Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday against vocalist
Anita Baker seeking over $250,000. Edmonds claims Baker broke two oral agreements and has refused to pay him producers
royalties for the song "Like You Used To Do" from her 2004 album, My Everything, which has sold 500,000
copies. He also claims that she canceled two shows and refused to pay him for concert dates they allegedly agreed
to.
According to the Daily Mirror, George Michael crashed into 3 cars in London while trying to park his SUV early
on Sunday. Police have confirmed the accident but have yet to identify the driver although an anonymous witness
told the paper they recognized the singer. The paper also claims that a representative of Michael's has tried to
contact the car owners to reimburse them for the damage.
According to a statement by Michael Jackson's attorneys, the singer will avoid declaring bankruptcy and restructure
his finances. Jackson is reportedly selling his half of the Sony/ATV catalog which includes his share of recordings
by the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and many others.
Former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele who ignited pyrotechnics that started the Station nightclub fire
in 2003 and pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter has written personalized letters of apology
to relatives of all 100 people who were killed. The letters will be given to the family members after his sentencing
next month. Charges are still pending against the nightclub owners who each face 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles won for Best Collaborative Video for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" during
the CMT Music Awards on Monday night. "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
won for Most Inspiring Video Of The Year. Hank Williams Jr. was also on hand to receive the Johnny Cash Visionary
Award.
Paula Abdul has been accused by PageSix.com of fabricating her claims that she was attacked on Apr. 2nd at a private
party at L.A. hotspot Xenii by Jim Lefkowitz. Sources have claimed that the story was fabricated to cover up her
being evicted from the club for drunken behavior.
The Wedding Present have posted 4 new songs from their next studio album on their MySpace page (at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=6881036).
The new album, Search For Paradise, will be released in North America on May 16th.
According to Janet Jackson, someone has leaked songs to the Internet that she recorded about 2 years ago with producer
Rich Harrison (including one titled "Put It On Me.") None of those songs are expected to appear on her
new album due later this year.
Glen Phillips has released his new studio album, Mr. Lemons, for pre-sale at stores.awarestore.com which will signed.
The album hits stores on May 2nd. Samples of some of the songs can be heard at his MySpace page (myspace.com/glenphillips.)
The Flaming Lips scored their highest album debut last week with their new album, At War With The Mystics, selling
48,000 copies landing at #11 on the Billboard Album chart.
Curious about Bruce Springsteen's upcoming CD, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, due out Apr. 25th? You can
listen to a 'Sneak Preview' of it until Apr. 20th at: http://www.sonybmgemail.com/arch/Hit?m=ocojzmfc3&u=oomft
According to Yes guitarist Steve Howe, he will rejoin Carl Palmer, John Wetton and Geoff Downes for a 25th anniversary
Asia tour with the original line-up with the possibility of recording new material.
Heaven 17's new single, "Hands Up To Heaven," from their latest album, Before/After, debuted on the Billboard
Club Play chart at #42. Their last appearance on the chart was 13 years ago.
Queen guitarist Brian May has addressed the band not performing on American Idol on Wednesday night, why viewers
saw a Queen medley by the show finalists instead and the on-air bickering between himself and finalist Ace Young.
May posted on his BrianMay.com Soapbox section that the band never planned to perform on the show but wanted to
do the coaching. He also explained that he thought Ace's version of the song was "pretty damn good" and
that the "not on my song" remark happened before they played together but was edited into the end to
make it seem like he wasn't happy with the final version.
Rhino Records will be releasing a new 20-track collection from k.d. lang's early years (1984-1993) entitled Reintarnation.
Under pressure from Palestinian and Israeli moderates, Roger Waters has requested a change of venue for his Tel
Aviv concert. The new venue will be at Chickpea field at Neve Shalom enabling both Palestinian and Jewish fans
to attend but also continue his opposition to the Isreali-built West Bank wall.
Enuff Z'nuff frontman Donnie Vie will release his solo debut album, Just Enough, on Apr. 25th via UMe Digital.
It seems Duran Duran have a virus and we can all get is as well. During their sessions for Astronaut, the band
recorded a song entitled "Virus" that didn't make the album but did get performed on tour in 2003. Those
in the U.S. that purchase the entire Astronaut at one time via iTunes get the track as an individual download.
In parts of Europe, the song is available as a single-song download via iTunes.
Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris are among the artists that have contributed to Solomon Burke's first full-length
country album which is due out on Sept. 26th.
A new Joe Strummer documentary, Let's Rock Again, will be released on DVD on June 27th. The film chronicles the
life of the former Clash frontman after the band broke up in 1986 with interviews, live performances and backstage
footage recorded prior to his death in 2002.
Duff McKagan and Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver will appear as guest judges on the Apr. 25th episode of the USA
Network series Nashville Star.
Tommy James will release his his first all-new studio album of the 21st century, Hold The Fire, in July featuring
his new single, "Love Words."
A new multi-million-dollar Musicians Hall Of Fame And Museum facility has been proposed in Nashville that will
honor feature memorabilia from artists hailing from across the globe from all styles of music. The museum is expected
to open in June.
Scritti Politti's new 14-track studio album will be titled White Bread, Black Beer and may be released as early
as June in the U.K.
Elton John's computer animated musical, Gnomeo & Juliet, which was axed by Disney recently has moved to Miramax.
The film tells the story of Romeo & Juliet set in the world of garden gnomes. Miramax is also owned by Disney
and terms of the deal were not disclosed. Meanwhile, John's wardrobe sale helped raise more than $700,000 for his
Elton John AIDS foundation.
Clan of Xymox plan to release their 11th full-length album, Breaking Point, on Apr. 25th via Metropolis Records.
"Calling You Out," "Eternally" and "We Never Listen" are expected singles from the
album.
Judas Priest are working on their next studio effort which will be their first concept album. The band plan to
tell the story of Nostradamus with a hard rock soundtrack and have been impressed with the results early on. They
plan on taking a break from the studio in May for VH1's Rock Honors.
T-Bone Burnett will release his first new studio album in 14 years, The True False Identity, on May 16th preceded
by the first single, "Zombieland." Also due out on May 16th is Burnett's Twenty Twenty: The Essential
T-Bone Burnett.
Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx has written a new song called "Head Will Roll" with Marion Raven and James Michael
that can be heard at: http://www.flashenhanced.com/marionraven/index3.htm
LL Cool J will publish his own fitness book, LL Cool J's Platinum Body, in January. The book was co-written with
his personal trainer Dave "Scooter" Honig featuring multi-level workouts for men and women.
Slayer have finished recording tracks for their currently-untitled album. Mixing is due to begin next week on what
will be their first new studio album featuring the entire original Slayer line-up in 16 years.
A 12-track tribute album entitled Sail Away: The Songs Of Randy Newman is due out on May 9th featuring performances
by Steve Earle and Bela Fleck.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers new single, "Dani California," debuted at #24 on the Hot 100 Singles chart
and #1 on the Modern Rock chart. The song is their 9th #1 Modern Rock single (and were previously tied with U2
and Green Day for all-time Modern Rock chart toppers.)
Neil Young has recorded a 10-track protest album entitled Living With War that he plans to play for his label,
Warner Music Group's Reprise Records, on Tuesday. One song getting a lot of attention is titled "Let's Impeach
The President."
The second single from Morrissey's latest album, Ringleader Of The Tormentors, will be "The Youngest Was The
Most Loved."
Boston radio station WAAF have announced a reunion show for Extreme's Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Geary
and Pat Badger. According to reports, that show will be the beginning of a full tour this summer.
R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Bo Diddley and Iggy Pop have recorded guest appearances on the New York Dolls' album, One
Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This, due out July 25th.
New Order plan to release a live DVD on June 19th in the U.K. entitled New Order - New York/Hyde Park featuring
their biggest performances last year.
A new book by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz entitled Fool The World: The Oral History Of A Band Called Pixies has been
released.
Paul Weller plans to release a double-disc live album, Catch-Flame!, this summer via Yep Roc that was recorded
during his December 2005 tour and contains songs from his previous bands the Jam and the Style Council.
Former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul DiAnno will release his new studio album, The Living Dead!, via Magick Records
on May 16th.
Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll will be released on DVD as a 2-disc Special Edition and 4-disc Ultimate Edition on June
27th. The film chronicled Chuck Berry's 60th birthday concert in 1986.
According to frontman Geoff Tate, Queensryche have hired a screenwriter to adapt their 1988 concept album, Operation:
Mindcrime, into a feature film.
Blondie's Debbie Harry has recorded a new track about Lil' Kim entitled "Dirty N Deep" that can be heard
at: http://www.flashenhanced.com/debbieharry/dirtydeep.mp3
Keep Apr. 21st in mind if you missed the television premiere of the New Cars on the Late, Late Show with Craig
Ferguson performing their new song, "Not Tonight," as it is scheduled for re-broadcast.
Iggy Pop has been working on new songs with his old band the Stooges for an as-yet-untitled album due out next
year. The album will be their first new recording together since 1973.
June Pointer, the youngest of the Pointer Sisters, lost her battle with an undisclosed type of cancer on Tuesday
in Los Angeles. In a statement released by her family, the 52 year-old singer died "in the arms of her sisters,
Ruth and Anita." June recorded two solo albums after leaving the Grammy-winning family trio and recorded a
1987 duet, "Heartbreak of Love," with Dionne Warwick. June was arrested for felony cocaine possession
in 2004 outside her sister Bonnie's apartment and was ordered to attend rehab.