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Jacko Speaks
Dot-music reports: Michael Jackson has created a website following his arrest last week on charges of molestation, insisting the allegations are "a big lie".

The website - mjnews.us - currently contains a signed statement from 'The King Of Pop', in which he proclaims his innocence against the charges made by police last week.

The letter reads:

'To my fans, friends and family:

As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious. They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court, and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us.

Because the charges are so serious, I hope you all will understand, on the advice of my attorneys, I will be limited in what I can say about the situation. There will be times when I cannot comment at all. No doubt, this will be frustrating for all of us. 

For that reason, I have set up this website to serve as a source of official communications on my case. Any statement that does not appear on this website must be considered unauthorized.

You are right to be sceptical of some of the individuals who are being identified in the mass media as my friends, spokespeople, and attorneys. With few exceptions, most of them are simply filling a desperate void in our culture that equates visibility with insight. We will not engage in speculation. We will not provide running commentary on every new development or allegation du jour. We intend to try our case in the courtroom, not in the public or the media.

I thank you all for your support and understanding.

God bless you,

Michael Jackson.'
- Click Here for the Full Story

It's good to always be "sceptical" of friends of Michael Jackson. You can be skeptical too if you like. 

Queer Soundtrack
Capitol has set a Feb. 10 release for "What's That Sound," the soundtrack to the smash reality show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." As tipped here in October, the album is led by the show's theme song, "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better), penned by Widelife. A video was recently shot on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York by director Wayne Isham (Metallica, Sheryl Crow).

The album will also include new songs from Elton John (tentatively titled "Run for Love") and Basement Jaxx ("Good Luck"), a previously unreleased Chemical Brothers remix of the new Kylie Minogue single "Slow," Jamelia's U.K. hit "Superstar" and a track mixing music from Fischerspooner and Billy Squier. Tracks from Liz Phair and In-Grid will also be featured.. Click Here for the Full Story

He's so cheesy, I can't watch him without crackers. 

Alice Cooper Gets A Star
NME report: ALICE COOPER is to be presented with his own star on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME next week.

The presentation, by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, will take place on December 2 at 11.30am, though the exact location where the star will be is yet to be announced.

The shock-rocker, most famous for hits such as 'School's Out', 'Poison' and 'Under My Wheels' ,will join Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and most recently Britney Spears on the star-studded pavement.

There are no invitations to the event or admission fees and according to the singer's official website alicecooper.com, which also confirms: "Alice Cooper will be appearing in person at the presentation.".-Click Here for the Full Story

Congrats the Alice! But why should it have taken him so long to get it when they "awarded" Britney Spears a star already? 

Warped DVD
Punkbands reports: This April, Kung Fu Records will be releasing the 2003 Vans Warped Tour DVD. It will include performances from Rancid, the Distillers, Pennywise, AFI, Glassjaw, Simple Plan, the Used, and unfortunatly, some of the last shows from Face to Face.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Warners Goes Indie
AP reports: A consortium of investors led by former Universal Music chief Edgar Bronfman Jr. said Monday it struck a $2.6 billion deal to buy Warner Music Group from Time Warner Inc., edging out Britain's EMI Group PLC, which withdrew its bid at the last minute. 

The deal, which also includes Time Warner's Warner/Chappell Music publishing business, would create one of the world's largest independent music companies and include some of the industry's biggest artists, such as Madonna, R.E.M. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Bronfman, who oversaw a great expansion at Universal as its chief between 1995 and 2000, will lead the company. Bronfman sold Universal before the impact of digital technology and the Internet helped spur a three-year slump in CD sales industrywide. [see this month's antiTorial to see the numbers that don't back up this claim ]

Bronfman sold the company, a unit of his family's longtime liquor business, Seagram Co., to Vivendi in 2000. He tried to buy back Vivendi this year, but lost out to General Electric Co.'s NBC...-Click Here for the Full Story

If mp3's supposedly killed the music biz then why is Bronfman trying to buy his way back in? I can understand this kind of reporting from the New York Times or RS but AP?

Santana Collected
Billboard reports: Arista has gathered Carlos Santana's musical odds and ends for "Ceremony -- Remixes and Rarities," which will be released Dec. 16 in a limited-edition of 100,000 copies. "Ceremony" features songs culled from the recording sessions that yielded Santana's first two albums for the label, 1999's "Supernatural" and 2002's "Shaman."

The disc is graced with five previously unreleased songs, remixes or newly recorded versions of five tracks from "Supernatural" and "Shaman" and one unaltered "Shaman" album track.

Among the new songs are "Curacion (Sunlight on Water)," co-written and produced by KC Porter; the Femi Kuti-penned, Kike Santander-produced "Truth Don Die"; "Let Me Love You Tonight," produced and co-written by Anders Bagge; JIMMYRAY Productions' "Come to My World"; and the Salaam Remi co-write/production "Manana," with a guest spot by singer Keon Bryce...Click Here for the Full Story 

More Motley Changes
MTV reports: Three years after going on hiatus, hard rock hell-raisers Mötley Crüe plan to reunite for a tour and possible album in 2004. And, for the first time in five years, all four original members will be on board for the ride. 

"Three years ago, we decided to take time off to recharge," bassist Nikki Sixx said. "We put the movie deal in place and planned on a tour when all the original bandmembers were ready to work together again. Everything is pretty much right on time."

Sixx said the 2004 world tour will coincide with the release of the big-screen version of "The Dirt," based on the band's over-the-top 2001 autobiography of the same name. The tour will feature singer Vince Neil, Sixx, guitarist Mick Mars and drummer Tommy Lee. 

The reunion is surprising given the notoriously bad blood between Lee and Neil - Sixx said the two still have not spoken to each other about the dates.

"We plan on recording new music as well," Sixx said. "I'd like to see us go heavier. When the four of us are together, something magical happens. That's something I've never felt before. All the drama and bullsh-- aside ... I love playing in Mötley Crüe." 
.- Click Here for the Full Story

 Fans don't hold your breath for a 2004 tour. As we reported on antiMUSIC over the weekend, Nikki posted a message to the official Crue site just last week that said "2005=movie and tour. Maybe warm-up dates in 04. But in the land of MÖTLEY, I doubt it. Nothing ever runs on time"  Or maybe he'll come back and admit; dude, I lied dude! 

Red Hot Solo
Digital Noise reports: Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante has revealed that he will release his fourth solo album in February next year.

'Shadows Collide With People' will come out on February 25th and will feature guest appearances from fellow RHCP members Flea and Chad Smith.

The album follows Frusciante's three previous albums 'Niandra LaDes and Usually Just A T-Shirt', 'Smile From The Streets You Hold' and 'To Record Only Water For Ten Days'.

Further details of the album are soon to be announced.. Click Here for the Full Story 

Alanis Goes Disco
Chart Attack reports: Alanis Morissette is one of the artists we can expect new material from next year, as the Ottawa native is prepping for the follow up to 2002's Under Rug Swept album with a brand new disc to come out next February. 

At the moment Morissette is putting the final gloss to the new record, already named So-Called Chaos. The album that was written this past summer with collaborators Tim Thorney and John Shanks. The album was recorded in Santa Monica in a studio owned by ChartAttack favourite Jackson Browne. 

Expect a new sound and new look from Alanis as she's shed the Cher-hair and, according to RollingStone.com, has even gone for an experimental approach to her sound that promises to boast dance loops, heavy guitars and softer vibes. Song titles reportedly include "Eight Easy Steps," "Out Is Through," "Knees Of My Bees" and the title track of the album. The songs are to range from soft ballads to full-out rockers..-Click Here for the Full Story

Dance loops= Alanis what are you thinking? heavy guitars = softer vibes? MMM'kay. 

Florida Set To Rock-HARD!
siN's metal news reports: Jack Koshick and Rob Grohl of the Milwuakee Metalfest have both confirmed there are plans for a Floridia Metalfest, with the same magnitude if not more then Milwuakee. The works are to have it held at Pinella's Expo Center in Pinella's Park (St. Pete area) on March 6th & 7th. The event coordinators have also mentioned that not only will this festival be covered in all of the major Metal publications, it will also be filmed by MTV for Headbanger's Ball. No bands have yet been announced, but organizers and promoters alike are going to try to get some of the Tampa bands in on the show, which include the following:

MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIABOLIC, HATE ETERNAL, MONSTROSITY, ICED EARTH and many others. More info will come in the coming months! (To clarify, these bands are NOT confirmed, just some of the Floridian bands that are considered.)

Many European bands will be at the fest as well, so expect this to be big..  Click Here for the full story

We know where the "Chads" will be hanging that weekend! 

Sharon Axes Employees 
Blabbermouth reports: Despite solid ratings, "The Sharon Osborne Show" has just laid off 20 people, including music booker (and former "Rockline" producer/music scribe) Katherine Turman, according to Hits Daily Double. 

Although it's a hardly a runaway success, "The Sharon Osborne Show" appears to be finding an audience with the young MTV viewers who were big fans of "The Osbournes". Jim Paratore - who produces the show at Warner Bros. Domestic Television - said the show has found a sweet spot with women aged 18-34, a demographic segment that advertisers love deeply..-Click Here for the Full Story 

In related news and just in time help you keep your appetite in check over Thanksgiving, Daughter Kelly has unleashed her new video for the song "Changes," a Kellyized remake of the Sabbath classic that features a duet with her father(Ozzy sings and Kelly does her "thang"). MTV has the video posted on their website if you dare watch. 

New This Week
RIFTrock reports: 

Puddle of Mudd Life on Display
Rage Against the Machine Live at the Grand Olympic
Counting Crows Films About Ghosts, The Best of..
Default Elocation
The Starting Line Make Yourself At Home ep

Also according to Amazon.com these new titles were released today
No Doubt - The Singles 1992-2003
No Doubt - Boombox (Boxset)
Johnny Cash - Unearthed (Boxset)
Slayer - Soundtrack to the Apocalypse (Boxset) 
-Click Here for the Full Story 

Opeth DVD
siN's metal news reports: The OPETH [DVD] contains a one hour documentary, as well as approx. two hours of Opeth live in Stereo, 5.1 and DTS. The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Windowpane 
2. In My Time Of Need 
3. Death Whispered a Lullaby 
4. Closure 
5. Hope Leaves 
6. To Rid The Disease 
7. Ending Credits 
8. Harvest 
9. Weakness 
10. Master's Apprentices 
11. The Drapery Falls 
12. Deliverance 
13. The Leper Affinity 
14. A Fair Judgement 

Documentary: The making of 'Deliverance' and 'Damnation'

Out now in Europe/UK.

.-Click Here for the Full Story 

The DVD will be released in late February in the States, according to the official Opeth website. 

Dimebag States The Obvious 
Blabbermouth reports: Former PANTERA guitarist Dimebag Darrell recently spoke to the U.K.'s Rock Sound magazine about the current status of the band that is widely considered to be one of the most influential American metal acts of the '90s.

When asked point-blank if PANTERA is officially over, Dimebag said, "Oh yeah, it's been officially over since our lead singer [Philip Anselmo] started announcing it from stages across the United States." Dimebag went on to explain that "[Anselmo] threatened it before but when he started announcing it in the press and from onstage, that was when it became official. He never had the decency to talk to us about it. Nobody would return our calls so me and [PANTERA drummer] Vinnie [Paul] just sat at home not knowing what the f*** was going on."

Despite all the obvious bad blood, Dimebag admited "we're not ashamed of a f***in' thing we've done. It was a great ride and we wanted it to last forever. It didn't but we're back with [our new band] DAMAGEPLAN and we're ready to kick some muthaf***in' dick!" .-Click Here for the Full Story 

Kicking dick is considered a hate crime in 27 of the 50 States. 

Rock TV
Rockdirect reports: Rock acts on television this week include Static X, who perform on Last Call with Carson Daly on Monday; Blink-182, who make appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (Mark Hoppus co-hosts) Tuesday (Tom Delonge co-hosts) and Wednesday (Blink-182 performs, Travis Barker co-hosts); Puddle of Mudd, who perform on the Late Show with David Letterman on Tuesday and the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn on Thursday; and Deftones, who perform on Last Call on Wednesday..-Click Here for the Full Story 

I am not under any orders to make the world a better place.

Solo Theatre
(press release) The new label Progrock Records is releasing a special album by FRAMESHIFT on November 25, 2003, titled Unweaving the Rainbow, based on evolution-themed books by Richard Dawkins. The album was written and produced by Henning Pauly of Chain as a vehicle for vocalist James LaBrie of the highly revered progressive metal band Dream Theater.

FRAMESHIFT, as a musical entity, is primarily Pauly and LaBrie. Pauly plays electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, piano, synthesizer, organ, banjo and percussion and was also responsible for programming, orchestration, and engineering and mixing. Other featured musicians include drummer Eddie Marvin, guitarist/bass guitarist Nik Guadagnoli and saxophonist Steve Katsikas.

The idea for FRAMESHIFT's Unweaving the Rainbow was broad in scope from the very beginning. One goal was to take full advantage of LaBrie's voice and utilize it in a way that had never been heard before. That was accomplished largely through countless vocal overdubs, making it sound like hundreds of LaBries were singing together. (LaBrie is a big fan of Queen, a band that enjoyed overdubbing and multi-tracking endless vocal harmonies in the studio.) Musically speaking, progressive rock elements and film scoring techniques merged with modern production practices to create a perfect marriage with LaBrie's voice. 
.-Click Here for the Full Story 

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