Jacko Accuser Payoff
Xinhuanet reports: US pop superstar Michael Jackson allegedly paid about 2 million US dollars to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to avoid child molestation charges, the NBC4 TV reported Thursday. 

According to a report to be aired Friday night by the "Dateline NBC" TV news magazine, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas, now a NBC news analyst, said his office investigated Jackson in 1993 in connection with one boy's claim and came upon the second accusation. 

The first boy reportedly was paid 15 million dollars to 20 million dollars by Jackson to avoid charges that would damage his career even if proved untrue. Jackson has denied ever harming any child and is currently fighting charges he molested a boy in 2003. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

GNR in 05?
Blabbermouth reports: GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson has told the Rocky Mountain News that the group's long-delayed, well-over-budget album, "Chinese Democracy", is almost out. 

"I'll probably be touring [my solo] record up till the end of the year," he said. "Then I'm thinking the GNR record will be coming out real soon after that. Then I'll be touring behind that record. I'm anticipating being on the road for the next year and a half, two years." 

According to Stinson, "Chinese Democracy" "is almost done. Closer than it has ever been, for certain. I went and listened to some of the songs before I left L.A. to make sure my two cents were thrown in, so to speak. I was pretty stoked about it. I heard some really, really great stuff that I hadn't heard in a long time." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Slayer Frontman Hospitalized
Blabbermouth reports: SLAYER were forced to cancel their show in Myrtle Beach, SC Wednesday night (Sep. 1) after the band's frontman, Tom Araya, was allegedly rushed to a hospital as a result of suffering from kidney stones or a possible bad allergic reaction. There was been no official update with regards to Tom's condition. [see full story for upcoming Slayer dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Melbourne Dishonor AC/DC
Blabbermouth reports: Australia's The Age is reporting that the Melbourne City Council looks set to disappoint AC/DC fans by dropping a popular plan to honor the Australian rockers with a city street name. 

Planning committee chairwoman Catherine Ng confirmed Thursday night (September 2) the council would consider other options next week, including a plaque on the footpath in Swanston Street. [see full story for a lot more on this story]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Slipknot DVD
Blabbermouth reports: SLIPKNOT will be releasing their third DVD sometime next year, a representative for Roadrunner Records has confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "The exact timing and content [of the DVD] has yet to be determined," the representative said. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on VINCE NEIL: U.K. Tour Dates Announced, F5: Former MEGADETH Bassist Schedules Arizona Gigs, MEGADETH To Guest On 'Headbanger's Ball', LULLACRY: New Single Streamed Online, CYBERYA Part Ways With Singer and more click here to check it out

Rod Vs. DJ
Ananova reports: Rod Stewart kicked a football [not US version] off the stage - and reportedly hit the father-in-law of top DJ Paul Oakenfold. 

Vincenzo Costa, 61, was hit on the side of the head as he left Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, says The Sun. 

Daughter Angela said he went into convulsions on a stretcher and had to be rushed to hospital. 

Now Paul is threatening to sue Rod unless the family gets an apology. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Idol Boyband Alert
Ananova reports: Simon Cowell is reportedly working on a secret project to create a new boyband. 

The Scottish lads will be called Braveheart, reports the Daily Star. [more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Ananova also has news on U2 reveal more on new album, Tom Waits confirms UK gig, Justin says Britney was just 'puppy love', More acts sign up for One Big Weekend, Dizzie Rascal announces UK tour and more click here to check it out

Ozzfest Cancelled
liveDaily reports: The final stop on the Ozzy Osbourne-led Ozzfest tour, which was to take place Saturday (9/4) at Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL, has been canceled due to the approach of Hurricane Francis. 

According to a press release, ticket refunds will be available at the original point of purchase; tickets purchased with a credit card online or by phone through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded. [see full story for other tours that have been cancelled in FL)- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Bruce Hornsby supports new album with fall shows, Earth, Wind and Fire stays linked with Chicago for fall tour, Dolly Parton starts penciling in fall/winter tour, Live Review: Phil Collins in Phoenix, New Age icon Yanni takes his show to arenas and more click here to check it out

Saves The Day Dropped?
PunkROCKS.net reports: Saves The Day was dropped by Dreamworks. BOOO HOOOO - Click Here for the Full Story 

Serj, de la Rocha collab
The PRP reports: System Of A Down's Serj Tankian, former Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha and Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta are among those who collaborated on Saul Williams' upcoming self-titled effort which will arrive in stores on September 21st. [see full story for a link to more details]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Mars Volta Delay
The PRP reports: According to the bands publicist, The Mars Volta's upcoming new album "Frances The Mute" has once again been pushed back to an early 2005 release via Strummer/Universal. Recent rumors suggest that the group have re-entered the studio to work on some more material for the effort.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on Slayer Dates, Cardia's Streams, Skinflick Filmed, Dying Remains, Face To Dust, Worm Component, Shot Someone, Poetic Medication and more click here to check it out

BBC Air Lost Clash
BBC reports: The world's first airing of legendary "lost" music and film footage of influential punk band The Clash has been shown by the BBC. 

Former band members Mick Jones and Paul Simonon were interviewed on BBC Two's Newsnight about the reissue of their landmark 1979 LP London Calling. 

It is being released this month to mark its 25th anniversary, along with discs of unreleased demos and studio footage. 

Thursday's Newsnight played previously unheard tracks and showed unseen film. [see full story for lots more, including streaming video!] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Silly News: Weird Al Attacked
AP reports: Things got hairy for parody singer "Weird Al" Yankovic as a flock of unwanted fans rushed on stage during his performance at a state fair in southern Illinois. 

Green moths swarmed the Grammy-winning recording artist, some nesting in his trademark long, curly locks. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Mark McGrath's New Gig
AP reports: Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath has signed on as permanent co-host of the TV entertainment show "Extra," producers said Thursday. 

McGrath plans to continue working with the band, which currently has a greatest-hits CD in the works, and will fit performances and tours into his TV show schedule. 

He will present celebrity, entertainment and pop culture news alongside longtime host Dayna Devon. [see full story for one]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Rock for Sudan
Reuters reports: Stars from the worlds of rock and pop have united on an album to be released Friday to raise funds for the people of the Darfur region of western Sudan. 

U.S. band REM and British singers David Gray and Badly Drawn Boy are among musicians who have contributed to "Songs for Sudan," which will help to fund charity Oxfam's work for those driven from their homes. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Tom Capone RIP
Reuters reports: A Brazilian music producer who was a leading nominee at the Latin Grammy awards was killed in a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles early on Thursday, hours after leaving the show, police and his record label said. 

Tom Capone, who was nominated for five Latin Grammys and produced award-winning albums by Brazilian singer Maria Rita and the rock band Skank, died from massive head trauma after his rented Harley Davidson "Fatboy" and a car collided. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Shadows Fall, Damageplan Tour
Metal-Rules reports: SHADOWS FALL are set to embark on a massive co-headlining U.S. tour with Damageplan this fall. The trek, set to begin on October 27th running through December 9th, covers major markets and will see both SHADOWS FALL and Damageplan swapping the closing spot each night, which will also feature The Haunted in the support slot. This highly anticipated tour is SHADOWS FALL's first nationwide run in support of their critically acclaimed new album, The War Within, set for a September 21st release. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Super Furry Animals Still Don't Give A ****
DiS reports: Welsh marvels, Super Furry Animals, are to celebrate the release of their singles collection by re-releasing the cult hit �The Man Don't Give a F**k'. The single, originally released seven years ago, hit the high end of the top 40 despite its proliferation of swear words (52, separate �f***'s, we're told�). It's unsure whether this is in re-recorded form or will be based around the live techno-wigout version that the band have regularly used to mark the end of their sets. 

The single will be released on September 27th, with the �Songbook: The Singles Volume One' LP released on October 4th. [see full story for tracklisting] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: DiS also has news on The Departure: Debut Headline Tour, Futureheads head over to FROG, Snazzy journeys into space..., ...Trail o'Dead: LP Delayed + Neil Leaves, dEUS: Suffer "Sudden Illness" and more click here to check it out

Who Megabox
ArrowFM reports: TheMusic.com will have double-disc sets from The Who's complete 2004 tour in a limited run of 150 deluxe road cases. The set includes a total of 19 shows, which will retail around $820 (Ha! count me out). The package also features a card autographed by Who members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, and a tour program. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Jagger, Josh Stone Duet
ArrowFM reports: Mick Jagger recently met his match in a seventeen-year-old singer Joss Stone when they sang a duet of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie," originally recorded in 1967 by Dionne Warwick... Stone's version will appear on the soundtrack to the updated version of the 1966 film, starring Jude Law. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Peter Gabriel Videos on DVD, Rock Items Sell Big at "Swampy" Auction, Lennon Covers Album Re-released in UK, Stewart on his Third Great American Songbook, Dylan, Zevon On New Film Soundtrack and more click here to check it out

Tom Waits Returns
Xfm reports: Legendary singer songwriter Tom Waits has confirmed that he will be playing his first shows in the UK for more than 15 years. Waits' last UK was at the London Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and he makes a long-awaited return to the venue this November. 

Waits is scheduled to play the now re-named Hammersmith Apollo on November 23 with tickets going on sale on Friday (September 10), at 9am. The album, 'Real Gone', will hit the shops on October 4. [see full story for tracklisting.. Tom is expected to have 8 European dates. shameless plug: the new CD made quite the impression on our very own Zane Ewton, his 4.5 star review will post on October 1st(there is a very good reason for the publishing delay) ] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Beta Band Farewell Tour
Xfm reports: When the Beta Band announced they were to split, they threatened just one more victory lap around the UK to say goodbye to the fans. As promised, the soon to be disbanding Beta Band will tour one more time and Xfm has details of the first show to be announced. 

The band have announced they will play the Carling Academy in Glasgow on Friday November 12. The band have confirmed there will be more shows to follow in the near future, so keep checking Xfm Online for all the details as they emerge. [more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on "Preposterous? Deranged? Us?!" Muse Face The Music, Dizzee Rascal To Hit The Street, Von Bondies To Carrie On Regardless, X-clusive: Franz Write Scottish Football Anthem, Pete Doherty Avoids Jail and more click here to check it out

Iommi / Hughes Official Announcement
press release reports: When monumental musical talents collide, the result is magic. Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes offer proof in the form of the album 'The 1996 DEP Sessions' set for release by Sanctuary Records on September 28, 2004. The album is being released under the banner Iommi With Glenn Hughes. 

'The 1996 DEP Sessions' features eight electrifying songs recorded by these two legends. Iommi is the lead guitarist in Black Sabbath, the groundbreaking originators of pure heavy metal; he has led every lineup of the band. Iommi is one of the most influential and widely recognized guitarists in the history of rock music. Hughes was a member of Trapeze before achieving worldwide superstardom as the co-lead vocalist and bass guitarist in Deep Purple in the mid-1970s. He has enjoyed a prolific and diverse solo career.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Motley Sevendust
Day in Rock reports: Yesterday we printed a Blabbermouth story about the new band featuring members of Sevendust, Stereomud, Stuck Mojo and Tommy Lee. The Day in Rock was informed by an inside source that this line-up (minus the vocals) are also playing with former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi on his new solo album. 

Recap of the line-up: Will Hunt (SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE): Drums - Corey Lowery (ex-STEREOMUD, STUCK MOJO): Bass - Troy McLawhorn (ex-DOUBLE DRIVE): Guitar - Clint Lowery (SEVENDUST): Guitar 

Fear Before The March of Flames
press release reports: Fear Before The March of Flames will be releasing their sophomore album entitled 'Art Damage' through Equal Vision Records this Tuesday, September 7th. 

The band will also be touring with Norma Jean, Throwdown, and Evergreen Terrace this fall. [see full story for more info and details on a bonus offer]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Kick Axe Again
press release reports: Kick Axe, one of the best and most successful heavy rock bands to burst out of Canada in the 1980s, returns with 'Kick Axe IV,' its first album of new material in 18 years. 'Kick Axe IV' will be released on September 7, 2004, by Song Haus Music. 

The band includes vocalist Gary Langen, guitarist Larry Gillstrom, guitarist Raymond Harvey, bassist Victor Langen and drummer Brian Gillstrom. All of the members contribute vocal harmonies. 

The 14 songs on 'Kick Axe IV' are: "Right Now," "Rockin Daze," "Consolation," "Turn To Stone," "Do You Know," "Who Knows Ya," "Woe," "Time," "Slip Inside My Dream," "Who Says," "Rock N Roll Dog," "Black Heart," "City Lights" and "The Only Ones Here."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Get in on iTunes
press release reports: Apple® today launched the iTunes® Affiliate Program, making it the first download music store to offer direct links to a la carte singles and albums that generate paid commissions to affiliate websites. The iTunes Affiliate Program will complement successful iTunes programs including iTunes on Campus, offering free site licenses to colleges and universities, and the iTunes Volume Discount Program, providing bulk song downloads at a discount. The iTunes Music Store is the world's number one music service with over 125 million songs purchased and downloaded to date. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Six Feet Under Take on Back in Black
press release (metal blade) reports: On October 19th 2004 Six Feet Under will do what no other metal band has done before� cover an album in its entirety! Graveyard Classics 2 is none other than the AC/DC's infamous 20 times platinum release Back In Black! Six Feet Under recorded GC2 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with Chris Carroll mixing and Chris Barnes producing. For those of you who don't know the track listing, and shame on you for that, here it is: 

1. Hells Bells - 2. Shoot to Thrill - 3. What Do You Do For Money Honey - 4. Givin the Dog a Bone - 5. Let Me Put My Love Into You - 6. Back in Black - 7. You Shook Me All Night Long - 8. Have A Drink On Me - 9. Shake A Leg - 10. Rock N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution- Click Here for the Full Story 

Indie Watch:Elton Junk Punked By Label?
press release reports: Without any warning Sottosopra Productions published, three years late, 500 copies of the first Elton Junk album, the "Moods" which had already been released by the band to press and the listeners as a demo-cd. 

Remains the scarce communication given to the band during these three years and the breach of the contract signed three years ago in all of its parts by Sottosopra Productions. Moreover, the band did not have any chance of visioning the cd cover and inlay before the release. 

As some might know, since 2001, Elton Junk took care in first person of every recording, booking of live events and management of their production, worked with theatre and visual arts and published a second CDr (Piss on a dead tree and watch it grow), changed their line up during the years and have composed new songs about to be recorded. This is the reason why we decided to take care personally of the relationship with press for this release as well, skipping any possible mediation. 

We intend to look for the proper attention from journalists, for what the music of "Moods" (of which we still feel gladly responsible) was then and for what it is now, prescinding the means and times of the commercial release of the cd.- Click Here for the Full Story 

2 Cents: Escape
[It's Friday, time for Chuck DiMaria to give us his 2 cents! This week Chuck lets us in on his musical guilty pleasures.] 

I love Escape by Rupert Holmes. You may know it better as The Pina Colada Song. 

Call it a guilty pleasure, like my love of Mystery Science Theater 3000 or maybe my affection for Buffy The Vampire Slayer (I mean, before the show got all popular and mainstream), but it's a guilty pleasure, nonetheless. 

I used to not want to own up to it. I was too afraid of being ostracized for my beliefs. But that was long ago and I'm a stronger man now. 

So I'll say it; I ain't ashamed: I love The Pina Colada Song! 

There. I said it and I feel great! 

Oh, what a gem that one was. Rupert Holmes knocked that one right out of the park. 

Rupert Holmes is an accomplished man. He's got Tony awards, Broadway credit, motion picture credit, he's a musician and a novelist. Hey, the guy is one busy dude. 

But for me, it's all about The Pina Colada Song. That's what he'll be remembered for, most likely. It was in 1979. I remember that all of a sudden people were drinking pina coladas and singing that song. 

And to this day, that cheesy little 70's song still breaks my heart. I don't know what it is, maybe it's because it reminds of my youth, maybe it's because it's got a great hook, I don't know. I think it might be because the guy gets the girl in the end. But no matter what the reason is, that song is just so 70's that it still cracks me up. I love it. 

I love it when you don't have to think about the music. You hear the song, you like the song, and then you play the song over and over. What is so hard about that? 

And no one ever gets into fights over Rupert Holmes. You never see two big guys in a bar kicking the crap out of each other over which was a better Rupert Holmes album - Pursuit of Happiness or Partners In Crime. No one gets trampled in a mosh pit at a Rupert Holmes show, 

That's like hearing that a riot broke out at a Stephen Bishop show. It just doesn't happen. 

And I'm glad it doesn't happen. I'm kind of tired of music being so fired up that the song takes a back seat to the audience. 

Now, I like getting fired up and there's nothing wrong with that. Music offers a great opportunity to get you aggressions out. But every once in a while, ya gotta chill. 

That's when the guilty pleasures come out. And we all have them, I don't care how many times your nipples are pierced. We all have those sappy songs hidden somewhere in our collections that we play when no one's watching. 

[That's 1 cent, click the full story link to hear about Chuck's other guilty pleasures and to share your own.] - Click Here for the Full Story