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Spike Lee Denounces Rap
Not rock related but is an interesting article.. Jam! Reports: Filmmaker Spike Lee has dumped on rap music again in a speech to an audience at Brown University, where he said it portrays blacks in a negative light. 

Speaking to an audience of more than 400 students Monday night, the director of films including Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, repeated complaints he's made at colleges and universities over the past year. 

"I've always felt you can feel the progress of African Americans by listening to their music," Lee said. 

"Some of this 'gangsta rap' stuff, it's not doing anybody any good. This stuff is really dangerous." 

He said some black adults equate education, good grammar and good grades with "being white," but when he was growing up, those things were seen as positive goals. 

"You were not ridiculed if you spoke correct English," he said. Lee urged the audience to make their voices heard by not buying or viewing anything that portrays blacks in a negative way. "Click Here for the Full Story

Motley Controversy
BW&BK reports: In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, it was reported that the title of MOTLEY CRUE'S latest boxset, entitled Music To Crash Your Car To, Volume 1, has caused a bit of a stir, mainly because of the incident in 1984 where singer Vince Neil was charged with drunk driving and vehicular-manslaughter, causing the death of his passenger, namely Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of metal band HANOI ROCKS, and injuring the two people in the oncoming car. 

Neil served 30 days in jail and dished out $2.6 million in restitution. 

When questioned about the box-set moniker, Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx explained that it was meant as a "sarcastic statement towards a lifestyle", not making the connection between the title and the accident (Entertainment Weekly couldn't reach Neil for comment). 

Current Hanoi Rocks members Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy did however make a statement, saying that, "The despicable title by the 'Motley Crude' is the most tasteless and murderous gimmick to cash in on the past that we've ever heard of. There is nothing 'cool' or 'funny' about death. How low can you go?!?"
.Click Here for the Full Story

Vince wanted to call it the Supersized Motley Meal but was vetoed. 

Marilyn Manson A Criminal? 
The Associated Press reports that MARILYN MANSON is under criminal investigation in Switzerland after a religious group made a formal complaint about his stage act.

Zurich District Prosecutor Michael Scherrer said Manson was under investigation for allegedly breaching Swiss law protecting religion as well as making incitements to violence during a concert in the city in February 2001.

Scherrer said he interviewed Manson ahead of a sell-out concert in Zurich last weekend.

Christian groups and lawmakers in Zurich had tried unsuccessfully to have the latest concert banned on grounds that Manson's views were offensive to a majority of the population.

The rocker rejected the accusations, Scherrer said. Manson cited artistic freedom and said his act was meant to provoke a debate about violence and religion, the official added.

Scherrer said he had yet to decide whether to charge Manson.-Click Here for the Full Story

"I wouldn't go so far as to call a dog filthy but they're definitely dirty. But, a dog's got personality. Personality goes a long way."

ACLU Vs. RIAA 
AP Reports: The American Civil Liberties Union is now representing a University of North Carolina student who's entangled in a fight about downloading music. 

The Recording Industry of America issued a subpoena in October for the student, whose identity is undisclosed, charging that the student used a UNC computer connection to make nine copyrighted songs available for download on the Internet. 

Last week, the ACLU filed a motion in federal district court in Greensboro on the student's behalf to quash the RIAA's subpoena, which seeks the student's personal information. 

Attorneys from the ACLU's national office in Washington, D.C., and the local chapter in North Carolina are handling the case, said Aden Fine, the national office's staff attorney. 

The ACLU's interest stems from what it perceives as a violation of the unnamed student's Constitutional rights to privacy and anonymous use of the Internet. By requesting the student's name and contact information before proving any legal wrongdoing, the RIAA is violating the student's rights, Fine said. 

"We don't support copyright infringement in any manner," he said. "Our motion is about due process rights. The Constitution and the First Amendment protects the right to engage in anonymous speech and that includes anonymous speech on the Internet." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Bizkit Cancel Over Security Issues
MTV reports: Following a U.S. State Department warning of increased security threats abroad, Limp Bizkit have canceled their tour dates in Southeast Asia, a band spokesperson said.

The group had planned to fly overseas to play Bali, Indonesia, on Friday. The concert was to be followed by shows in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 7 and Manila, Philippines, on December 9. But after the recent terrorist bombing in Istanbul, Turkey, the State Department issued a travel advisory and the band decided to nix the shows.

Limp Bizkit will still play five scheduled concerts in South Korea and Japan, starting in Seoul, South Korea, on December 11 and ending in Osaka, Japan, on December 18. The band's next U.S. show is December 23 in Philadelphia. .-Click Here for the Full Story

"It can't be done. No one's ever taken anyone out of here. Not in the whole history of... the whole history."

Godhead Reunited
siN's metal news reports: James O'Connor who left GODHEAD a couple of years ago has replaced Ken Jay who left STATIC X and replaced James originally. So if you didnt get that. James is back in GODHEAD and Ken has left now permanently...Click Here for the Full Story 

Alice Cooper Gets His Star
Blabbermouth reports: ALICE COOPER was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday. 

About 300 fans greeted Cooper at the ceremony in front of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard.

Cooper, 55, signed autographs and posed for pictures with a fan's pet python around his neck, according to the Associated Press.

The rocker recounted his early days in Hollywood when he and his band members didn't have enough money to shell out $1.29 for steak and eggs.

"We would walk over the names of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, never, ever thinking that our names would ever be on the Walk of Fame," Cooper said. "That is really quite a privilege to be here."

Cooper's star is the 2,243rd on the Walk of Fame and sits between those of Gene Autry and Hugh Hefner.

"I promise every time I walk down this street I will polish that little star," Cooper said. -Click Here for the Full Story

Avril's Hair Wins
Stupid news story for mid-week comes courtesy of MuchMusic: Avril Lavigne has been given perhaps the greatest honour a living musician can receive - the "Best Music Hair" award at the A-G Best Canadian Celebrity Hair Awards. A spokesperson for A-G Hair Cosmetics said Lavigne was selected for the award because she "has a look that is cool, natural and individual.". Click Here for the Full Story 

We thought of honoring Advil with our "Head of Dirty Mop" award in the next antiAwards but decided against it, Justin Timberlake still wins the hair honors with the "Poodle Head Award".  - The anti's are returning in January! 

Brides Will Destruct In March
Blabbermouth reports: BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, the new band featuring MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns, vocalist London LeGrand, and drummer Scot Coogan (ex-PAUL GILBERT, ONI LOGAN/ROWAN ROBERTSON, SINÉAD O'CONNOR), have set a March 9, 2004 release date through Sanctuary Records for their debut album, "Here Come The Brides".

The CD, which features contributions from previous members John Corabi (ex-MÖTLEY CRÜE, UNION) and Kris Kohls (ADEMA), contains album-quality demos recorded during the pre-production sessions for what was supposed to be the group's "proper" full-length debut. All songs were produced by Stevo Bruno at Klown Records in Santa Monica, California and were mixed by producer Steve Thompson (KORN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES). "Shut the f*** Up" has been used in a skateboard video shot by Drew Stone of Stone Films.

The complete track listing for "Here Come The Brides" is as follows:

01. Shut The f*** Up
02. I Don't Care
03. Two Times Dead
04. Brace Yourself
05. I Got A Gun
06. Life
07. Natural Born Killers
08. Revolution
09. Only Get So Far

-Click Here for the Full Story

"Desperation - it's the world's worst cologne."

New Deftones
RIFTrock reports: The Deftones will enter the studio in January to write material for a new album. The band, just this year, released a self-titled record, which includes the singles Minerva and Hexagram. Currently, the band is just finishing up dates with Thursday and Thrice.Click Here for the full story

"Pride only hurts, it never helps."

Elvis on Broadway
AP reports: Always eager to keep Elvis Presley working, managers of his estate have turned their sights on Broadway. "All Shook Up," a musical commissioned by the Elvis Presley estate and featuring a string of Presley's hit songs, is scheduled to open on Broadway in spring 2005. 

It will first play Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Conn., May 13-June 6, 2004. 

Presley died in 1977 at his Memphis residence, Graceland, but his music and his value as an entertainer or advertising pitchman are as alive as ever. 

The plot of the musical concerns what happens in a loveless town when a magical jukebox and a lady-loving, leather-clad stranger arrive, producer Jonathan Pollard said Tuesday. It takes place in the mid-1950s in roughly "Anywhere USA," he added. 

"We are going to Goodspeed Chester to get a sense of what we have," the producer told The Associated Press. "It's the first step in the development (of the show)." 

The musical will then move to a larger city (not yet decided), before heading to Broadway. .-Click Here for the Full Story 

Bono Honored
AP reports: U2 lead singer Bono will be recognized for his humanitarian work at an awards dinner hosted by the family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 

The Irish rock band's lead singer will be honored at the 2004 King Center "Salute to Greatness" awards dinner Jan. 17 in Atlanta. 

"We are fortunate this year to honor Bono for exemplifying many of the qualities that my husband, Martin, indicated were imperative to moving our society into the beloved community of which he so often spoke," said Coretta Scott King, King's widow and the founder of the King Center. 

Mrs. King pointed out Bono's work on behalf of Third World debt relief and on focusing attention on the AIDS crisis in Africa. 

"He has focused mass public attention on the world's poorest continent and lobbied politicians around the globe to take action," she said in a statement. 
.-Click Here for the Full Story 

Killswitch Engaged
Shoutweb reports: Killswitch Engage will begin recording their follow-up to Alive Or Just Breathing? on December 8th. The band is currently finishing up their dates on the Headbangers Ball Tour. A spring/summer release is expected..-Click Here for the Full Story 

Call Chevelle
siN's metal news reports: CHEVELLE fans, Wednesday December 17th, the band will be emailing out the number to Sam's cellphone as the 17th is his birthday. From 9am to 9pm, people are invited to give him a ring to wish him Happy Birthday, prank call him, or find out what he's doing. So come Wednesday the 17th, we'll post that number here for all of you to enjoy..-Click Here for the Full Story 

Use the link above to click on over to siN's, they have a contest up right now where you can win a signed Slayer Boxset.  

D'Molls, The Devil & Shakespeare 
Press Release: Chicago rocker Billy Mccarthy( A.K.A Billy Dior/D'molls) signs book deal with independent publisher Benbella Books;

The Devil Of Shakespeare is a fascinating commentary on the underbelly of the entertainment industry;

Mccarthy's hot debut thriller already has music and book industry insiders buzzing;

Chicago musician Billy McCarthy, who frequently works with elite members of the music industry, has started singing a whole new tune and is focusing his creative energy in a new direction.  Novels.  Billy McCarthy, who has signed a deal with BenBella Books, is about to release his much-anticipated first novel, THE DEVIL OF SHAKESPEARE. 

For McCarthy, going from drummer to author hasn't been a leap, but the next natural step in the evolution of his creative instincts.  "It's all about beat, drama and timing," McCarthy explains.  "Storytelling, like rock & roll, has to have a pulse.  When I write, I hear the rhythm of the narrative in my head, just like I hear the rhythm of the music when I play. My goal is always the same whether I'm the musician trying to excite an audience or the author trying to engage the reader-keeping it straight and simple, but keeping it thunderous."

THE DEVIL OF SHAKESPEARE, is already generating a buzz with critics and is receiving a great deal of attention from insiders.  Before the manuscript was even complete, one of Chicago's top local papers, The Daily Southtown did a feature on McCarthy's pending contribution to the local literary scene.  

Writing this book has not only allowed McCarthy to explore a new creative side, but also given him the chance to shed insight into the world of celebrities and media, with which so many people in this society are obsessed.  

"This book, though I wrote it to be entertaining, also communicates a strong message about fame.  I wanted it to inspire readers to look deep inside their own psyches when it comes to who they look up to and why," said McCarthy. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Former Atlantic Records recording artist Billy McCarthy (A.K.A Billy Dior) is one of the most respected musicians to come out of Chicago's rock scene.  A founding member of the popular band D'Molls, Billy has also shared the stage with such legendary rock & rollers as Guns & Roses, Cheap Trick, Kiss, and many others.  Billy McCarthy lives in the south suburbs of Chicago where he is currently immersed on future books, FUNNYMAN JACK SMACK, DEAR EDDIE, and SARAH GOODING.  For more information about Billy McCarthy, this release and The Devil of Shakespeare, please visit his website.

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