George Michael [born George Panayiotou] was sentenced on June 8th in Brent Magistrates' Court to 100 hours of
community service, ordered to pay $4,622 and banned him from driving for two years for driving under the influence
of drugs. Michael pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs.
According to a recently released press statement by UB40, they are not involved in a £250,000 writ issued
in the High Court in London, claiming breach of copyright against “Kingston Town” and that Paris Hilton’s record
“Stars Are Blind” (which was released last year), was "a blatant rip off" of the classic hit recorded
by the band. However, the claim is expected to have been instigated by the original songwriter's music publisher,
Sparta Florida Music Group, who own the copyright to the song.
An investigation has been launched by the Cardiff Council into claims that Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash and
singer Scott Weiland smoked on stage during a concerts at the Cardiff International Arena. Smoking has been banned
in enclosed public spaces in Wales since Apr. 2nd. If prosecuted and convicted, the fine could be £200. The
manager of the building can be fined a fixed penalty of £2,500 for failing to stop someone from smoking.
Charlie Wilson (lead singer of The Gap Band) has filed a lawsuit against Capitol Records, the American label of
EMI and the American division of Heineken Inc. in federal court for using the song "Beautiful" (which
he recorded with Snoop Dogg) in an advertising campaign for Heineken Premium Light Beer without his permission.
Wilson has also charged EMI with not paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits gained for that song
as well as "You've Got What I Want" (which features Snoop Dogg, Jelly Roll, Ludacris and Goldie Loc.)
Phillip Rudd [born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis] pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault on
his former partner in Tauranga District Court last week. Judge Robert Kerr discharged the 53 year-old AC/DC drummer
without conviction. Rudd's lawyer successfully argued that a conviction would have a significant impact on his
client's musical career and therefore outweighs the gravity of his offense. Police reduced the charge from the
more serious offense of male assaults female which could get up to a 2 year prison sentence.
Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister reportedly fell ill after soundcheck for their June 3rd performance in Luxembourg.
He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation which determined he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection.
A few additional shows were canceled to allow him to rest up.
According to a post at their Web site, Outfield guitarist/keyboardist John Spinks is on the road to recovery from
his fight over the last year with a rare liver cancer. They would like to thank everyone for their concern, support
and kind messages. Meanwhile, John recently signed to a new publisher and the band have a number of new songs in
the pipeline. They are working hard to make the new Outfiled material available in the future.
Ozzy Osbourne's latest studio album, Black Rain, holds the #10 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart with sales
of 47,000 copies. Sales of the disc dropped 69% from the previous week where it held the #3 spot.
RockStar Music Corp. has announced that the new Loverboy studio album will be released in August as will a second
single to follow "The One That Got Away."
An album of songs from artists participating in the True Colors tour will be released on June 12th via Silver Label
under the title True Colors. Erasure's track on the compilation, "Early Bird (DJ Manolo's True Colors Mix),"
is a duet with Cyndi Lauper. The disc contains songs by Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, the Indigo Girls and many
others.
The Meat Puppets release their first new album in over a decade, Rise To Your Knees, on June 17th. Those pre-ordering
the disc via AnodyneRecords.com will receive a signed poster, buttons, stickers and other random memorabilia from
the band.
Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie has finished working on his solo album which should be released via Rykodisc
on October 9th (possibly even September if everything goes smoothly.)
Waylon Jennings' last major concert will be released in uncut form on DVD, Never Say Die: The Final Concert Film,
in a double-disc CD and DVD on July 24th. The performance took place at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium in February
2000.
Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor has confirmed to Germany's Rock Hard magazine that he has been working
with Anthrax on material for their new studio album. He also says that although he is good friends with the band
members they are taking baby steps right now.
Animotion vocalist Astrid Plane has finally seen her latest studio album, If I Was Magic, become available for
purchase on iTunes.
The B-52's are wrapping up work on their first new studio album since 1992's Good Stuff. According to front man
Fred Schneider, there is more electronica on it, it's up tempo and sexier than ever. Plans are to release the album
next year and to shop for a new record label.
Former Curiosity Killed The Cat vocalist Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot's label, Megafan Records, has released a new dance
single of his former band's hit "Name And Number" by Element VS Ben VP.
The official MySpace page for They Might Be Giants (http://www.myspace.com/theymightbegiants) has posted the video
for "With The Dark" from their upcoming album, The Else, due out July 10th.
The final recording session from the late Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby will surface on the Air Pavilion album,
The River/The Life, available for purchase at www.juancroucier.com. Former bandmate Juan Croucier produced, engineered
and mixed the album that includes Kelly Hanson (currently with Foreigner), Jay Shellen (previously with Asia) and
Tom Croucier (of the Turtles.) A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Aid For Aids in memory of Robbin
Crosby.
The new musical by the Who's Pete Townshend, The Boy Who Heard Music, will premiere in Poughkeepsie, New York,
on July 13th.
Exodus have recently started recording their next studio album at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California, with
a plans to release it later this year.
The Goo Goo Dolls have released their new single, "Before It's Too Late." The song comes from the Transformers
soundtrack which heads to stores on July 3rd.
Former Parliament/Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins has been working on a new project called Science Faction. The
as-yet-untitled debut album is expected early next year with a tour to follow.
Styx and ZZ Top will perform at Spike TV's Guys Choice awards which premieres on June 13th. Donnie Wahlberg and
Chris Cornell are among the presenters and honorees.
Shriekback have released their new album, Glory Bumps, via the Malicious Damage Records' Web site. The first 100
copies will include a bonus copy of their privately releases 2001 mini-album, Having A Moment.
Heat Of The Moment, is new book covering the official history of Asia written by the band's webmaster David Gallant
(made in full cooperation with the band and management) will be released on June 22nd. The book can be pre-ordered
at OneShopRock.com.
Former Smiths and current Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr has collaborated with PF Flyers to design a limited-edition
sneaker with all proceeds going to The Pictor School and Cure Autism Now charities.
The new single from Ziggy Marley's sophomore solo album, Love Is My Religion, will be "Into The Groove."
Tiffany's new studio album, Just Me, has been released. The disc can be ordered at Amazon, 10 Spot and CD Universe
or downloaded at iTunes.
Morrissey has told the Daily Record that he would like to be buried in the celebrity cemetery Hollywood Forever
in Los Angeles. He decided on the cemetery after visiting the grave of Joey Ramone.
Eagle Rock Entertainment's EV Classics division will release Tina Turner Rio '88 on DVD on June 26th. The 13-song
performance catches Turner in support of her 1986 album, Break Every Rule.
Paul McCartney's first release via Starbuck's Hearmusic label, Memory Almost Full, claimed the #5 spot on the U.K.
Album chart. His last album, 2005's Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, peaked at #10.
Buzz have released their new 12-track album, Les Musiques Nouvelles. The disc can be purchased in in France via
FNAC stores or online at www.nordwaves.info.
Bon Jovi has an new first to add to their career. The band will issue the first-ever "all-in" presale
that bundles their digital album and a concert ticket together as a single transaction sold via Ticketmaster.com.
The bundle will be priced $9.99 higher than the standard iTunes purchase of Lost Highway. The online presale program
is available exclusively to American Express cardholders purchasing the Lost Highway Ticket Package at Ticketmaster.com
from June 12th to 14th and to the general public June 15th to 22nd. Tickets for the show without the album go on
sale June 23rd. The concert ticket will be for their performance at the new Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, guitarist Richie Sambora has entered a rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles according to his representatives.
The Pet Shop Boys' performance at Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional on Nov. 14, 2006 has been chronicled on a live
DVD, Cubism In Concert. The set which contains 27 songs from the performance is due out via Rhino on July 24th.
Kiss' Gene Simmons will be writing an update to Sun Tzu's The Art Of War as an essential guide book for the 21st
century warrior. Meanwhile, A&E has renewed Gene Simmons Family Jewels for a 3rd season.
The Levellers will release their new studio album, What A Beautiful Day, on June 25th. An exclusive iTunes bundle
is expected to be available.
Despite recently pulling out of the upcoming Poison and Ratt tour due to a threatened lawsuit by former member
Vito Bratta, Mike Tramp has confirmed that a new White Lion album is due out later this year under the name, Return
Of The Pride.
A new book of photos from Glen E. Friedman with D.C. post-punk act Fugazi as the subject entitled Keep Your Eyes
Open is due out the fall.
Crowded House's new studio album, Time On Earth, will be released in North America via ATO Records on July 10th.
The Happy Mondays comeback album will be titled Unkle Sysfunktional when released this summer prior to U.K. tour
dates in September and October.
You may not think of the song the same way again but "Don't Stop Believin'" from Journey's 1981 Escape
album was played throughout the final scene of HBO's The Sopranos finale.
Emmylou Harris' 5-disc boxed set will be entitled Songbird when released via Rhino on Sept. 18th.