On Tuesday afternoon, a major fire started at the home of late country singer Johnny Cash. No injuries were
reported but construction crews were working on the house when the fire started. The cause is currently unknown
but a flammable wood preservative that was recently applied to the home is suspected. Bee Gees member Barry Gibb
purchased the house in January of 2006. Work was being done to restore the home as the singer/songwriter planned
to write songs there.
Drummer Don Bolles (a.k.a. Jimmy Michael Giorsetti) of the Germs was arrested last week in Newport Beach, California,
after a traffic stop on suspicion of felony narcotics possession. He was released from jail on Sunday on $2,500
bond. A field test of items in a toiletry kit that was inside the vehicle indicated that a bottle of Dr. Bronner's
Magic Soap contained GHB. As of the report, the Orange County Crime Lab was conducting more tests. Bolles told
the Los Angeles Times that he's been using Dr. Bronner's for 35 years and that the organic ingredients give him
the complexion of a 15 year-old. Executives at Dr. Bronner's have hired an attorney to represent Bolles. According
to the company president, the soap does include hemp oil and police field tests of Magic Soap have occasionally
indicated THC but never GHB.
U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson has ruled that Collier County deputies did not use excessive force in an altercation
with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, Florida, on New Year's Eve 2003. The judge's
ruling claimed the actions of the deputies "were objectively reasonable." He also ruled that the hotel
and a security employee weren't negligent in the case. Lifeson's lawyer has said he plans to appeal. Last year,
Lifeson and his son accepted a plea deal that included no jail time.
A Los Angeles federal judge has dismissed a $20 million lawsuit filed by the Beach Boys' company Brother Records
against Roy A. Sciacca, Allen Gaba and Gem System Inc. claiming memorabilia (which includes rare photos and handwritten
lyrics) was stolen from Gaba's warehouse prior to the band emptying it in 1994. Sciacca claimed that he purchased
the items at a warehouse auction in the 1980s. The judge ruled that Brother Records failed to prove the allegations
that the defendants acquired the property improperly, wrongfully or illegally.
Janet Jackson may be called to testify under oath in a case being brought against her and boyfriend Jermaine Dupri
by Leonard Salati. Salati, a Jackson fan, alleges that he was choked by two of Janet's bodyguards when he tried
to pass a note to the singer at a club in February of 2004. Meanwhile, LaToya, Jermaine and Tito are reportedly
working with CBS on a series called Pop Dynasty which will see families tested for their ability to work as a group.
Janet and Michael are not involved in the project at this time. Michael has also been reportedly working with 50
Cent on a song called "Trial Of The Century" chronicling Jackson's legal troubles.
Trey Anastasio, 42, pleaded guilty on Friday to a felony drug charge. He reached a plea agreement which dropped
more serious charges, orders him into a drug court program and avoids jail time.
Former Replacements and current Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson severely sprained his hand by trying to stop
his fall down a flight of stairs. Doctors said that nothing was broken but there may be some ligament damage. The
injury has forced the band to postpone their Japanese tour in mid-April. Meanwhile, when asked my MTV Brazil about
a possible GN'R reunion, Slash has said that not a lot of them are thinking about it but getting the original STP
and GN'R to do a few shows may be a good idea in the future.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Julian Lennon has sold a significant financial stake in his late father's
compositions for the Beatles to Primary Wave Music Publishing. The deal relates to the songwriting income generated
by John Lennon's compositions as opposed to the publishing rights.
Melissa Etheridge has been working on her first new studio album in 3 years with plans to release it at the end
of the year. Etheridge will be honored on Wednesday with the ASCAP Founders Award during the 24th annual ASCAP
Pop Music Awards in Los Angeles.
The Edge (a.k.a. Dave Evans) will be given an honorary doctorate of music from Berkley College next month for his
"achievements in the world of music and enduring contributions to American and international culture."
The B-52's recorded the first half of their new studio album last fall in Rhinebeck, New York. The band have returned
to Athens to work on the second half with plans to release it this fall.
Ian Hunter will release his new studio album, Shrunken Heads, via Yep Roc Records on May 15th. The Web site for
Yep Roc (YepRoc.com) is previewing the song "Words (Big Mouth)" from the album.
Brian Ferry, 61, has issued a statement apologizing "unreservedly" for statements he made to a German
newspaper Welt Am Sonntag about Nazi iconography. Press reports claim that Ferry told the newspaper last month:
"The way that the Nazis staged themselves and presented themselves, my Lord!" "I'm talking about
the films of Leni Riefenstahl and the buildings of Albert Speer and the mass marches and flags. Just fantastic
- really beautiful."
Guitarist Jeff Watson has reportedly announced on the band's messageboard that he has left Night Ranger. Reb Beach
(Winger/Whitesnake/Dokken) is a rumored replacement. Watson recently released his solo album, Now Hear This One,
while the band took 2006 off.
Vince Gill, Carole King and Don Henley are among the guests that have recorded duets with Reba McEntire for her
new studio album, Duets, due out Sept. 18th. The first single will be released next month. McEntire will host the
42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 15th for an unprecedented 9th time.
Sonic Youth have finished work on compiling bonus tracks and rare photos for their deluxe edition of their 1988
album Daydream Nation due out June 12th. A 4-LP version set of the same release will be issued on the band's label,
Goofin' Records.
Crystal Zevon will release her book, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon, on May
1st. One of Warren's final requests made before his death was that his former wife Crystal compile his memoir.
Paul McCartney's producer David Kahne has debunked a post at starbucksgossip.typepad.com that claimed to be leaking
the song titles, song descriptions and even lyrics to the first and last song on McCartney's upcoming album Memory
Almost Full which is due out on June 5th.
Will Smith plans to return with a world tour later this year under the name Fresh Prince with longtime collaborator
DJ Jazzy Jeff and possibly releasing an album. He plans to put acting on hold to focus on the album.
Willie Nelson is reportedly teaming up with racetrack entrepreneur Richard Fields on a chain of country-flavored
casinos.
David Bowie will release a new 34-track anthology CD/DVD package entitled The Best Of David Bowie 1980-1987: Sight
& Sound on June 5th. The CD has 19 songs while the DVD as 15 video clips (which includes the previously-unavailable
clips for "The Drowned Girl" and "When The Wind Blows.")
Guitarist Gary Moore will release his new studio album, Close As You Get, via Eagle Rock Entertainment in June.
The album will hit Europe and the U.K. on May 21st.
The Isley Brothers are heading out on tour to support their latest album, Baby Making Music, which earned them
a Soul Train Award last year. They didn't get to properly promote it due to Ronald Isley needing kidney surgery
last spring. While on tour, they plan to work on new songs for a follow-up.
The Flaming Lips will release their first live DVD, U.F.O.'s At The Zoo -- The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City,
on July 10th.
According to a recent radio interview with former Spandau Ballet vocalist Tony Hadley, a likely "window of
opportunity" for the band to reform would be their 30th anniversary. To do so, a lot of issues between the
band members would have to be addressed.
Johnette Napolitano will release her new 12-track solo album, Scarred, via Hybrid Recordings on May 29th. The former
Concrete Blonde frontwoman will support the album with tour dates starting Apr. 27th in San Francisco.
It seems that there is another way to win tickets to Ozzfest. Ozzy Osbourne will release his first new studio album
containing new material in 6 years, Black Rain, on May 22nd. The album will contain a ticket code in specially
marked copies which you will redeem at Ozzfest.com for two tickets. The first new single from the album will be
"I Don't Wanna Stop" of which a sample can be heard at Ozzy.com.
Former Split Enz frontman and Crowded House member Tim Finn will release his new studio album, Imaginary Kingdom,
on Apr. 24th. According to Finn, the album came about while thinking about putting together a 'best-of' which is
something he plans to release in the near future.
Dokken are currently in the recording studio working on Lightening Strikes Again which is due out in September.
The band have also announced that rumors of Don Dokken getting married and drummer Mick Brown leaving the band
are false. Brown is not going to tour with the band this summer as he has a prior commitment with Ted Nugent.
According to the New York Daily News, the Police wanted a deal for a new record which the tour would support but
after hearing new material (which sounded a lot like Sting's jazzy solo work) they passed.
The Bongos will reissue a special edition version of their 1982 album, Drums Along The Hudson, via Cooking Vinyl
on May 22nd.
Mike Peters (of the Alarm), Slim Jim Phantom (of the Stray Cats), Billy Duffy (of the Cult) and Dave Wakeling (of
the English Beat/General Public) climbed up to the top of the Empire State Building today and recorded a version
of the Alarm's "Strength" which will be available on iTunes tonight. The ensemble also performed the
Cult's "Rain," the Stray Cats' "Rock This Town" and the English Beat's "Save It For Later."
The Empire State Building Rocks event was held in an effort to raise money and awareness for cancer on behalf of
the Love Hope Strength Foundation. Another event to be held on Oct. 9th will see several other musicians including
Glen Tilbrook (of Squeeze) and songwriter Nick Harper attempt to climb Mount Everest. This will be filmed for a
BBC prime-time documentary and a VH1/MTV special.
The Eagles will release, The Long Road To Eden, their first new studio album since 1979's The Long Run at the end
of June.
BJ Thomas will be filming a role in the independent film, Jakes Corner, in May. Thomas plans to have music on the
soundtrack. He has also been working on a new music including a duet, "Most Of All," with Willie Nelson
that is currently up on his MySpace page. A new live DVD with Billy Joe Royal is being shot from their Raindrops
To Boondocks tour.
Alan Jackson, George Strait and Jimmy Buffett's 15-track concert album from their 2004 performance in Dallas entitled
Live At Texas Stadium debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The life story of late R&B great Ray Charles has been turned into a new stage musical by the film producers
of Ray. Ray Charles Live! A New Musical is expected to premiere in Pasadena, California, later this year prior
to starting a U.S. tour.
Busy may be an understatement when talking of amount of work They Might Be Giants have in the pipeline. The duo
just finished work on their new studio album, The Else, due out July 10th. They've been working on a sequel to
their 2005 DVD, Here Come The ABCs, entitled Here Come The 123s which is due out in August. They've also been working
on writing music for an animated film based on Neil Gaiman's book Coraline.
According to Almacantar Records, vocalist Ray Burmiston of the Passion Puppets has a disc of 13 unreleased tracks
recorded during the early 1980s. The label is considering releasing the material and are considering artwork.
The Special Tour Edition of The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock includes a special code to buy one ticket and
get a 2nd ticket free when going to see Poison on tour this year.
Australia's Mi-Sex will see a remastered 19-track compilation, The Essential Mi-Sex, released soon. The band had
8 Top 40 hits in their homeland from 1974 to 1984.
Marty Stuart has been working with Kathy Mattea on her new studio album, Coal, which is about coal mining and its
culture. Stuart is producing the album.
Dublin Death Patrol have released their album DDP For Life online via their DublinDeathPatrol.com Web site. The
band includes California bay area vocalists Chuck Billy and Steve "Zetro" Souza, guitarists Andy Billy,
Greg Bustamante, John Hartsinck and Steve Robello, bassists Willy Lange, Eddie Billy and John Souza and drummers
Danny Cunningham and Troy Luccketta.
Kajagoogoo's Steve Askew has written, recorded and produced a new album with singer/songwriter Lu Cozma. The album
will be released under Cozma's name and titled Red.
Peter Frampton's 1981 album, Breaking All The Rules, (which has only been available as an import) has been released
as a digital download. The album (as well as 1979's Where I Should Be) will not be released as CDs.
Rod Stewart's son Sean will release his first-ever single, "In Crowd." The song is featured in the hit
A&E series Sons Of Hollywood on which he stars.
John Foxx and Louis Gordon have released their new studio album, Sideways, via Metamatic Records. The album can
be purchased online via Townsend-records.co.uk with song previews that can be heard at Foxx's MySpace page.
Canadian metal act White Wolf are expected to release their new studio album, Victim Of A Spotlight, on July 23rd
via Escape Music. The band had split up in 1987, one year after the release of Endangered Species.
No. No new album debut coming from Hurtsmile (the band that Gary Cherone is currently working with) but you can
download 3 of their new songs for free from their MySpace page.
Duran Duran have reportedly recorded a song with Nelly Furtado for their upcoming new studio album.
Legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock celebrated his 67th birthday on Apr. 12th.