Xtina Sued For Assault
Big News Network reports: Christina Aguilera is being sued by celebrity photographer David Keeler over a violent confrontation at a Hollywood nightclub in May 2003. 

Keeler's suit, which also names Aguilera's bodyguard, AD Entertainment and Three Wishes Tour Inc. as defendants, claims the pop diva was staggering out of the Nacional club about 2 a.m. local time on May 21, Entertainment Tonight reported Wednesday. 

The photographer says he was snapping away at the stumbling Aguilera when he was slugged in the mouth and spat on by bodyguard Vernon Warren, who, according to the suit, told Keeler he needed to learn respect. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Studio Fire Sparked By Black Eyed Peas?
KABC 7 reports: Fire broke out at Burbank recording studio early Wednesday morning, destroying musical equipment and furniture. The blaze was in an area where the hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas was working on a new album. 

Glenwood Place Studios smoldered in the early morning hours. The Black Eyed Peas were recording a new CD called Monkey Business. The fire started while they were getting a bite to eat in another part of the building. When the band's manager said the studio was burning the Black Eyes Peas thought it was joke until they saw smoke and fire. 

The Burbank Fire Department says the Black Eyed Peas lit candles during their recording session and forgot to blow them out before taking a break. The unattended candles ignited something flammable. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Manson Fans Attack
Blabbermouth reports: The Buchan Observer is reporting that an international hate campaign has been mounted against a Scottish man who is trying to ban Marilyn Manson from playing Jesus in a new movie. 

Scott Morrison's online petition to stop movie makers portraying Jesus as a swearing, dope-smoker has more than 1,000 signatures � but the 28-year-old has also been bombarded with abusive e-mails from across the globe. 

Manson is rumored to play the part of Jesus in George A. Romero's black comedy "Diamond Dead". 

A Manson fan "tricked" Morrison into an interview, by claiming he was a reporter from the British rock magazine Kerrang! 

The fan posted Morrison's comments on Marilyn Manson's web page a few days after their conversation. 

Morrison says he was not prepared for the reaction he has received. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Blackie Lawless Hospitalized
Blabbermouth reports: W.A.S.P. have cancelled their scheduled appearance at Club Infinity in Buffalo (Clarence), New York Wednesday night (August 11). According to one fan's posting on the band's official forum, a club representative has indicated that "the opening bands [are] still going to play, but 'W.A.S.P.'s singer [Blackie Lawless] is on the way to the hospital for food poisoning, he said that they are going to try to play if they can, but we won't know until after the openers go on.' " The fan goes on to say that he placed another phone call to the venue an hour later, only to be told that "W.A.S.P. has cancelled and again that Blackie was on his way to the hospital, only instead of just food poisoning the girl tells me that '...an ulcer... um... a stomach virus... err... food poisoning... something is wrong with his stomach.'" [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on SUIDAKRA Name New CD, KORN Guitarist Defends Decision To Record CAMEO Cover, RUSH Guitarist Says Court Case Won't Delay U.K. Tour, BLIND MELON Fans Organize Second Annual VIGILSTOCK, CAOS: Demo Track Available For Download and more click here to check it out

Andre Best Dressed
MTV reports: Who knew wearing dresses, fedoras and loads of pink and lime-green attire on the red carpet could win you the title of world's best-dressed man. 

Esquire magazine has pinned that label on Outkast's uniquely dapper Andre 3000. In the magazine's September issue, the rapper tops the list of the world's best-dressed men. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Breeder Tanya Donelly Plans New CD
MTV reports: Tanya Donelly plans to record her next album in front of a live studio audience at the end of the month. On August 27 and 28, the former member of Throwing Muses, the Breeders and Belly will record 10 songs at a performance in Bellow Falls, Vermont. Joining her will be members of the Dambuilders, Come, Buffalo Tom, Fuzzy and others.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Stapp Breaks His Silence
MTV reports: A couple of days ago MTV posted an interesting interview by Joe D'Angelo with former Creed frontman Scott Stapp. In the interview Stapp addresses many issues, including his health, some trouble a prescription drug caused him (this related to that infamous Chicago performance), his feud with Fred Durst, the Christian band label, his new solo project, why Brian Marshall left Creed, his changing priorities and the break up of the band. Here is just a tiny part of the interview where he discusses the break up of Creed, click the full story link to read it all: 

MTV: Mark and Scott Phillips said your differences were personal as well as musical. No one could get along with you. 

Stapp: That's not true. There wasn't a fight. There was just no communication [between us]. I had all these health problems, and I isolated myself, and to be honest with you, I didn't feel like anyone cared about anything but making money and touring. 

I have a son and my goals have changed. I didn't want to tour 280 days a year. I wanted to spend more time with my son. I'm divorced and his mother's not involved in his life, so that's what's important to me. 

MTV: You had health problems beyond the injuries you sustained in the car accident in 2002? 

Stapp: I was basically on [anti-inflammatory] Prednisone for the last six months of the Weathered tour, and it bloated me up like a beached whale. I looked like fat Elvis. I had a nodule on my vocal cord, too. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: MTV also has news on JoJo Going Hip-Hop, And Maybe Even Hollywood, Fire Damages Studio Where Black Eyed Peas Are Recording, Taking Back Sunday's Fans Enjoy Chance To Shake, Blush In Front Of Their Idols, Blink-182's DeLonge Expects 'Always' To Change Life As We Know It, Green Day Make Bold Statement About Their Homeland On 'American Idiot' and more click here to check it out

Hot Hot Heat Prep WB Debut
Pitchfork reports: It seems that Hot Hot Heat missed capitalizing on the danceable indie rock cash cow by a mere five minutes. While Franz Ferdinand and The Rapture suckle at the teat of awkwardly jitterbugging scenesters, Hot Hot Heat have laid low since releasing 2002's cellulite-rattling pop gem, Make Up the Breakdown. Now it's two years later, and the Canadian quartet are looking to get a piece of that oh-so-tasty pie. A post on their website earlier this week reveals that the band is hard at work on their forthcoming Warner Bros. debut, and that they're tentatively shooting for November release date. 

The record is being produced and mixed by Dave Sardy, who, in addition to having worked with a veritable who's who of rock music-- including Enon, Jet, Oasis, the Dandy Warhols, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers-- had his own little spaz-outfit in the 90s under the moniker of Barkmarket. [see full story for lots more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Pitchfork also has news on The Faint reveal new album details, tour, Fiery Furnaces announce 21 more dates!, Cex enlists indie luminaries for new LP, Pixies talk of recording new album in 2005, kick off North American tour next month, Polyphonic Spree drummer snagged by FBI and more click here to check it out

Aretha Records
Variety reports: After recording for major labels for more than 45 years, the Queen of Soul is going into the record business. 

Aretha Franklin has lined up at least two financiers to back Aretha's Records, and she intends to finalize the deal in her hometown of Detroit after performing at L.A.'s Greek Theater Sept. 17-18. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Social D's 'Sex, Love and Rock and Roll'
Punkbands.com reports: Veteran California punk act Social Distortion will release a new studio album, "Sex, Love and Rock and Roll" Sept. 28 via Time Bomb Recordings. Produced by Cameron Webb (Zebrahead, Motorhead) and frontman Mike Ness, the band's first studio disc since 1996's "White Light, White Heat, White Trash" also marks its last recording with bassist John Maurer, who departed amicably and was replaced by Rancid's Matt Freeman. 

Consisting of tracks like "Footprints on My Ceiling," "I Wasn't Born To Follow," "Reach for the Sky" and "Nickels and Dimes," the disc was recorded in three phases between November 2003 and this June. [see full story for lots more, including some tour dates!]- Click Here for the Full Story 

WWIII Reunite For Sludge
BW&BK reports: WWIII leader Mandy Lion's official website (www.mandy-lion.com) has been updated with the following news: 

"More great news for Mandy Lion/WWIII fans! The original reformed WWIII featuring Vinnie Appice on drums (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, WWIII), Jimmy Bain on bass (RAINBOW, Dio, WWIII), Moni Scaria on guitar and Mr. WWIII himself Mandy Lion on vocals will perform at the Metal Sludge concert number 9 at Paladinos on 6101 Reseda Blvd. in Tarzana, California on September 18th at 11 PM! [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Dave Grohl Trouble
BW&BK reports: Legendary doomsters TROUBLE, as was reported here recently, are getting set to release their "unplugged" EP, Simple Mind Condition. But, as guitarist Rick Wartell explains in an exclusive to BW&BK, that is only the lubrication as it were, to the band getting down to business, that is, the follow-up to '95's Plastic Green Head. 

"Actually, we've got 15 songs written, and we're kind of in a holding pattern because Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, PROBOT) has agreed to play the drums on the record for us, and we're kind of waiting for his schedule to free up. And he said that it would possibly be later in August...." [see full story for more of the interview]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: BW&BK also has news on KAMELOT - New Album Nearing Completion, Studio Pictures Online, RUSH Guitarist Promises UK Shows Will Go Ahead, W.A.S.P. Cancel Another Show, CRADLE OF FILTH's Nymphetamine Prescription: Q&A With Dave Pybus, FU MANCHU - Touring Drum Kit Up For Auction and more click here to check it out

Entombed Plan Tour
siN's metal news reports: Swedish death metallers ENTOMBED will soon be announcing dates for their forthcoming US tour, which is just one of many planned. [see full story for video news]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Time In Malta Lose Frontman?
siN's metal news reports: Its being reported that TIME IN MALTA frontman Todd Gullion has left the band. This is the reason why the group dropped off their tour with SICK OF IT ALL. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: siN's metal news also has news on 36 Crazyfists - In Stores Announced , Skinny Puppy - Video for 'Pro-Test', Metallica - 2nd Montreal Date, The Used - 1st Single Preview - New site, Get Thrashed Documentary Trailer Online and more click here to check it out

U2 Picture Book
Chart Attack reports: Featuring over 400 photographs and illustrations, the 312-page book U2 Show: The Art Of Touring was assembled by photographer Diana Scrimgeour with the full cooperation of the band. 

The book will chronicle U2's live performance history which, considering the extravagance of ZooTV and PopMart and the intrigue of famous and infamous performances, should be quite the collection. One thing that can never be taken away from U2 is their penchant for unbelievable live productions. 

Aside from pretty pictures, many of U2's industry cohorts were interviewed or contributed to the book, [see full story for more.. the book is set for release October 12th]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Chart Attack also has news on Hot Hot Heat Pump Up The Volume, Ready New Album, Tiesto Is Olympic Bound , Alicia Keys Song Is A Major Pain In The Butt, The Doers Keep On Doin' It, The Parkas Lose Member, Keep On Keepin' On and more click here to check it out

Bayside Lose Two
baysiderocks.com reports: [statement from the band's site]After a long time of friendship and making music together, Jim and Andrew have decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. We want to wish them the best of luck in everything else they do. Both of thier contributions to the band were great and will be carried with us forever. Welcome to the band, John Hallihan of New Jersey stepping in on the drums and Nick Ghanbarian from Long Island will be playing bass. We are so excited to get on the road with John and Nick and show everyone what the new lineup will be about. We are very happy with it, we're sure you will be too. The 5 warped tour dates we are doing will most likelybe Jim and Andrew's last shows so come out to see if you're in town. 

Also, the band is heading out on tour with Mest and Hawthorne Heights. [see full story for more including those dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Dark Order New Guitarist
Metal-Rules reports: [a message from singer/guitarist Raul Ignacio Alvarez]Yes folks, after 2 years, we now have a permanent second guitar player! It's DOUG DALTON, formerly of many bands, including Grungeon. Full power has been restored to the Dark Order sound, as we continue to write the THIRD ALBUM / DVD, which should be out June 2005. Doug's experience in the world of METAL should prove invaluable. Doug's first GIG was a surprise shocking appearance on the METAL FOR THE MASSES gig at the Annandale Hotel, last Friday night, where 400 METAL MANIACS witnessed DARK ORDER and its new power. The band received allot of great compliments that night, some people even commenting that DARK ORDER was the band of the night! - Click Here for the Full Story 

Children of Bodom EP
Metal-Rules reports: Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM will issue their new single, "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" on August 31 through Spinefarm Records. The CD-EP and DVD-EP versions of the single will follow in September in Finland and October in Germany. [see full story for details on the different versions]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Metal-Rules also has news on HELLOWEEN Sign with SPV, GENE SIMMONS' Lawyer Raids N. Carolina KISS Expo, Poison Arrow Records News, PLASTIC - Indie Movie Looking For Music, QUEENSRYCHE fall tour presented by VH1 and more click here to check it out

Paul Rodgers Working On New Solo CD
ArrowFM reports: Former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, who has written such classic tunes as "All Right Now" and "Feel Like Makin' Love," has been making plans for the next stage of his life. Meticulously working on a solo album, Rodgers says that the solo album hasn't really been work at all. Constructing hit songs for over twenty-five years, Rodgers says that songwriting really is second-nature to a veteran like him: "Actually, there was a time, I mean, I write all the time, ever since I discovered that I could. And I really think that everyone has songs in them, they just don't believe that they do, you know, and take it to the next step." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Mellencamp Hits
ArrowFM reports: ...The best-known and loved of Mellencamp's music will be available for the first time in a Greatest Hits package. Scheduled for release on October 19th, Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits features 37 digitally remastered selections, including two new tunes, both produced by Mellencamp and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Miller Headlines Lance Armstrong Celebration , Alex Van Halen Cleans Out The Basement, Kinks Guitarist Suffers Stroke , Clapton Inducted Into Rockwalk, Guitarists Rock For Fatherhood and more click here to check it out

Darkness Sign Dead Dog
Ananova reports: [Couldn't pass this silly story up... Where are the PETA protest?]The Darkness say one of the strangest requests from a fan was to sign a dead dog. 

Drummer Ed Graham say the fan brought his grandma's late pet to an autograph session. 

He told the Irish Examiner he signed the stuffed animal - on the testicles. [see the full story link for all the gory(?) details.]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Garbage's Rough Sailing
Ananova reports: Shirley Manson says she thought Garnage would split during the recording of their long awaited fourth album. 

The album, the follow-up to 2001's Beautifulgarbage, was due out on Universal Records' Interscope label in February. 

It still has no firm release date and Manson admits the band has yet to present the album to the record company. 

Manson said: "Christ, did things take a weird turn back in October? I seriously thought we were through. 

"Oh how I wish I could spill all the beans here but certain members of the band would never forgive me if I washed my dirty laundry in public so I will just have to save it for my memoirs... ha ha ha haaa. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

New York Dolls Play On
ananova reports: The New York Dolls say they will honour their commitments following the death of bassist Arthur Kane. 

Frontman David Johansen says no long term decision has been taken on the recently revived band's future. 

But he says they will play all of their scheduled gigs in the UK and US this summer with a replacement bassist. 

Johansen told the New York Times: "We don't have any long-term plans or anything. We're honoring our commitments, and that's as far as we have any idea about. [see full story for more - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Ananova also has news on Natasha the new face of mini iPod, The Libertines announce US tour dates, Supergrass announce US tour dates, Missy Elliot joins anti-Bush song remake, The Beach Boys head for Broadway and more click here to check it out

Beasties Expand Tour
liveDaily reports: New dates continue to trickle out for Beastie Boys' upcoming North American tour, with new confirmed dates announced for the Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta areas. 

The trio also added a second San Francisco show to its schedule after its first show sold out; details are in the itinerary below. 

Tickets for the four new shows will hit the market on Saturday and Sunday (8/14-15), and various ticket pre-sales are being offered before the general on-sale. Information is available at the group's website. [see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Natalie MacMaster fiddles around with North American tour, liveDaily Interview: Jim Corr of The Corrs, Kinks founder Dave Davies hospitalized following stroke, Rascal Flatts sets sights on album release, tour, Story of the Year, Lostprophets, others team for Nintendo Fusion Tour and more click here to check it out

Interpol Club Tour
Xfm reports: To herald the completion of their new album, entitled 'Antics', Interpol have revealed details of a short series of European club dates, including an exclusive London gig in September. 

Interpol will be playing four, low key intimate club dates in Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and London, just days before the release of their new single 'Slow Hands' on September 13. 

The new album, will be released on September 27 worldwide and September 28 in the US. [see full story for more including dates and tracklisting for the CD]- Click Here for the Full Story 

No Stone Roses Reunion 
Xfm reports: [Ian] Brown is still reticent when it comes to the idea of the Stone Roses ever actually reforming 

"I think that everything's of its time. I get as many kids coming up asking me not to reform the Roses as reform. They say, �Please don't spoil it for us'. They don't want to see grey-haired, pot-bellied geezers." He continued. 

"It was all about the spirit of the thing. We'd finish a rehearsal and go straight to each other's houses and hang out until midnight, then meet at 10am the next day. If that's not there, I don't see how we could do it. Because it wouldn't be real." [see the full story for a lot more where Ian explains why he avoided doing Stone Roses songs until a show recently and also get info on his new CD] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on Happy Mondays Plan Reunion Dates?, New Razorlight Single And Tour Dates, Franz Ferdinand For Football Soundtrack, Kinks Founder Recovering From Stroke, Prodigy Announce Live Dates and more click here to check it out

Blue Nile Return
press release reports: Critically acclaimed Scottish trio The Blue Nile will be releasing their Sanctuary Records' debut, High, on August 31st. This is the band's first new studio record since 1996's Peace at Last and is their fourth record in 21 years. The Blue Nile¹s impassioned music and expressive vocals have won them a fanatical word-of-mouth fanbase over the years that includes Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Rickie Lee Jones (with whom they toured with in 1991) and Rod Stewart and their songs have been covered by a diverse array of talent including Tom Jones, Isaac Hayes, Julian Lennon and Joe Cocker, as well as the previously mentioned Lennox. [click full story for more info and a sample from the CD]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Velvet Underground's John Cale New CD
press release reports: On September 7, ascendant indie label Or Music will release "HoboSapiens," the first full-length album of songs in eight years by Welsh rock colossus John Cale. Cale is famed for everything from '60s internships with classical revolutionaries John Cage and La Monte Young, to epochal contributions to the Velvet Underground, landmark production duties for The Stooges, Nico and Patti Smith, feted collaborations with Brian Eno and Lou Reed, abundant soundtrack and orchestral detours, and his own 16-album, song-based solo oeuvre. 

A thirteen-track cavalcade of sample-laden rock, balladry and instrumental exotica, "HoboSapiens" is a consummate John Cale album in the noble tradition of "Paris 1919", "Fear" or "Music For A New Society" - albeit with a modernist twist. [check out the full story link to learn more and hear a preview of the CD]- Click Here for the Full Story 

ISC 2004
press release reports: ISC 2004 will yield 50 winners that will share in $100,000 cash and prizes; but for many songwriters, the prizes are just one of the many benefits from winning a competition of this stature. Today's music industry is highly competitive, and winning the ISC can help open doors for an artist: "I've had requests from labels in America asking me to send them more music, and there just seems to be so much good will with this competition" said British singer-songwriter Jane Taylor (2003 ISC Folk/Singer-Songwriter category winner). 

ISC is now accepting entries in 16 musical categories. Deadline for submission is October 15, 2004. Enter ISC by August 31, 2004 and save on multiple-song entries. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Quiksand a UK Hit
press release reports: After 8 straight weeks in the Top 10, emerging U.S. rock band QWIKSAND from Orange County California hit No 2 on Pulse Radio in the United Kingdom with their new 2004 album release titled "The Fellowship of the Groove". Currently ranked No 1 for "hot new recording artists" by world-leading Internet search engines Google.com, Yahoo.com, MSN.com, Excite.com, Lycos.com, QWIKSAND from southern California based record company Planet Squared Music will now appear on an upcoming compilation CD in October 2004 to the music, television and film industry throughout the United Kingdom with distribution through NME and Music Mart Magazines plus 350 major retailers including Virgin Mega Stores.- Click Here for the Full Story