Ja Rule Plea
AP reports: American rapper Ja Rule will plead not guilty to assault charges brought by Toronto police, his lawyer said Monday. 

"You can underline that three times," Steven Skurka said outside court after setting a pretrial date for Oct. 6. 

The star, who lives in New Jersey but had been frequenting Toronto for film shoots, was charged with assault causing bodily harm last month. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Anselmo Vs. PA Fans
Blabbermouth reports: Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reviewed the Ozzfest 2004 traveling heavy metal festival when it hit Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday (August 28). An excerpt from his review follows: 

"Phil Anselmo takes the award for the most hostile performer of the day � and perhaps the year. He didn't seem to understand why the corrosive hardcore of his band, SUPERJOINT RITUAL, didn't inspire the overheated crowd to maintain a constant mosh pit. 

"The tattooed and mohawked Anselmo took to insults (or at least his idea of them): 'If you're standing with your arms folded, you are a homosexual!'...

 "Ultimately, the angry but amusing kook went off the stage, slamming down the mike and saying, 'You're the worst audience I ever played in front of.' [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Another KISS Anthology Coming
Blabbermouth reports: KISS will be issuing a brand-new 40-track two-CD anthology, entitled "Gold Sound+Vision", on October 5 through Universal. In addition to the discs listed below, the release will also include the DVD "KISS Exposed" � the behind-the-scenes look at "the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band," featuring 15 selections spanning 1975 through 1986. [see full story for tracklisting for the anthology (codenamed "Same Songs/Different Cover")] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Monster Magnet Tour Still On
Blabbermouth reports: Despite rumors to the contrary, MONSTER MAGNET have not called off the remainder of their U.S. tour following the cancellation of their scheduled performance at Jaxx in Springfield, VA Saturday night (August 28). A representative at the group's record label, SPV Records, has told BLABBERMOUTH.NET that the Springfield gig was "postponed due to a bus/trailer problem" [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE To Begin Mixing New Album, FATES WARNING: New Song Available For Download, CATTLE DECAPITATION: 'Humanure' Album Cover 'Censored', SPIRITUAL BEGGARS: Percussion Extravaganza, PANDEMIA Shopping Around For New Record Deal and more click here to check it out

Feds MP3 Raid
BBC reports: US agents have raided five homes across America as part of the first federal criminal copyright action taken against file-sharing networks. 

Equipment was seized as part of an investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and games over a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. 

Users of P2P can access files directly from computers of other network users. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

DMB Offer DNA in Sewagedump Probe
AP reports: The Dave Matthews Band says it is cooperating with authorities to determine what happened when a tour boat with more than 100 passengers was doused with raw sewage. 

A lawsuit by Illinois' attorney general contends the band's tour bus emptied its septic tank while crossing a grated bridge over the Chicago River on Aug. 8. 

The band issued a statement on its Web site saying members have offered to provide DNA evidence to help authorities determine the source of the sewage. 

In its statement, the band also said that if its bus is found to be responsible for the incident, the band will "work quickly to make amends, with the people on the boat and with Chicago." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

The Cramps Rare
MTV reports: As a treat to fans and a testament to their vast catalog, the New York-bred band [The Cramps] has compiled two discs' worth of unreleased rare tracks, alternate takes, demos and live performances. "How to Make a Monster", due October 19. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Axis of Justice CD/DVD
Day in Rock/MTV reports: Serjical Strike will be releasing the "Axis Of Justice Concert Series Volume 1" CD/DVD on Election day (Nov 2). The CD/DVD will feature performances from the Los Angeles "Axis of Justice" concert that took place last July and featured Tom Morello, Serj Tankian, Maynard James Keenan, Pete Yorn and others. Check out the full story link for extensive article at MTV about the release - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: MTV also has news on Lil Jon Gives Jessica's Pop A Cup, Xtina Startles, Xzibit Chills With Jet: VMAs Backstage, Outkast, Jay-Z Win Big At VMAs; Usher, No Doubt Land Multiple Moonmen, Want Some Miami Heat? Check The Fashion On The VMA Red Carpet, VMA Rehearsals Report: Outkast's Onstage Party, Christina's Fear Of Heights, Miami After Hours: Usher's VMA Party Turns Into A Real Circus, Complete 2004 VMA Winners List and more click here to check it out

New QOTSA in Nov?
IAYM reports: According to recent industry rumors, the Queens Of The Stone Age are planning to release their as-yet-untitled new album this November. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Anthrax Tour?
IAYM reports: Anthrax are thought to be planning a 3 week tour of the U.S. in October, further details are expected to arrive shortly. - Click Here for the Full Story 

SOAD Eye Dec Release
IAYM reports: System Of A Down are now eyeing a December release date for their as-yet-untitled new effort, frontman Serj Tankian offering the following update on the progress made thus far: "We're in the thick of it still, doing a lot of overdubs. It's going great. I'm happy with all the songs, the diversity of it." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Circle Takes The Square Fall Tour, Scum Of The Earth Tour, GWAR Tour Dates / New Album Title, Thr3efold Tour Dates, Fume: "Everything Alive", Head Automatica Headlining Tour / New Remix and more click here to check it out

Dwarfs Offspring
Punkbands.com reports: Dexter Holland from the Offspring lends vocals to two songs ("Salt Lake City" & "Massacre") on The Dwarves' new album, The Dwarves Must Die. The album hits stores September 21 on Sympathy For The Record Industry. The list of celebrity guests also includes Nick Oliveri from QOTSA, Nash Kato from Urge Overkill, rapper San Quinn, DJ Marz, EBlack¨ Josh Freese and even the original Space Ghost Gary Owens. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Onesidezero Reunion
The PRP reports: Onesidezero will be reuniting for a one-off show in Los Angeles, CA on October 23rd.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on For Great Justice!!, No Sir, Like A Magazine Pt. 2, Bury Tom Cruise?, Back To The Wild, The Dog Is Alive, Streaming Love And Hate and more click here to check it out

Bon Jovi CD in 05
BW&BK reports: According to the official BON JOVI website, during a recent interview with long time friend and supporter Pierre Robert of WMMR radio in Philadelphia, frontman Jon Bon Jovi revealed that there is a new Bon Jovi album in the works. It is expected to be released "in the first half of 2005". No details have been released other than the band is owrking with producer John Shanks. [see full story for details on the forthcoming boxset] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Cattle Decapitation Censored
BW&BK reports: CATTLE DECAPITATION vocalist/guitarist Travis Ryan has issued the following update: 

"'Mammary glands and fat'": Humanure Album Cover Change 

"We've been given the option to change the album cover and we're doing it. We've received too many complaints that people are unable to find the album and that is something we wanted to defeat by signing with Metal Blade. We knew it had to incorporate the current original artwork somehow as well as to put across a message. We're going to go with the image that's on the back of the current layout. Its just a barren wasteland that(now in hindsight, cryptically) symbolizes the ill effect of censorship as well as the fallout left by the apocalypse known as humanity. Void of flavor and life. Exactly the way this world will be when it cures itself of this disease...." [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: BW&BK also has news on SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE - Psychotic Waltz, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS - "It's Heavy Beggars Style Rock", STRATOVARIUS' Timo Kotipelto Covers The Classics, QUEEN's Greatest Hits Rocks Iran, MIKE TRAMP - European Tour Dates Confirmed and more click here to check it out

Ed Gein Tour
Knifeparty reports: Ed Gein and LickGoldenSky will be touring together in October and November. They will be joined by Breather Resist for the second half of the tour. [see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Vanilla Fudge Still Rockin'
press release / electric basement reports: The legendary '60s phenomenon THE VANILLA FUDGE are schedule to perform a special engagement at B.B. King's Club on Sept. 8th. The Fudge, featuring CARMINE APPICE, TIM BOGERT, BILL PASCALI and TEDDY RONDINELLI, are currently riding high on the heels of their latest CD release "The Return", and plan to perform all their major hits at the B.B. King gig. The show will be highlighted by a guest appearance from veteran rocker PAT TRAVERS. [see full story for more - they also have a preview of the new DIO CD]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Tyler Santa's Little Helper
ArrowFM reports: Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler seems to be following his daughter Liv Tyler's lead by appearing in some big-budget films. The 56-year-old rocker will play one of Santa's elfin helpers in the upcoming film Polar Express. Tyler will also sing one or two of the songs on the film's soundtrack. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Zevon Tribute
ArrowFM reports: Artemis Records is scheduled to release the highly anticipated tribute to Warren Zevon - Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon - due in stores October 19th. The album features such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, The Pixies and more! Also included are two never-before-published Zevon penned songs. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Page Comes Clean on Drugs, Family, etc., AC/DC Helps Victims of Hurricane Charley, R.E.M. Gets Political On New Album, Gene Simmons Joins the Guys From Queen Eye, Page Puts Zeppelin Reunion To Rest and more click here to check it out

Ray Charles DVD
liveDaily reports: "Ray Charles Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony," a concert film shot in 1980 at Edmonton, Alberta's Jubilee Auditorium, will be released Sept. 21 on DVD. 

The DVD includes Charles' performances of "Georgia on My Mind," "What'd I Say," "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "I Can See Clearly Now," among many others. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Eminem Release Date
liveDaily reports: Aftermath/Interscope Records has scheduled a Nov. 16 release date for "Encore," rapper Eminem's first full album of new material since 2002's "The Eminem Show."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Briefly: Laura Branigan, Kris Kristofferson, Lydia Lunch, Alan Jackson racks up seven CMA Awards nominations, Live Review: The Cure's Curiosa Tour in Carson, CA, Bad Religion 'Strikes First' with U.S. club tour, Live Review: Chris Isaak in Phoenix and more click here to check it out

In Stores Today: Skindred
[Every couple of weeks we like to showcase a notable new release with an excerpt from a review. This week we are featuring antiGUYs review of "Babylon" from Skindred which hits stores today. We join aG a few paragraphs into the review.] 

One of the biggest attractions of Skindred is the dichotomy between dance-ability and headbanging. It is an unimaginable tightrope walk that seems to come naturally to Skindred. Perhaps that comes from the previously untested mix of reggae with punk and metal. Whatever it is, Skindred uses it to great effect. 

"Babylon" demands our attention, not only for its eclectic mix of style but also for the precision of its execution. If Skindred breaks out in a big way, this just may be an album that proclaims a new movement in rock. Some have tried in vain to put a label on Skindred, but the band defy the practice because a simple label cannot be devised that would adequately describe all of the styles that the band's sound encompasses. If this is an evolutionary offshoot of numetal (a genre I don't particularly care for), I for one welcome it and feel that Skindred goes a long way in making up for loosing Limp Bizkit on us. 

In many ways, Skindred's use of reggae is a parallel to how Led Zeppelin reinterpreted the blues. Zeppelin took a firmly established style and took it into a new heavier direction and helped create an entirely new style in the process. The same can be said of Skindred's creative incorporation of reggae. 

[see the full story link to read the entire review] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Adam K Offdates
Day in Rock reports: We just got word from Adam K of LIVE that he has scheduled some offdate solo performances during the upcoming LIVE tour. Here are the dates: 09/02 - The C-Note, NYC (10pm)
09/03 - The Point, Bryn Mawr PA (Confirmed)
09/12 - The National Constitution Center, Philadelphia 
10/21 - Murph's Other Bar, York PA 
10/22 - Lizard Lounge @ The Chameleon, Lanc PA 
10/23 - The C-note, NYC
- Click Here for the Full Story 

Stereo 360 Pepsi Tour
press release reports: Tour dates continue to trickle in for Stereo 360's upcoming North American Tour Part Deux, starting Sept. 8th at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas and running through mid-November. 

Pepsi Company's AMP Energy Drink is sponsoring the fifty-date tour which will hit major markets such as Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Vancouver, Canada. Stereo 360's hit single "Superstar," from their new EP "Corporate Slashing," is creating a frenzy at college campuses nationwide, and is receiving significant airplay at commercial radio stations throughout the country. [Stereo 360 made our "Best of 2003" list, so they are worth checking out. See the full story link to learn more about the band and get the tour dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

10 Fold Below New Release
press release reports: Locomotive Music again bestow an album of uncompromising metal from one of Europe¹s newest imports with the release of Low Tuned Output by 10 FOLD B-LOW on September 14, 2004. 

An eclectic mix of death metal and emotional passages collide with aggression and melody on Low Tuned Output, the debut album from the German quintet. Founded in June 2001, 10 FOLD B-LOW performed their first show in front of a sizable audience only 3 months into their formation. Showcasing pure dynamic energy and a breathtaking performance, they went on to record their self-produced demo in December of the same year and spread their sound throughout the German underground. 

After an adjustment to the rhythm section in 2003, 10 FOLD B-LOW signed with Locomotive Music and join the ranks of their label-mates Prong, Before The Dawn and Mago De Oz. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Twisted Sister Still Hungry
press release reports: 2004 is shaping up as one of the most exciting years ever for the hard rock band Twisted Sister. Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the 'Still Hungry' CD -- a rerecorded and expanded version of the classic 1984 album 'Stay Hungry' -- on October 5, 2004. 'Still Hungry' adds seven new tracks to the original 'Stay Hungry.' 

The rerecorded 'Stay Hungry' tracks are "Stay Hungry," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "Burn in Hell," "Horror-Teria: A) Captain Howdy B) Street Justice," "I Wanna Rock," "The Price," "Don't Let Me Down," "The Beast" and "S.M.F." The biggest singles of Twisted Sister's career, "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock," were fist-pumping smashes and important, ground-breaking music videos in the early days of MTV. 

The seven bonus tracks are "Never Say Never," "Blastin' Fast & Loud," "Come Back," "Plastic Money," "You Know I Cry," "Rock N Roll Saviors" and "Heroes Are Hard to Find." These songs appear at the end of 'Still Hungry.' Four of them -- "Come Back," "Plastic Money," "You Know I Cry" and "Rock N Roll Saviors" -- were newly recorded in 2004. The recording of "Never Say Never" and "Blastin' Fast & Loud" was completed in 2001 using the original drum tracks Pero laid down in 1984. "Heroes Are Hard to Find" was recorded in 1998.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Morrissey Announces U.S. Tour
Day in Rock reports: Morrissey will return to North America for a full tour next month. Below are the confirmed dates: 09/29 - Washington DC - Constitution Hall 
10/01 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
10/02 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
10/04 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
10/05 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
10/07 - Asbury Park, NJ - Paramount Theatre
10/09 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10/10 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10/12 - Toronto, ON - Hummingbird Theatre
10/13 - South Bend, IN - Morris PAC
10/15 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
10/16 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
10/17 - Detroit, MI - State Theatre
10/19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
10/20 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
10/22 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
10/24 - Miami, FL - Gleason Theatre
10/25 - Miami, FL - Gleason Theatre
10/28 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
10/29 - Dallas, TX - Will Rogers Auditorium
10/30 - Austin, TX - The Backyard
11/01 - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum - Click Here for the Full Story 

Fan Fair: The Making of a Music Freak
[Scott Slapp has taken the week off to chase naked female protesters in NYC. He should return next week (if he makes bail in time). However, we do have a very special segment for you today. What follows is an excerpt from Maria Braden's "Fan Fair" column for this month. Joins us as Maria explores the burning question; "Are music freaks born or made?".] 

Are rock and roll fans born or made? What is the combination of influences that causes someone to be touched so deeply by little more than sound and concept? Why is it that some people are able to enjoy music while not caring about it, and others take it as some sort of personal religion? 

I can only speak for myself, but I think it has been a combination of both nature and nurture. Perhaps it began with my father's Sunday afternoon tradition of "having a beer with Hank(Williams)". Every Sunday, we'd go down to the cemetery, and he would drink five out of a six-pack, leaving that last one open for "ol' Hank". I'd play, as children do, but I saw, even then, how much it moved him to have this personal sort of communion, and I guess it made an impression. So much so that I asked for my first stereo when I was five years old. 

Now, in today's world, that's not such a big thing. The marketers even TARGET the preschool set these days. But in the Seventies, it was usually a rite of passage to go beyond the tinny sound of a clock radio and into the world of vinyl....Forty-fives, the irritating adapters, picture sleeves....Today, the experience isn't as heady as it was then, with all the attendant baggage. But I was five years old and asking for something that my teenaged brothers and sisters weren't even asking for. And, amazingly, I got it. 

But I wasn't the type to sit there and listen to "kiddie records." Oh, no... I wasn't allowed to have my own records yet, but I did just fine with Mom's Janis Joplin and Dad's Tanya Tucker, and everyone's Elvis Presley. It was about this time that Elvis died, and, living in Memphis, I saw just how a world could change overnight. There was something uniting about Elvis. As Lester Bangs said, "We will never again agree on anything as we did on Elvis." And it's true. Even by the time of his death, the rock audience had fractured into hundreds of pieces, where today it's in millions. I can, if I choose, never listen to ANYTHING recorded since 1990, if I want to-even over the commercial airwaves. Whatever my particular passion, I can curl up with it. But I won't ever get to share that universality that once meant so much to fans. 

[click the full story link to read the rest of Marie's Fan Fair] - Click Here for the Full Story