Shirley Bassey avoided what could have been a fatal accident when the helicopter she was in developed a fault
and was forced to make an emergency landing in Collingwood College in Camberley, Surrey. Bassey had been returning
to London from her appearance at the Glastonbury festival. The aircraft began making noises before dropping low
over homes and touching tree tops on the way down. According to the pilot, "I was losing power... the mist
was so thick I couldn't see where I was going. I've got a special passenger."
Guitarist Rick Smith of the electronica duo Underworld was injured during a riot caused by "anarchists"
at the Ejekt Festival in Athens, Greece, on Saturday. The stadium reportedly was stormed by about 30 masked individuals
that were armed with CS-gas, iron bars and baseball bats during the Beastie Boys performance. The stadium was evacuated.
Smith was hospitalized and has now returned to England for further treatment. Meanwhile, the group is hoping to
release their new studio album, Oblivion With Bells, in October. As of yet, they have not signed with a new label
after parting ways with V2.
According to a statement released by former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, DNA test results have come back showing that
Eddie Murphy has been confirmed as the father of her 2 month-old daughter Angel Iris Murphy Brown. Murphy has not
commented at this time and is busy shooting his next comedy Starship Dave.
Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Tommy
Lee's manager Carl Stubner for giving bad career advice and making business decisions with his own interests in
mind which cost the band's annual revenue to fall to only $19 million in 2006. Lee's reality series schedule (Tommy
Lee Goes To College and Rock Star: Supernova) allegedly prevented him from joining the band in the studio in 2006
to record an album to be released this year (per an agreement made with Wal-Mart.) They are asking for more than
$20 million in damages for breach of fiduciary duty and constructive fraud.
A July 16th contempt-of-court trial has been scheduled by District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez after deciding
on June 12th that Universal Express Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, had violated earlier court orders to withhold
some of the more than 1,100 items offered at the recent Jackson family auction in Las Vegas.
Buck Owens was honored on June 20th in Nashville, Tennessee, by the Academy of Country Music with the Jim Reeves
Award for his outstanding contribution to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
A tribute concert for late Boston vocalist Brad Delp is being planned by his son and daughter. Boston have offered
to play a short set on Aug. 19th along with a few other artists (Stryper's Michael Sweet, Starship's Mickey Thomas
and Sammy Hagar.)
Johnny Cash's bus JC Unit 1, which was used by him with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson on
the Highwaymen tour, will be on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
George Harrison, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ricky Martin are among the artists and celebrities that will have
their own stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2008.
BBC News reports that Ozzy Osbourne has won the icon gong at the Mojo awards which took place at The Brewery in
London.
Paul McCartney's latest studio effort, Memory Almost Full, holds onto the #3 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart
with sales of 107,000 copies. The Traveling Wilbury's Traveling Wilburys holds the #9 spot with 78,000 copies sold.
The various artist compilation Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur debuts at #15 followed
by Eddie Levert Sr. & Gerald Levert's Something To Talk About at #19.
The Traveling Wilburys' Collection drops to #2 on the U.K. Album chart this week. Bon Jovi's Lost Highway and The
Police's The Police both drop two places to 4 and 5. Genesis' Turn It On Again: The Hits fell five spots to #10.
Wal-Mart has a special edition version of Poison'd, the new Poison covers album. The band decided Justin Timberlake's
"Sexyback" almost ranked up there with the other songs on the album so it was made a bonus track for
the special edition. If you need a good laugh, they are pretty proud of this fan-made video (not recommended for
those under 18) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeHu2eMqsGk
New Order bassist Peter Hook confirmed to BBC 6 Music that the band have split. "It has been very sad actually,
and it has been very difficult to live with, but that is life, isn't it? But you pick yourself up, you dust yourself
off, and you start all over again." When pushed for a reason for the band splitting up, he replied, "It's
personal."
HDNet plans to re-broadcast John Mellencamp's Walter Reed Concert and air The Plain Truth: Dan Rather with John
Mellencamp on July 1st. They will re-air both the interview and concert on July 4th.
The 2005 reunion performance by the Raspberries at Los Angeles' House Of Blues was recorded for the new CD/DVD
set entitled Live On The Sunset Strip due out July 31st via Rykodisc. The band, which features Eric Carmen ("All
By Myself"), originally split in 1975.
Former Replacements and current Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson is reaching out to friends and fans. "On
February 3, 2007, my sister-in-law, Hilary Kruger, and her family were devastated in a horrible act of violence
when a stranger broke into their home and murdered her husband, Tracy, and Alec, one of her two young sons. Hilary
is still in critical condition as I write this. We are trying to raise money to get her and her son, Zak, back
on their feet, as they have a long a very difficult road ahead of them." A benefit show was recently held
in Waseca, Minn., and a few special eBay auctions have been arranged that include a Les Paul guitar Robin Finck
used on tour with GN'R as well as hockey and baseball jerseys signed by all the current members of the band with
proceeds going directly to Hilary. You can find the auction here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZrubykitty123
The Waterboys' new studio album, Book Of Lightning, will be released in the U.S. via W14/Decca through Universal
Records on Aug. 21st. The U.S. version will include an additional new remix of "Crash Of Angel Wings."
Dolly Parton has reportedly taped her second guest-starring role for the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.
A new VH1 reality series, The Salt 'N' Pepa Show, will premiere later this year or early 2008 following Cheryl
"Salt" James and Sandy "Pepa" Denton as they attempt to reunite personally and professionally.
Kool & The Gang will appear live on the Home Shopping Network on July 9th to promote (and possibly sell) their
new studio album, Still Kool, due out July 10th.
A new book, Black Tooth Grin: The High Life, Good Times, And Tragic End Of 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, about the
late Pantera/Damageplan guitarist is in the works by writer Zac Crain to be released by Perseus Books in November
of 2007. A publicity firm representing the Abbott family have issued a statement as to why they did not authorize
or co-operate with him on the book. "Mr. Crain's request to the family was denied. Among other reasons, during
his tenure as music editor of the Dallas Observer, Mr. Crain wrote nothing but negative reviews about Pantera's
music." One such review can be read at: www.dallasobserver.com/2000-01-20/music/please-kill-me/
Paul Weller has collaborated on a new limited-edition single, "This Old Town," with Blur's Graham Coxon
to be released through Regal Singles Club on July 30th. The single includes Coxon/Weller-penned B-sides "Each
New Morning" and "Black River."
Former Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard launches his Happy Jack Records Single Series on Oct. 9th in conjunction
with his new albums Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love.
A song entitled "Divorcing Jack" written and recorded by the late Joe Strummer for a film of the same
name (but never used) has resurfaced and was debuted exclusively on Friday on BBC Radio Ulster's Late Show. The
show that night was dedicated to the late Clash singer.
Paul McCartney plans to sign a second long-term record deal in the coming weeks with Starbucks' HearMusic label
after the success of sales from Memory Almost Full.
Ted Nugent's new 13-track studio album, Love Grenade, will be released in August via Eagle Rock. The title track
will be the first single from the album heading to radio shortly.
A re-mastered 25th anniversary enhanced edition of Laurie Anderson's Big Science album will be released on July
17th. Included in the release will be liner notes by Anderson, the video for her hit single "O Superman"
and the B-side "Walk The Dog."
Celine Dion's "You And I" has been chosen as the campaign song for New York Senator Hillary Clinton's
2008 run. The song appeared on the singer's 2004 album A New Day: Live In Las Vegas. A video spoofing the Soprano's
ending scene with "Don't Stop Believin'" in the background was used to announce the Clinton's Web site.
Meanwhile, the Journey song shot to #1 download on the iTunes Music Rock Chart following it's use on the show and
Steve Perry denied rumors of his return to the band in a post at www.fanasylum.com.
Megaforce Records plans to release the S.O.D. extended EP Rise Of The Infidels on Aug. 21st. The disc will include
4 unreleased songs by the band plus a live concert from Seattle.
Sammy Hagar will release a single, "Open," via Cabo Wabo Music to radio stations on July 2nd. The song
will also be available for download via iTunes. Hagar also has plans for a 60-date tour starting with his annual
birthday bash and ending on July 12th, 2008.
Rhino Records will release their new 4-CD box set, The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze and Brit Pop Gems of the
Last Millennium, on Oct. 2nd containing songs by 78 acts recorded between 1985 and 2000.
Morrissey mentioned an offer he received from Warner Brothers to record a new studio album while answering fan
questions on the www.true-to-you.net Web site. He has said that he is weighing that with some great touring offers.
Glen Campbell will see his back catalog of 25 albums released digitally starting on June 26th with the first 13
and the rest following on July 17th.
The Cure have been working on their new studio album which is expected to be released this fall via Suretone/Geffen.
The band have arranged tour dates starting Sept. 13th in Tampa, Florida.
Stan Ridgway has planned a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Wall Of Voodoo's Call Of The West. Ridgway
was the original lead singer for the band's debut EP and two studio albums (Dark Continent and Call of The West.)
According to Frank Black, the personality clashes that caused the Pixies to split up in 1993 are keeping them from
recording a new studio album.
Circus Diablo will release their self-titled debut album next week. The band is fronted by Billy Morrison of The
Cult and features former bandmate guitarist Billy Duffy, Almighty's Ricky Warwick and Fuel's Brett Scallions. Former
Cult/Guns N' Roses and current Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum makes a guest appearance. The first single from
the album will be "Loaded."
Sepultura's Max and Igor Cavalera have returned to the studio together for the first time in a decade. The brothers
split after family issues developed following the death of Max's stepson, Dana Wells, in a car crash leading Max
to form Soulfly. The brothers reconnected while Soulfly were on tour in Europe and the brothers started jamming
together in the studio and on tour. No date on when the new Sepultura album is due out.
Bodog Music has signed veteran thrash metal act Overkill for the release of their new studio album this fall.
Heart's Ann Wilson will release her solo debut album, Hope & Glory, on Sept. 11th via Zoe/Rounder. Her sister
Nancy appears on 3 songs and other guests include Elton John, k.d. lang and Wynonna.
American Music Club have a new studio album, tentatively-titled MacArthur Park, in the works helmed by producer
Dave Trumfio. Plans are to release it early next year.
Paul Rodgers recently told Billboard.com that he and Queen's Brain May and Roger Taylor have "recorded some
nine songs" for a new studio album. They plan to head back into the studio again in October for more work.
Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams of AC/DC will hit the road with Joe Lynn Turner of Deep Purple/Rainbow, Mark Farner
of Grand Funk Railroad and Steve Luongo of the John Entwistle Band as part of a tour called Classic Rock Cares
which raises proceeds for free music education and instruments for underprivileged children through the public
library system.
Columbia has announced plans to release a 51-track 3-CD Bob Dylan compilation on Oct. 1st. The tracklisting will
be "greatly influenced by impassioned fan lobbying on website dylan07.com. To be released on the same day
will be a single-disc 18-track 'best of.'
The first single from Bad Religion's new studio album, New Maps Of Hell, will be "Honest Goodbye." The
album, which is their 14th, celebrates their 27th year together and is due out July 10th.
Former Yes members Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Alan White have teamed up with guitarist Jimmy Haun for a new
project named Circa. They are expected to release their debut album, Circa: 2007, shortly before tour dates.
An agreement has been reached between the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Shout! Factory to create DVD
collections created from the many broadcast and cable television shows archived in the museum with the earliest
releases likely to appear in November.
A memorial celebration for Parliament Funkedelic trumpet player Richard "Kush" Griffith was held on Sunday
at Christ The King Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The event was arranged and organized by his brother Michael.
Legendary mariachi singer/actor Antonio Aguilar [a.k.a. El Charro de Mexico and Pascual Antonio Aguilar Barraza],
88, passed away on June 19th after a long illness. Aguilar started his career in the 1950's and recorded more than
150 albums (selling over 25 million copies) which many claim opened the doors in the U.S. and Latin America for
Mexican performers. Aguilar also appeared in 150 films, most notably along-side John Wayne in "The Defeated."
Singer/producer Hank Medress, 68, passed away in New York City on June 18th after battling lung cancer. Medress'
scored his biggest hit as a performer with his band The Tokens in 1961 with the #1 single, "The Lion Sleeps
Tonight." Medress was very successful in his second music career as a producer. During the 1980s he would
work with Dan Hill, Buster Poindexter, Olivia Newton-John, the Nylons and Phoebe Snow as well as work on the Scrooged
soundtrack.