Willie Nelson and his manager David Anderson received a sentence of 6 months probation and a little over $1,000
in fines and fees after they plead guilty to marijuana possession in Louisiana. A pound and a half of the drug
was found when his bus was stopped last September.
Phil Spector, 67, appeared in court last week as opening statements were made in his murder trial. Spector is accused
of the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson over 4 years ago. The defense claims Clarkson shot herself while
the prosecution claims Spector had a history of pulling guns on women he was dating. He faces 15 years to life
in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Spector is a legendary producer and worked on the Ramones' Rock
'N' Roll High School as well as the soundtracks for Dirty Dancing, Top Gun and Ghost.
Celebrity Big Brother 3 winner Bez of the Happy Mondays was denied entry to the United States "due to tightening
immigration and working visa legislation." The band was on their way to Coachella to perform their first concert
in the U.S. in 15 years. The rest of the band still performed on Sunday.
Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson's injury to his left wrist is healing well enough for the band to start announcing
dates for their 2007 World Tour to start on June 2nd in Monterrey, Mexico.
Crystal Gale has been named the "Best Female Entertainer" at the second annual American Entertainment
Magazine Readers Choice Awards.
The Oak Ridge Boys' "Jonah, Job and Moses" was named Country Song of the Year at the 38th annual Gospel
Music Association's Dove awards. Alan Jackson's Precious Memories (his first ever gospel album) was named Country
Gospel Album of the Year.
50 years and two months since her first top 40 appearance on the U.K. charts, Shirley Bassey's new single, "The
Living Tree," has debuted at #37.
The first single from Duran Duran's new studio album is due out later this summer with the album being released
via Sony/BMG in the fall. The band are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on the album.
Rush release their new studio album, Snakes & Arrows, this week. Also hitting stores this weeks are the DVDs:
A Show Of Hands, Exit Stage Left and Grace Under Pressure.
Actress Scarlett Johannson is reportedly working on a tribute album, Scarlett Sings Tom Waits, due out this winter.
She must have some talent as the Jesus and Mary Chain had her singing backup on "Just Like Honey" at
Coachella. The band also debuted a new song, "All Things Must Pass."
Merle Haggard is doing his part to get Democratic candidate into the oval office. A few months ago he unveiled
a song, "Hillary," to promote Hillary Rodham Clinton. Two months later, he is allowing John Edwards to
hand out an advance copy of Moneyland (a CD collecting songs about the plight of rural America) to campaign donors
contributing $50 or more.
Nine Inch Nails' 6th studio release, Year Zero, sold 187,000 copies last week debuting on the Billboard 200 album
chart at #2. In an effort to reach even more fans, the band have released 3 new tracks via BitTorrent over The
Pirate Bay network.
Loverboy have been working on their new studio album, Back For More, due out in June. The first single from the
set will be, "The One That Got Away."
Paul McCartney's new studio album, Memory Almost Full, will be the first album by the artist to be made available
digitally. The 13-track set is due out on June 5th and the first single from the album will be, "Ever Present
Past."
Erasure will release "Sunday Girl" as their second single from their new studio album, Light At The End
Of The World.
According to management for ABC, work is going extremely well on the new studio effort and "fans will be able
to hear it soon." The group are looking at late 2007 tour dates in the U.S.
Kenny Rogers is opening a new Web site, TheGamblerPokerClub.com, which is a free and legal poker club offering
players the chance to win prizes (one is a free 8-day cruise during the next few weeks.) All members are offered
a chance to win a seat at the World Series of Poker this year.
A new song written by Bono and Dave Stewart about the AIDS emergency in Africa, "American Prayer," was
performed by American Idol contestants last week.
John Eddie will see his 1986 self-titled studio album reissued this week on CD. The album included the charting
single, "Jungle Boy."
Dream Theater will release their new studio album, Systematic Chaos, on June 5th on CD and special edition CD and
DVD. The first single off the album will be "Constant Motion."
The new book, The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx, by founding Styx bassist Chuck Panozzo with
Michele Skettino will be released on May 15th.
Amy Grant is leaving Word Records after 30 years with record label. She has signed a new deal with EMI Christian
Music Group's Sparrow which will include her back-catalog as well as new releases. Plans are to repackage and re-master
all 16 of her catalog titles on Aug. 14th in stores and digitally. A new greatest hits package is due out in October
with at least one song from each album and a special edition with a bonus DVD containing videos and more. She also
has a book, Mosaic, due out this fall prior to starting work on her next album.
Echo & The Bunnymen will release a new DVD, Dancinghorses, on June 26th. The 20-song set was filmed and recorded
during their 2005 performance at The Shepherds Bush Empire and features interviews with both Ian McCulloch and
Will Sergeant.
A new musical based on the 1999 best-selling autobiography, Aretha: From These Roots, will premiere in her hometown
of Detroit in March 2008. Offers of a film and telefilm have been made since announcing the musical with Dreamgirls
star Jennifer Hudson is being considered to portray her.
The Mission U.K. new 15-track studio album, God Is A Bullet, will be released in the U.S. in June but is now available
in stores in Europe and there on iTunes.
On April 25th, guitarist Pete Townshend of the Who unveiled his music project, the Lifehouse Method, to journalists
in London. The 'method' is an Internet-based software program allowing the user to create music after inputing
personal information (a digital photo, a rhythm, a sound and a voice.)
Spinal Tap have announced that they have been writing a new song called "Warmer Than Hell" and reuniting
to perform for the upcoming Live Earth event.
Magazine's Howard Devoto will reissue his 1983 solo album, Jerky Versions Of The Dream, on July 2nd in a remastered
edition.
The Suicide Comando anniversary 3CD/DVD box set, X.20 [1986-2006] will be released on May 25th.
The new Essential Squeeze collection released this week in the U.K. features 2 previously-unreleased tracks on
the CD, 7 previously-unreleased videos and a 45 minute concert from 1982 from the BBC.
The first 3 out-of-print Think Tank records (Mandroid, Skullbuggery and The Screen) have been re-released digitally
at iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody and Ruckus. Think Tank is the industrial-techno side-project of Information
Society's Paul Robb.
There are unconfirmed rumors that Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan has been working on new material for a new solo album.
This may be just writing sessions to demo songs to later bring to the band but we'll keep our eyes on this.
Former Birthday Party and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds member Mick Harvey will release his new solo album, Two
Of Diamonds, on July 17th. This will be the follow-up to 2005's One Man's Treasure.
The Alarm will release an EP of new material during upcoming performances. They plan to release their new studio
album, Counter Attack, next year.
Paul Carrack's latest compilation, Greatest Hits: The Story So Far..., is now available for purchase at his official
Web site (www.carrack-uk.com).
Pixies lead singer Frank Black (a.k.a. Black Francis) will release a double-disc greatest hits compilation entitled
Frank Black 93-03 on June 12th. His solo career retrospective will be divided on the discs by studio tracks and
live material. The collection will feature the new song, "Threshold Apprehension," from his next studio
album, Bluefinger, due out in September.
Heaven And Hell will release, Live From Radio City Music Hall, in DVD and a double-CD set via Rhino Records on
Aug. 28th.
Tito Jackson has been forced to pull out of performing in the upcoming stage show, Thriller Live, due to family
circumstances. Former Shalamar vocalist Jeffrey Daniels has replaced him in the show.
Crowded House's first new studio album in 14 years, Time On Earth, will
feature a song co-written with former Smiths/current Modest Mouse
guitarist Johnny Marr called "Even A Child."
Richard Thompson has been working on his studio follow-up to 2005's Front Parlour Ballads. The album, Sweet Warrior,
will be released on May 29th via Shout! Factory.
Five of Kenny Rogers' early albums (which includes 1981's Love Will Turn You Around and 1985's Love Is What We
Make It) have been re-released via digital download services.
Boy George has announced he will be going on a solo U.K. tour in October. This may hamper attempts to sign a reunited
Culture Club to appear at the upcoming Retrofest in the U.K.
Vocalist Ronny Munroe of Metal Church is finishing up work on a new solo album featuring several of his former
Rottweiller bandmates due out later this year.
An upcoming documentary, Let Fury Have The Hour, is on the way. The film looks at the political impact of artists
like the Clash over the last 40 years. Hopes are to finish the work before the end of the year to be timed with
the election. Meanwhile, the biography, Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer, will be published on May 23rd.
Former Clash and Big Audio Dynamite guitarist Mick Jones will release an EP with his new band Carbon/Silicon (with
Generation-X bassist Tony James) in May with a full album to follow.
A new double-DVD celebrating two decades of Doro, 20 Years: A Warrior Soul, will be released on May 22nd. The collection
contains live performances, behind-the-scenes documentaries and a bonus CD.
A new 4-CD box set entitled FxxK The Mainstream [Vol.1] is due out June 15th. The collection includes songs from
Skinny Puppy, KMFDM, Front 242, Fields Of The Nephilim and Front Line Assembly.
Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop's project, Strung Out Troubadours, will release their version of "All Along The
Watchtower" as the new single from their new CD, Live At Hugh's Room.
Ratt's reunion is planned for more than a quick reunion tour. The band are reportedly working on a new 'best of'
collection on CD and DVD. Former Ratt bassist Juan Croucier recently released a statement explaining he is not
involved in the reunion due to problems in negotiations and that he will instead work on a new solo album.
Bad Brains release their 'comeback album' entitled Build A Nation on June 26th. Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys
produced the album which is the first time the original members have recorded together in over a decade. Meanwhile,
the Beastie Boys plan to release their new album, The Mix Up, in June.
The Pet Shop Boys will release a new live DVD, Cubism Live, on May 21st. The material was recorded during their
November 2006 performance in Mexico City.
Voivod have reportedly finished filming the video for the single, "Polaroids." The band also plan to
record the follow-up to Katorz in the fall.
Lake will release their concert DVD, Live! 12/28/2005, on June 5th which was recorded at a sold out show in Hamburg,
Germany.