The 2006 High Court ruling that keyboardist
Matthew
Fisher had co-written the Procol Harum hit "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" was
upheld in Britain's top court on Thursday. They did amend the
monetary stipulation that he had waited too long and should not receive
past or future royalties to allowing him to claim future royalties only.
A Sydney judge has ruled that there may be grounds for Larrikan Music's
plagiarism lawsuit against Men At Work's Colin Hay and Ron Strykert and
music publishers Sonny and EMI over the similarities between "Down
Under" and Marion Sinclair's 1934 song "Kookaburra Sits In An Old Gum
Tree."
Los Angeles police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents
searched the Las Vegas home and business of Michael Jackson's personal
doctor Dr. Conrad Murray on Tuesday seeking evidence to support a
charge of manslaughter and violations of the California Business and
Professions Code. (The code states that a physician is not
allowed to prescribe drugs to anyone who is using them for
non-therapeutic purposes or thought to have a chemical
dependency.) The Associated Press was told by a law
enforcement official that Murray gave Jackson propofol to help the
singer sleep on the day of his death. The Los Angeles County
coroner has announced an indefinite delay to toxicology
results. The Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the
Staples Center, have donated $90,000 raised from the sale of 18 luxury
suites during the Michael Jackson memorial service to build a tribute
to fallen Los Angeles police officers. Meanwhile, a lawyer
for Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson told CBS News that she has
reached an agreement with the singer's ex-wife Debbie Rowe to get
custody of her 3 grandchildren. Rowe will now get visitation
rights.
Former Warrant frontman Jani Lane pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor
charge of driving under the influence on Thursday in a Los Angeles
court. Lane was sentenced to 2 days in prison, serve 36
months probation, attend a 3-month alcohol education course and
complete 30 days of community service. By pleading no
contest, authorities agreed to drop the hit-and-run charge.
TMZ reported that Lane was given the option of paying $395 in fines or
choose to serve an additional 13 days in jail.
In a recent blog post, Megadeth's Dave Mustaine underwent surgery on
Thursday to fix damaged vertebrae that has left him in excruciating
pain for quite some time. He is expected to recover in time
for the September launch of their tour and then later this year go
under the knife for a more complicated procedure.
Tom Jones has been forced to cancel several of his U.S. performances
after coming down with bronchitis. According to his official
Web site, "Sir Tom contracted viral bronchitis whilst on
tour. He continued to perform with the infection, which has
affected the function of his voice." The singer tried to
perform at a few of his tour dates but his doctors have ordered a
complete vocal rest with expectations of a full recovery very soon.
Former Scream/Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters frontman Dave
Grohl will be honored in Warren, Ohio, on Saturday when they rename a
street in his honor going from Market Alley to David Grohl Alley.
The Twilight soundtrack climbed 4 places to #33 on the Billboard 200
albums chart. Chickenfoot's self-titled debut gained 2 spots
to #40.
Michael Jackson's 2003 collection, Number Ones, retains the #1 spot on
the Billboard Top Comprehensive Albums chart selling 151,000 copies
(44,000 more than the #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.)
Boy's Don't Cry's "Don't Call Me A Country Singer" climbed 3 places to
#11 on the FMQB Adult Contemporary Top 40.
Michael Jackson's The Essential Michael Jackson retains the #1 spot on
the U.K. Albums chart. Jackson's Thriller fell 3 places to
#6. Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five's The Motown
Years dropped 3 spots to #7. Jackson's Off The Wall fell 5
places to #12. Jackson's The Collection debuted on the chart
at #14. New Seekers' It's Been Too Long: Greatest Hits
debuted at #18. Jackson's Number Ones dropped 12 spots to
#22. Jim Reeves' The Very Best Of Jim Reeves fell 7 places to
#26. Jackson's King Of Pop dropped 7 spots to #27.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's Greatest Hits fell 10
places to #32. Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five's
The Very Best Of Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five dropped 7
spots to #39. Jackson's History: Past, Present And Future:
Book 1 fell 7 places to #40.
Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" fell 8 places on the U.K. Singles
chart to #16. Jackson's "Billie Jean" dropped 9 spots to #37.
Michael Jackson's King Of Pop collection retains the top spot on the
Billboard European Top 100 Albums chart for the 4th week.
Jackson has 3 other albums in the top 10.
AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson, 61, recently told Classic Rock magazine
that he has been contemplating retirement. He had planned to
quit next year but his bandmates talked him into fulfilling festival
commitments into 2011.
Originally issued in 2002, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force Records will
release, The Genesis, a 9-track collection of Malmsteen's early
recordings in the U.S. on Aug. 25th.
As INXS search for a singer to replace JD Fortune, they've been
recording a new disc with several guest vocalists reinterpreting their
biggest hits. Rob Thomas has reportedly recorded a version of
"Never Tear Us Apart."
Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate has signed on to compose the film score
for the noir-crime drama Fallen Moon.
The Associated Press reports that Madonna has written an article for
today's edition of Israel's biggest daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot
entitled "How My Life Changed." A teaser for the article ran
on Wednesday's edition of the paper and the article talks about her
embracing Kabbalah.
The Revolting Cocks will release, Sex-O MiXXX-O via 13th Planet Records
on Sept. 29th. The album features remixed material from their
2008 album, Sex-O Olympic-O.
Singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne will perform two new songs ("Beat The
Blues" and "Like A Fool") on the Aug. 9th episode of the Lifetime
Network series Army Wives. The songs are both expected to
appear on her new album due out next year.
BBC Worldwide Music has announced two upcoming U2 shows culled from
their archives, U2=BBC: The History and U2=BBC. These shows
are being offered for sale to international broadcasters.
Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess released his latest solo album,
Notes On A Dream, which can be purchased in the store at
www.JordanRudess.com.
After 148 performances and 24 previews, Dolly Parton's Broadway musical
9 To 5 will close on Sept. 6th. A national tour of the show
will begin in late September.
Michael Penn has 3 songs (including "This Is The Life") featured in the
IFC show Bollywood Hero. The songs can be heard at his
MySpace page as well as at www.MichaelPenn.com.
Sebastian Bach plans to head into the studio in August with guitarist
John 5 to write and record songs for Bach's next album.
Former Japan singer-songwriter David Sylvain will release his new
studio album, Manafon, on Sept 15th. The album is expected to
surface on his independent label Samadhi Sound.
Former Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra has a new band called Jello
Biafra And The Guantanamo School Of Medicine which includes Faith No
More bassist Billy Gould. Their debut album, Audacity Of
Hype, will be released on Oct. 20th via Alternative Tentacles.
Crowded House's Neil Finn has reconvened his 7 Worlds Collide project
and has recorded a double-disc collection called The Sun Came Out due
out Sept. 29th. Proceeds from the album will benefit Oxfam.
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is finishing work on Methods Of Mayhem's
first new album since their 1999 self-titled debut. The band
have signed a deal with Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records that
will see the new album hitting stores early next year.
The DVD release of Anvil: The Story Of Anvil, the critically-acclaimed
band documentary directed by Sacha Gervasi, heads to stores on Oct.
6th. VH1 and VH1 Classic will air the television broadcast
premiere of the film on Oct. 3rd. The reissue of their 13th
album, This Is Thirteen, arrives on Sept. 15th. The band have
also announced they plan to head into the studio early next year to
record their next album, Juggernaut Of Justice.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced they will be regrouping in
October to work on their follow-up to 2005's Stadium Arcadium.
Mac McAnally will release his 11th solo album, Down By The River, on
Aug. 4th via Show Dog Nashville. The first single from the
disc will be "You First."
Toad The Wet Sprocket are currently on tour before Glen Phillips turns
his focus on his Works Progress Administration project. WPA
will release their debut album on Sept. 15th preceded by their first
single, "Always Have My Love."
Former Rough Cutt and Quiet Riot vocalist Paul Shortino has been
working in the studio with Ron Keel on the next Keel album due out
early next year.
Duff McKagan recently filmed a pilot for a new business show that he
may be involved in. He also appeared on Fox Business News to
discus the best way for Twitter to start making money.
Ruf Records has announced they will be releasing, Songs From The Road,
a new album comprised of 11 previously-unreleased live tracks by Jeff
Healey on Sept. 8th.
Hep Cat Records will reissue Los Angeles punk act The Gears' 1980 live
album, Rockin' At Ground Zero, as a deluxe double-CD version on Sept.
8th. The collection will include previously-unreleased
material, studio recordings by spin-off act The D.I.s and more.
Julian Lennon plans to release his follow-up to 1998's Photograph Smile
early next year.