastered versions of
all the band's singles, a career-spanning collection of live
performances and a DVD of their best BBC appearances.
The new double CD/DVD compilation, The Very Best Of Ultravox, will be
released in the U.K. on Apr. 6th to coincide with their reunion tour.
Booker T. Jones (of the legendary Booker T. & The MG's), 64,
will release a new album, Potato Hole, via Anti- on Apr. 21st backed by
three members of the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young. In
1981, Jones scored a solo chart hit with "I Want You."
The 2004 celebration of Trevor Horn's 25 years as one of the most
successful pop music producers at the Princes Trust will head to DVD on
May 19th via MVD Entertainment.
Morrissey has announced that the next single from Years Of Refusal will
be "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" when released on Apr. 27th in the
U.K. Two different CD singles and a 7" vinyl will be released
and include individual live versions of "This Charming Man," "Best
Friend On The Payroll" and "I Keep Mine Hidden."
Tori Amos will release her tenth studio album, Abnormally Attracted To
Sin, via Universal Music on May 19th.
Crosby, Stills & Nash have dusted off some of their early demos
appropriately titled Crosby, Stills & Nash Demos to be released
via Rhino on June 2nd to coincide with their induction into the
Songwriter's Hall of Fame (on June 18th) and summer tour
dates. The band are currently working with Rick Rubin on a
covers album.
Thomas Dolby will reissue expanded editions of his 1982 album, The
Golden Age Of Wireless, and 1984's The Flat Earth in the U.K. in June.
A new book following the last 3 decades of Manchester music, The North
Will Rise Again: Manchester Music City 1978-2008, by John Robb will be
published on Apr. 28th.
The Jayhawks have announced they will reunite their mid-1990s line-up
for some summer shows this year. Members Mark Olson and Gary
Louris have released a new album, Ready For The Flood, have plans for
another, will work on some solo material and have acoustic tour dates
together scheduled for this month.
The new book Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music by
Greg Prato was released this week and tells the definitive story of the
Pacific Northwest music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s via
over 130 original interviews.
Paul Carrack will release his new studio album, I Know That Name, on
May 5th via 429 Records. The album includes the singles "No
Doubt About It" and "I Don't Want To Hear Anymore" (which features Don
Henley and Timothy B. Schmit.)
Devo founding member Jerry Casale recently told Flavorwire that he is
working on a biopic about the band's early days.
Dunbar Productions has announced plans to hold The First Annual Kyle
Rae Sweet Benefit Concert on June 5th in Woburn,
Massachusetts. All proceeds will benefit The Sweet Children's
College Fund. Also announced was the Stryper 25th Anniversary
Tour starting in September prior to the release of their new album
Murder By Pride.
New Jersey's first superhero, The Toxic Avenger, will have a musical
open at The New World Stages on Apr. 6th. Fellow New
Jerseyian David Bryan (Bon Jovi keyboardist and founding member) has
written the music and lyrics to the new musical. The original
cast recording of The Toxic Avenger will be released to stores and
digitally on May 5th.
Vanessa Williams has announced that she will release her new
Latin-flavored album, The Real Thing, via Concord Records on June 2nd.
Martha Wash has been in the studio working on new material.