The lawsuit filed against Michael Jackson by Joseph Bartucci
Jr. over claims of sexual and physical abuse (over 9 days in Jackson's limo during the 1984 New Orleans World's
Fair) has been thrown out of court. No reason for the dismissal has been given by the judge. Meanwhile, Jackson
has signed an exclusive recording deal with Bahrain-based Two Seas Records (a joint venture between Jackson and
Prince Abdulla Hamad Al-Khalifa) with a new album due out in late 2007. Some new Jackson tracks are expected to
be found on Whoo Kid's mixtape MJ Unit -- The Takeover which features 5 unreleased Jackson songs and mashups of
his previous hits with songs from the G-Unit camp. "Trial Of The Century" is expected to be the first
taste of Jackson's new music but sources are claiming the first single, "Now That I Found Love," will
be released on Nov. 21st.
Former Dokken guitarist George Lynch was hospitalized in Las Vegas on Friday night after a performance at the Empire
Room. A statement issued from his management said, "George apparently was dehydrated after a long drive through
the desert." "His body just 'shut down'" while performing after the drive. He was examined at the
hospital, treated, released, rested and planned to perform at the Dallas International Guitar Festival last night.
Melissa Etheridge's partner Tammy Lynn Michaels is expecting twins this fall according to a post on Etheridge's
Web site. The couple married in Malibu in 2003 and have been raising Etheridge's two children from a previous relationship
with Julie Cypher.
According to the New York Daily News, one of Prince's back-up dancers has been arrested on suspicion of trying
to smuggle 44 pounds of cocaine aboard a flight out of Rio de Janeiro. Dancer Cecilia Maximilia and Jennifer Salgnac
were picked up by the police at the airport on Apr. 17th as they were due to board a flight to Paris when the drugs
were found in false bottoms of their luggage. Meanwhile, Prince reportedly was negotiations with the producers
of American Idol about a possible appearance but couldn't come to an agreement with the executive producer about
his level of participation.
The CBS morning radio career of former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth came to an end last week when the singer
was fired and replaced with XM Satellite Radio hosts Opie and Anthony. Roth was hired in January as an East Coast
replacement for Howard Stern. Roth has intimated that his lawyers will seek full compensation from the $4 million
contract he signed.
Pixies frontman Frank Black and wife Violet welcomed their 4th child on Friday. According to Black's braggings,
daughter Lucy Berlin Thompson is "gorgeous" with "lips like Angelina Jolie."
Frank Zappa was honored at New York's Theater at Madison Square Garden during the 6th annual Jammys with the evenings'
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Take half of the Go-Go's and half of the Bangles and use their entertainment experience to find America's next
top girl band? Might sound like a reality series for those stuck in the 80's but it's actually in the works. Go-Go's
Kathy Valentine and Charlotte Caffey have joined Bangles' Susannah Hoffs and Vicki Peterson to co-executive produce
and appear on the program in development for the new CW network for 2006-2007. Hoffs has said about the series,
"Basically, we believe there are amazing female artists out there waiting for the opportunity to find each
other. We're looking to find them and then be their fairy godmothers."
Hank Williams Jr. is scheduled to perform his recent hit single, "That's How They Do It In Dixie," on
the Apr. 25th episode of USA Network's Nashville Star. Scott Weiland and Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver will also
appear on the episode.
The Panic Channel (vocalist Steve Isaacs with former Jane's Addiction members Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and
Chris Chaney) will release their debut album, (ONe), on Sept. 12th featuring the first single, "Why Cry."
The single and the song "Tea House Of The Spirits" will be released digitally.
Dolly Parton has a new cookbook, Dolly's Dixie Fixin's, that will only be sold via the Internet, at Dollywood or
at Dixie Stampede locations with proceeds benefitting Parton's Imagination Library which provides free books monthly
to young children.
Delerium and Steve Kilbey of The Church are featured performers on Blank & Jones' new album, Relax Edition
2, appearing on the songs "Fallen" and "Revealed" respectively.
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger is reportedly in talks with ABC about appearing in a comedy pilot about a crew
of working-class New York guys who decide to rob him. Jagger would only be expected to appear in a few scenes throughout
the series.
The 200 year-old home of William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys will be able to be restored to its original beauty
according to Golden's architect. The 'Golden Era' home was heavily damaged by tornadoes that swept through Tennessee
on Apr. 7th.
Canadian metal act Voivod have announced a July 25th release date for their new studio album, Katorz, in North
America via The End Records.
Rock trio Mission Of Burma will release their new studio album, The Obliterati, on May 9th via Matador. A new band
documentary, Not A Photograph: The Mission Of Burma Story, made its premiere at the Independent Film Festival of
Boston on Saturday.
Drummer Phil Barker, who joined the Buzzcocks in 1989, has departed the band and been replaced with Danny Farrant
just in time for the second leg of their European and upcoming North American tour.
Elvis Costello will be the focus of an upcoming episode of VH1's Decades Rock Live which will tape at Atlantic
City's Trump Taj Mahal on May 19th.
Versailles Records has announced the planned summer 2006 release of Three Lock Box: A Millennium Tribute To Sammy
Hagar. The album will include songs from Hagar's Montrose, Van Halen and solo career performed by current and former
members of Dio, Skid Row, Hanoi Rocks, Saigon Kick, Dokken, Zebra and many others.
Ice Cube has kicked off his cross-country tour in support of his upcoming new studio album, Laugh Now, Cry Later,
due out on June 6th via his own Lench Mob Records label.
Peter Frampton has signed a deal with A&M Records that will return him to the label after almost 25 years apart.
A&M and New Door Records will release Frampton's all-instrumental album, Fingerprint, on Sept. 12th.
The Players plan to release a new double A-side single, "No Big Deal / Find Your Way," from their 2005
album, From The Six Corners, on June 19th.
According to syndicated columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith, Poison's Bret Michaels is planning to start
shooting a film based on his own life after the end of the band's 20 Years Of Rock Tour.
British darkwave/industrial act Attrition will celebrate their 25th anniversary by releasing, Tearing Arms From
Deities, a 16-track collection of rare, remixed and re-mastered tracks.
Kenny Rogers will perform his current single, "I Can't Unlove You," on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday.
Also that day, he will also be a guest on the television entertainment news magazine Extra.
Secret Films and MVD will be releasing the new DVD, Shakatak - Live At The Playhouse, in North America on June
6th. The 18-track performance was filmed and recorded on May 28th of 2003 and is presented in Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound.
A double-disc compilation, Kornerstoned: The Alex Korner Anthology - 1954-1983, will be released on May 1st. This
remastered collection from the late Godfather of British Blues features performances with Eric Clapton, Robert
Plant, Keith Richards, Paul Rodgers, Long John Baldry, Dick Heckstall-Smith and many others. Several of his albums
are set to be reissued by Sanctuary Records later this year.
German metal act Grave Digger plan to release their double-disc 25 To Live via Locomotive Records on May 9th. The
album was recorded live in 2005 at performances in Brazil.
Oakland rapper Too $hort plans to release his 16th album (to be titled either Up All Nite or Blow The Whistle)
in mid-June via Jive Records.
Cracker will release their 7th studio album, Greenland, on June 6th via Cooking Vinyl. The new 13-track album is
the follow-up to 2003's Countrysides country/folk covers album.
George Michael is planning to celebrate his 25 years in the music business with his first tour since 1991. The
25 Live Tour will kick off on Sept. 27th in Madrid.
Tears For Fears will reportedly reissue their classic 1985 album Songs From The Big Chair as a double-CD in the
U.K. on May 1st featuring remastered original album tracks, B-sides, previously-unreleased versions and remixes.
Emmylou Harris recently filmed a video in Nashville for the song, "The River's Gonna Run," from the album
Artist's Choice: Music That Matters To Her.
According to his official Web site, former Kajagoogoo vocalist Limahl will release his new single, "Tell Me
Why," in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on May 26th. A video for the track has already been filmed.
The new World Party single, "What Does It Mean Now?," from the forthcoming May 2nd U.S. release of Dumbing
Up has been climbing the Triple-A chart. Karl Wallinger plans to take the band on tour in the U.S. and has already
started working on material for their next album.
Thinking about seeing a concert soon? Over 100 artists have donated tickets to the Music Cares charity (Music Rising)
that will be auctioned off at ticketmaster.com/musicrisingauctions to replace musicians' instruments destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina. Current auctions include shows by Celine Dion, Chicago/Huey Lewis & The News, Def Leppard/Journey,
Lynyrd Skynyrd/Doobie Brothers, Madonna, Melissa Etheridge, Sammy Hagar and Queensryche.