Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards underwent minor surgery in a New Zealand hospital today. The surgery
followed signs of a "mild concussion" during a "spill" the 62 year-old musician took while
on vacation in the South Pacific. The New Zealand Herald has reported that the surgery was to relieve a subdural
hematoma (a blood clot to his brain.) A Rolling Stones spokesperson on Friday denied the guitarist would need the
surgery. Richards is expected to take several weeks to recover which will force the band to cancel the early dates
of the European leg of their A Bigger Bang World Tour.
A London High Court Judge has ruled in favor of Apple Computers in a copyright dispute between the company's iTunes
Music Store and the Beatles' Apple Corps. record label. Apple Corps. is owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, the
estate of the late George Harrison and John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.
Representatives for Michael Jackson have demanded an apology and to have the latest issue of GQ pulled from news
stands over photos of a Jackson impersonator show him in a movie theater with children and standing in the desert.
A Superior Court jury deliberated two and a half days before finding Chaka Khan's son Damien Patrick Holland not
guilty of murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. Holland was charged with the killing of
a 17 year-old aspiring rapper during a party at Khan's home 2 years ago.
Former Baywatch actress Donna D'Errico has filed for divorce from Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx after 9 years
together citing irreconcilable differences. D'Errico is seeking physical custody of their 5 year-old daughter Frankie-Jean
and her 13 year-old son Rhyan (from a previous relationship.) She is also seeking joint legal custody with child
visitation for Sixx with spousal support and attorney fees to be paid by Sixx.
According to the BBC, the Metropolitan Police have said that they have reviewed the charge that George Michael
drove away from the scene of an accident with 3 parked vehicles without notifying their owners and they plan no
further action.
The Goo Goo Dolls were forced to cancel their performance on Wednesday in Mount Clemens, Michigan, when a failure
in an underground electrical line apparently caused a series of gas explosions that sent utility hole covers flying.
Reba McEntire's WB television series Reba was recognized during the 10th annual Prism Awards for Comedy Series
Multi-Episode Storyline for Television. The awards are chosen based on the works that do the best job of accurately
portraying drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.
Annie Lennox will be honored with the Founders Award at the 23rd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards which will be help
on May 22nd.
Reggae veteran Eddy Grant was honored with hall of fame honors during the 25th Annual International Reggae &
World Music Awards on Saturday.
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee has teamed up with Operation AC to send Playstation games, portable DVD players and
copies of his latest solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, to a U.S. Army National Guard unit after hearing that a shipment
of their personal items had been stolen en route.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, Bruce Springsteen's We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions sold 149,000 copies
landing it at #3 and the Goo Goo Dolls' Let Love In debuted at #9 with 83,000 sales.
The deluxe reissues of Depeche Mode's three most popular albums (1981's Speak And Spell, 1987's Music For The Masses
and 1990's Violator) have been given a May 16th release date.
Axl Rose recently told the listeners of Eddie Trunk's syndicated radio show that the long-delayed album, Chinese
Democracy, will be out this year. He also mentioned that they had enough material for 2 and a half albums almost
completed.
Billy Joel is planning to release a two-disc live album recorded during his unprecedented twelve sold-out nights
at New York's Madison Square Garden earlier this year entitled 12 Gardens Live.
Janet Jackson has posted a new song, "Weekend," on her official www.janetjackson.com Web site. Her next
single, "Call On Me," will be released to radio on July 19th.
Aaron Neville has signed a deal with Sony BMG's Burgundy Records imprint. The first album from the deal will be
the as-yet-untitled collection of classic soul covers with some special guests yet to be announced.
Sarah McLachlan's "Good Enough," Conjure One with Sinead O'Connor's "Texas From The Moon,"
Rusted Root's "Weave" and Eddi Reader's "Bell, Book & Candle" are among the songs included
in the Charmed: The Final Chapter original television soundtrack arriving at stores this week.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers' single, "Dani California," it hanging at #2 on the U.K. singles chart followed
by a remake of Rockwell's 1984 hit, "Somebody's Watching Me," by Beatfreakz at #3. Meanwhile, Michael
Jackson's DualDisc single reissue of "Remember The Time" is the first to debut outside the top 20 on
the chart (at #22.)
Starbucks will exclusively sell Diana Ross' previously-unreleased album, Blue, of standards prior to the June 20th
release at retail stores.
Grant Lee Buffalo leader Grant Lee Phillips has recorded an album of his favorite songs from the 80's entitled
nineteeneighties due out on June 27th. The collection includes classics by the Pixies, New Order, Joy Division,
Robyn Hitchcock, Echo & The Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, the Church, Nick Cave, R.E.M., the Cure and the Smiths.
Kool Keith has dusted off his persona of Dr. Octagon for a 13-track new studio album, The Return Of Dr. Octagon,
due out on June 27th.
David Bowie has decided to take a year off from writing and performing because he is "fed up" with the
music industry.
The Psychedelic Furs, who reformed nearly 6 years ago after a decade-long hiatus, plan to record their first new
studio album since 1991's World Outside with plans to release it next year.
Randy Travis has plans to be in New Mexico on May 18th to film a new Christmas DVD under the title Randy Travis:
Christmas On The Pecos.
Cheap Trick will release Rockford, their new studio album named after the Illinois town they came from, on June
6th. The first single from the album will be the Linda Perry-penned "Perfect Stranger."
Sananda Maitreya (formerly Terence Trent D'Arby) has finished the the second volume (20 tracks) for his download-only
Angels and Vampires project. Each of the songs are available for download at his official Web site.
Christian metal act Saint plan to release their new studio album about the book of Revelations, The Mark, on May
10th.
Widespread Panic will release their new studio album, Earth To America, on June 13th followed by a U.S. tour on
June 21st.
Social Distortion are in the recording studio working on their follow-up to 2004's Sex, Love And Rock 'n' Roll
with plans for a late 2006 or early 2007 release via TimeBomb Recordings.
Vocalist Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl has been working on a new solo album which could be released as
early as February. Thorn recently saw her song with Tiefschwarz, "Damage," released as a single.
A 14-track collection of well-known Neil Diamond cover songs entitled Forever Neil Diamond is due out May 23rd.
Among the tracks are Urge Overkill's "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon," UB40's "Red Red Wine,"
Shane McGowan & The Popes' "Cracklin' Rosie" and Deep Purple's "Kentucky Woman."
Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross has composed the music for the theatrical production of No Mean City which begins on May
18th in Glasgow.
Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago has joined EliasArts as a featured artist and plans to work on television commercials
while the band is on hiatus.
Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin will publish his book with religious historian Preston Jones, Is Belief In God
Good, Bad Or Irrelevant?, on July 30th.
Bon Jovi's duet with Jennifer Nettles, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," holds the #1 spot on the Hot Country
Songs chart for a second straight week.
Casbah Club will release their debut studio album, Venustraphobia, via their official Web site (www.casbahclub.co.uk)
on June 17th.
Linda Ronstadt has collaborated with Cajun music artist Ann Savoy on a new studio album, Adieu False Heart, due
out July 25th. The first single from the album is a cover of Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee" on which
they share vocals. The two previously paired up on the 2002 compilation album Evangeline Made which was nominated
for a traditional folk Grammy award.
Rolling Stone magazine celebrated their 1,000th issue on Friday at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The event kicked
off with John Mellencamp singing a duet of Dr. Hook's "On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone" with magazine
founder Jann Wenner. Also in attendance was Ice-T, Sebastian Bach, Mike D of the Beastie Boys and Lou Reed.
CBS has announced that Rock Star: Supernova will premiere on Wednesday, July 5th with the second episode broadcast
following the premiere of Big Brother 7 the next day.
Go-Betweens frontman Grant McLennan, 48, died in his sleep from an apparent heart attack on Saturday at his Brisbane,
Australia, home. McLennan was a founding member of the band who recorded 6 albums before going on a decade-long
hiatus. McLennan would release 4 solo albums before the band reunited in 2000. The band recently performed in Sydney
on Jan. 16th to promote their new live concert CD/DVD, That Striped Sunlight Sound. Co-founder/vocalist Robert
Forster announced on Sunday, "The Go-Betweens have made their final album. They have played their final show.
We let it rest at that, being very proud of what we have done." "Cattle And Cane," one of their
best known songs, was voted one of the top 10 Australian songs of all time in a poll of songwriters and publishers.