The family of Michael Jackson have had a second
autopsy performed on the singer as they await toxicology reports from
the first one. A short video from his tour rehearsals two
days before his death have been leaked. The Drug Enforcement
Administration have been asked by police to help look into the singer's
doctors and possible prescription drug abuse. A 2002 will of
Jackson's
was filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles court giving his entire estate to
a family trust and naming his 79 year-old mother Katherine and his 3
children as beneficiaries. Katherine has also been granted
temporary custody of the children. Plans are forming for a
memorial service to be held at the Staples Center with tickets to be
made available via an online lottery at
StaplesCenter.com/memorial.php. Meanwhile, Jackson had
reportedly finished work on an elaborate 3D production dubbed the "Dome
Project" that was to be used during his performances. The
"groundbreaking effort" using a system he created with filmmaker James
Cameron could be the final finished video piece ever seen by the
artist. Post-production work was in the process and due to be
completed this month. He also reportedly was working on two
new studio albums, one pop and another instrumental
classical. MVD have also announced plans to release Michael
Jackson: The Trial And Triumph Of The King Of Pop for worldwide release
on DVD on Aug. 11th. Several books are on the way as well.
It seems that Larrikin Music is going forward with their lawsuit
against Men At Work over their hit song "Down Under" claiming the flute
line in the track was taken from the "refrain of a 1934 children's
tune, 'Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree.'" According to
Billboard.biz, the band's record labels are asking that the case be
tossed out and that there are questions as to whether Larrikin even
holds the copyright to that song.
According to WBZTV.com, former Station nightclub co-owner Michael
Derderian has been released from prison early for good
behavior. Derderian was initially due out this fall and spent
less than 3 years behind bars after pleading no contest to 100 counts
of involuntary manslaughter for the fire that claimed 100 lives in 2003
during a Great White concert.
Due to injury to Red Hot Chili Pepper/Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith,
Chickenfoot have been forced to cancel some of their upcoming European
dates. "Chad was performing on stage last night in Paris and
during the show he hurt his right arm badly. He has torn his small
bicep and cannot play the show Wednesday, July 1st. The band is very
sorry they cannot play for their Spanish fans this week and plan to
return as soon as possible."
Aerosmith has postponed their July 1st, 3rd and 5th performances in
Cincinnati, OH, Hershey, PA and Virginia Beach, VA due to an
unspecified "artist injury." Plans are to reschedule those
performances soon. Meanwhile, guitarist Joe Perry expects to
master his new studio album next week and has been asking followers on
Twitter for help titling the disc.
Shy have released a statement. "Shy were due to play various
concerts in the U.K. and Spain / Gran Canaria during the second half of
this year, but due to the illness of Steve, we have decided it was best
to cancel these commitments. Steve is in good hands and the
band plan to recommence their activities when Steve has
convalesced. As Steve has completed his work on the new Shy
album, the album will be re-commenced and completed; hopefully this
year. Steve Harris and Shy hope to perform for their fans
again in 2010."
Grammy-winning country artist Ray Price, 83, is at home in Texas,
according to his spokesman, recuperating after a successful surgery
removing pre-cancerous polyps from his colon.
Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor received 8 proclamations from the
U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, the Governor of New York,
the New York State Comptroller, the New York State Senate and the
Suffolk County Legislature for his fundraising effort for Eric De La
Cruz.
Will Smith took home a Best Actor award at the 2009 BET Awards on June
28th. The O'Jays were honored with their Lifetime Achievement
Award. During the night, Janet Jackson took to the stage and
brought fans a special message from her family in the wake of Michael's
passing. "My entire family wanted to be here tonight but it
was too painful. To you, Michael is an icon. To us,
Michael is family and he will forever live in our heart. On
behalf of my family and myself thank you for your love and
support. We miss him so much. Thank you so much."
Eddie Van Halen tied the knot with girlfriend Janie Liszewski on June
27th. The ceremony took place at their Studio City,
California home.
Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings debuted at #6 on
the Billboard 200 albums chart on sales of 40,285 copies.
Chickenfoot's self-titled album fell 8 places to #15. The
Twilight soundtrack dropped a spot to #22. Dinosaur Jr.'s
Farm debuted at #29.
The Essential Michael Jackson re-entered the Billboard Digital Albums
chart at #1. His Thriller re-entered the chart at #2, Number
Ones entered at #3, Off The Wall entered at #4, Bad entered at #8 and
Dangerous entered at #10.
Michael Jackson's Number Ones climbed 147 places to #1 on the Billboard
Comprehensive Albums chart. His The Essential Michael Jackson
re-entered the chart at #2 and Thriller re-entered at #3.
Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings debuted at #9.
Michael Jackson also wound up taking the first 9 spots of the Billboard
Top Pop Catalog chart during the week. (Which includes The
Jackson 5 Ultimate Collection that came in at #5.)
No Michael Jackson on the FMQB AC40 chart as Paul Carrack's "I Don't
Want To Hear Anymore" climbs a spot to #10 and Boys Don't Cry's "Don't
Call Me A Country Singer" gained 2 places to #17.
Michael Jackson's Number Ones climbed 120 spots to #1 on the U.K.
Albums chart. Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's
Greatest Hits fell 3 places to #6. Michael Jackson's Thriller
climbed 172 spots to #7. George Harrison's Let It Roll fell 8
places to #12. Jim Reeves' The Very Best Of Jim Reeves
dropped 6 spots to #13. Michael Jackson's King Of Pop
collection entered the chart at #14. Neil Sedaka's The Music
Of My Life debuted at #15. Michael Jackson's Off The Wall
enters the chart at #17. Michael Jackson's The Essential
Michael Jackson entered the chart at #20. Dream Theater's
Black Clouds And Silver Linings debuted at #23. Meat Loaf's
Hits Out Of Hell fell 17 spots to #27. Mike Oldfield's The
Collection dropped 22 spots to #33.
Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" entered the U.K. Singles chart at
#11. Jackson's "Thriller" entered the chart at #23, "Billie
Jean" entered at #25, "Smooth Criminal" entered at #28, "Beat It"
entered at #30 and "Earth Song" entered at #38.
Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet will reunite for a sequel to their 2006
60s covers album. Under The Covers, Vol. 2 will focus their
duets on the 1970s and be released on July 21st by Shout
Factory. Hoffs is expected to return to the Bangles to work
on their next studio album around October.
Terri Nunn & Berlin will release their new live CD/DVD, All The
Way
In, on July 7th at Amazon.com.
Original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley will release his new solo album,
Anomaly, via Rocket Science on Sept. 15th.
Marillion have entered the studio to work on their follow-up to 2008's
Happiness Is The Road due out later this year.
Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and exiled Iranian singer Andy Madadian
have recorded a new version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me."
It is being sent around as an online video as "a musical message of
worldwide solidarity" to the Iranian people in the wake of the
country's controversial election, according to co-producer Don
Was. Madadian has lived in the U.S. since the Iranian
revolution of 1979. Bon Jovi and Madadian sing the first
verse in Farsi. Don Was has said that it isn't intended to
impact the charts, be a hit record or be released on a CD but to be
downloaded and shared by the Iranian people.
VH1 has teamed up with Sandra "Pepa" Denton on a new series that will
revolve around her current lives as single women. The show
is expected to premiere next year.
According to a post at Mojo Magazine, Prefab Sprout have a new studio
album, Let's Change The World With Music, due out via Kitchenware
Records in the U.K. on Sept. 7th.
Yahoo! Music has premiered Twisted Sister's new video for "30" from
their newly released 25th anniversary version of Stay Hungry.
Demon Music Group's 100 Hits label will release 100 Hits: 80s Dance on
July 27th in the U.K. as well as 100 Hits: Northern Soul. For
more information, visit www.DemonMusicGroup.co.uk.
The Bellamy Brothers have teamed up with the Bacon Brothers for a new
single and video, "Guilty Of The Crime." The video is
currently in medium rotation on CMT Pure and can be seen on CMT.com.
Stryper/Boston vocalist Michael Sweet has recorded vocals for "Still
Forgiven" that will appear on Katet's new studio album, Quantum
Journey. Meanwhile, Stryper's new album, Murder By Pride,
will be released in Europe on Aug. 28th and include an exclusive bonus
track of "Peace Of Mind" featuring Tom Scholz of Boston.
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult have released their new album, Death
Threat, in Europe via Rustblade.
Bad Lieutenant, the new project of New Order's Bernard Sumner, Stephen
Morris and Phil Cunningham along with Blur bassist Alex James, will
release their debut album, Never Cry Another Tear, on Oct. 5th preceded
by the single "Sink Or Swim."
The Bulletboys will release 10c Billionaire via Chavis Records on June
29th. The set will be available in a regular CD edition as
well as a limited 'Billionaire Wallet' edition.
It seems that The Beastie Boys are already working on some tracks for
part 2 of their upcoming album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1.
Member MCA recently told Drowned In Sound that they have incorporated a
'spoken word' sample of Bob Dylan from his Theme Time Radio Hour show
into a track for the follow-up. Part 2 is almost finished and
plans are to release it in a less orthodox method using today's
technology.
Black Francis of the Pixies has told NME.com that he would like to work
on a new Pixies album with a Hollywood film director to create a film
and music tie-in project. He also hasn't ruled out a standard
CD release.
Slayer plan to release their 9th studio album, World Painted Blood,
later this summer and will hit the road on July 10th.
HardRockHouse have announced the release of Danny Vaughn's new live
album, The Road Less Travelled. It can be ordered online at
HardRockHouse.com.