What Killed Rick James
AP reports: Toxicology and other tests determined that funk singer Rick James died last month from a heart attack due to an enlarged heart, with numerous drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine contributing factors, the county coroner announced Thursday. 

The death was declared an accident, said coroner's spokesman David Campbell, who emphasized that none of the drugs were found to be at life-threatening levels. 

"He didn't die of a drug overdose," Campbell said. 

James, 56, was found dead at his Hollywood residence Aug. 6. An autopsy was performed but the finding of the cause of death was deferred while toxicology and other tests were performed. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Velvet Revolver Deny Ban
Blabbermouth reports: ABC ePrep is reporting that the members of VELVET REVOLVER have made it clear that they don't put any faith in the report published in the Daily Star earlier this week that the group's "Fall To Pieces" video might be banned in the U.K. because of the graphic way in which it addresses Weiland's battles with drug addiction. Asked about the possibility of the clip being too extreme for a European audience last night at the World Music Awards, Scott and Duff indicated that they think Europe is far more receptive to controversial art than America. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Extreme Reunion
Blabbermouth reports: Former EXTREME members Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Gary Cherone (vocals) and Paul Geary (drums) will reunite for WAAF's Hillman 15th Anniversary Concert as part of the 2004 Taste of Boston on September 18 on City Hall Plaza in Boston. Also set to perform are PUDDLE OF MUDD and THE DROP KICK MURPHYS, among others.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on AYREON: 'Actual Fantasy' Album To Be Re-Recorded And Reissued, DEVILINSIDE Added To SUFFOCATION Tour, ANNIHILATOR Guitarist, Former EXCITER Singer To Guest On CKCU FM 93.1, MOTOGRATER Added To AMERICAN APATHY Tour, THE RED CHORD To Enter Studio In November and more click here to check it out

Cold Recording, Plot Tour
The PRP reports: Cold are currently in the studio working on their new album for Atlantic with producer Dave Fortman (Superjoint Ritual, Evanescence) and have tentative plans to hit the road in December.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Sparta Tour
The PRP reports: Sparta will be hitting the road with Further Seems Forever, Copeland and Sunshine for a November/December US tour. Dates and venues have yet to be announced. In other news, Sparta will soon be heading overseas, dates for that trek are as follows: 
October 01st Leicester, UK - Princess Charlotte
October 02nd Leeds, UK - Cockpit
October 03rd Glasgow, UK - King Tutts
October 04th Portsmouth, UK - Wedgewood Rooms
October 05th London, UK - Islington Academy
[see full story for more dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Danzig Tour Dead
The PRP reports: This years "Blackest Of The Black Tour", which was planned to feature Danzig, Mayhem, DevilDriver, Eyes Of Fire and more, has reportedly been scrapped. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Black Dahlia Murder Reissue
The PRP reports: The Black Dahlia Murder are now hoping to re-release their "A Cold Blooded Epitaph" EP, complete with new bonus live tracks, sometime this winter. In other news, the band have been working on new material as of late [see full story for comments from the band about the project]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on The Resident Of Heartache, Recording Necessary To Know, Filming Your Medieval Skies, A Cold Blooded Murder, The Brothel Plot, Answered Blueprinted, The Blade Designed , Robot Showdown and more click here to check it out

George Michael Stalker Tale
Sky reports: Former Wham! star George Michael discovered a crazed fan living under his floorboards, he's revealed. 

The woman stalker had been hiding under the floor of his house for an incredible four days. 

George, 41, only found out she was there when she yelled out his name. 

The stalker then jumped out, terrifying George, who immediately called police. 

Moments later she was arrested, but it wasn't long before she was back and prowling round his garden. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Ray Charles Tribute
Variety reports: CBS has got Ray Charles on its mind. 

Eye is teaming up with Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich for a star-studded concert salute to Charles dubbed "Genius: A Night to Remember." 

Norah Jones, Usher, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, David "Fathead" Newman and Billy Preston are set to perform. 

Jamie Foxx, already sparking Oscar buzz for his performance in the upcoming Charles biopic "Ray," will host the one-hour spec [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Silly News: Driving Lab
New York Daily News reports: [Some silly non-music news for a Friday] WHITEHORSE, Yukon Territory - An exuberant dog left in a truck while the owner watched Canada win the World Cup of Hockey managed to throw the vehicle into gear and coast down a city hill. 

A man out for a walk called police after seeing the vehicle coast by with a black Labrador retriever behind the wheel. 

Police arrived to find the truck in the middle of a road, blocking traffic, with the dog still at the wheel. No one was injured and there was no damage. 

[see full story for more - read the story about strange happenings at a home in Ill]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Marky On Johnny Ramone
antiMUSIC reports: We received the following statement from Marky Ramone about the death of Johnny Ramone, who lost his fight with cancer on Wednesday: "Johnny Ramone was my bandmate and brother for over 15 years. The bond between band members was closer than any others in the Ramones' organization. John kept things in control when they could have spun out of control very easily. I'll never forget the day he asked me to join the Ramones in 1978. I always admired his guitar playing. He was the originator of the down stroke 8th note guitar style, which is very difficult to do for hours on end like he did playing in the Ramones. Four months ago, I knew about the serious nature of his illness, but for a while, he had a turn for the better. This comes as a shock, but it was inevitable because of the severity of his condition which worsened more recently. We were lucky enough to talk and hang out a few months ago when he was strong enough to do the commentary track on the DVD "Ramones Raw", which was his last professional contribution to the Ramones. I spoke to him most recently when I was in LA for the 30th Anniversary concert that we put together for Ramones fans. Based on our last conversation, I felt this moment was coming. I'm sorry to see him go--like this. I hope the fans take the news as best they can. His legacy will live on in every band that has, is and always will be trying to duplicate the Ramones sound. It's a sad day for Ramones fans and a sad day for rock and roll." --Marky Ramone - Click Here for the Full Story 

Anthrax Dio Dates
IAYM reports: Anthrax have firmed up the schedule for their upcoming U.S. run alongside Dio and Fireball Ministry, it now looks as follows: 

September 28th Clifton Park, New York Northern Lights (Anthrax Only) 
September 29th Hartford, Connecticut Webster Theatre 
October 01st Boston, Massachusetts The Palladium 
October 02nd New York City, New York Beacon Theatre 
October 04th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Trocadero [see full story for more dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

One of our readers sent in her thoughts about the Dio Bizarre Gardening Accident story (9/13), she found the story ironic because she always thought Dio was a garden gnome. 

Juliana Theory Pick Producer
IAYM reports: The Juliana Theory have tapped John Travis (Social Distortion, Monster Magnet) to produce their upcoming new album, which they are currently preparing to record in a Los Angeles, California based home studio. - Click Here for the Full Story 

SOAD Engineer
IAYM reports: System Of A Down have enlisted singer/songwriter Jonny Polonsky to engineer their upcoming new album, tentatively due out in December of this year. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Apex Theory EP
IAYM reports: The Apex Theory have confirmed that their new EP effort "inthatskyissomethingwatching" will see a release on September 21st. The outing will be available for purchase from their official website, www.theapextheory.com, where you can also find some new material. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Fu Manchu/Clutch Tour, He Is Legend Track Listing, Anthrax Update, The Bled/Alexisonfire UK Tour, Fear Factory Updates, Daughters/Blood Brothers Dates, Planes Mistaken For Stars Update and more click here to check it out

Green Day At MTV2
NMC reports: Today, September 17, is Green Day at MTV2. The band is getting ready to release their new album, "American Idiot" this Tuesday, September 21, and to celebrate, MTV2 will broadcast several shows featuring the punk powerhouse. First, Green Day takes over MTV2's Viewer's Choice show tonight, starting at 9 pm ET. Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool host the program, which features favorite Green Day videos selected by the fans. When the Viewer's Choice show ends at 10 pm, the station will play a half-hour Green Day concert from the vaults. And as a follow up to the concert, MTV2 will repeat "Green Day Makes a Video." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Strokes Kill Live CD
Aversion reports: Remember that hype about an upcoming Strokes live album? Well, it apparently sucked, so the band put it on ice. 

The Strokes announced they were nixing plans to release Live In London because it wasn't up to the standards they'd hoped. The record, recorded during the touring for Room on Fire (2003, RCA), was scheduled to hit stores Oct. 11. [see full story for Aversion's review of The Strokes latest]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Aversion also has news on Tindersticks Wrap Up DVD, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Tours, The Lashes Start Debut, Field Mice Albums Get Reissued, Slowdance Records Survives Shooting and more click here to check it out

Elvis is Back
press release reports: Yes, Elvis Costello is back with the Imposters and a NEW album THE DELIVERY MAN! 

Elvis Costello & The Imposters new release The Delivery Man in stores 9/21 featuring the single "Monkey To Man." The Delivery Man was recorded in Oxford, MS and produced by Dennis Herring and Elvis Costello. Jon Pareles of The New York Times describes the album as: "...the album steeped in Southern Americana: the gospel-rooted grooves of Memphis soul, touches of pedal steal guitar, Southern-rooted guest singers including Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams and the storytelling that Southern soul shares with country music." 

And if you're into Classical music, Elvis is also releasing his first full-length orchestral work, Il Sogno on 9/21 as well![see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Oasis 66 Song Vault
Ananova reports: Noel Gallagher says Liam has written more than 50 songs for the new Oasis album. 

He says the band have far too much new material for the album - and Liam's written most of it. 

Noel was the band's sole songwriter but Liam contributed three songs to 2002's Heathen Chemistry. 

Noel said: "We've written 66 songs, the majority of which I can't believe our kid's done. 

"I've only written 14 of them. He's done most of the rest of them." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Franz Lead Q Awards
Ananova reports: Franz Ferdinand are leading this year's Q Awards with four nominations. 

The Mercury Music Prize winners are up for best new act and best album, along with best single and video for their hit song Take Me Out. 

New York-based band Scissor Sisters are up for three awards, as are The Streets and Muse reports BBC online. 

The winners will be announced on 4 October at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

They are also up for the "Most Hyped by the UK Press" anti Award. More details on that coming soon.

Avril Awards, Plans Tour
press release reports: There's a lot of excitement surrounding AVRIL LAVIGNE this week. Besides winning the World Music Award for Pop Rock Artist, she also garnered an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Female Artist in the Pop/Rock category and will appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show Friday. In the midst of all this news, Avril has just confirmed her much-anticipated "Bonez Tour 2004 - Eyes" headlining arena tour. This 24-city North American trek is set to kick off October 25 in Dallas, TX and will culminate on November 25 in Kelowna, BC. 

These dates mark Avril's first major US tour since the release of her current album Under My Skin (RCA) earlier this year. The follow-up to her mega-platinum debut Let Go continues its reign in the Top 15 of Billboard's Top 200 album chart this week. Under My Skin topped the 2 million mark last month and has already sold over 5 million copies worldwide. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

W.A.S.P. Announce Neon God Part 2
press release reports: W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless is quite possibly the busiest man in hard rock currently. Having just completed a nationwide and European tour in support of the first act of the band's 2004 2-part conceptual opus The Neon God, W.A.S.P. is planning yet another run around the world to support the forthcoming conclusion of said epic entitled The Neon God Part 2: The Demise, which is slated for release through Sanctuary/Metal-Is Records on September 28th. 

Produced & mixed during this summer, Blackie was ardent in his mission to make The Neon God Part 2: The Demise as potent and intense as its story dictates, so much so, that he was flying back & forth between venues and his Fort Apache studios in Burbank, CA during the first two weeks of the band's summer tour! The Neon God addresses a tale of deep emotional quandary and revelation, the intoxication of power and the consequences of corruption. It is a story that everyone has experienced at one time or another - the need to belong, the quest for love, the desire for control, and the futility of vanity. Lawless, forthright and ever evolving as a musician and a human being, drew influence for the album's concept through extensive observation of the world and numerous soul-searching journeys through the deserts of America's Southwest.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Fu Mancu Tour
press release reports: Fu Manchu has added the following dates to their tour schedule, including dates with Clutch. Fu Manchu's new album, Start The Machine, is in stores now. 

Fu Manchu Headlining 
19-Oct Big Fish Pub - Tempe, AZ 

Clutch Headlining
27-Nov Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room 
28-Nov Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI 
29-Nov First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
30-Nov Logan Square - Chicago, IL 
1-Dec Pops - St Louis, MO 
3-Dec The World - Pittsburgh, PA 
4-Dec Opera House - Toronto, ON 
5-Dec Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH 
7-Dec Sound Factory - Charleston, WV 
8-Dec House of Blues - Cleveland, OH 
9-Dec The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN 
10-Dec Headliners - Louisville, KY 
11-Dec Masquerade - Atlanta, GA 
12-Dec Exit/In - Nashville, TN 
- Click Here for the Full Story 

Motograter Replaced Adema on Dope Tour
press release reports: Motograter has been added to the entire upcoming American Apathy tour featuring Dope and Twisted Method. Motograter will join both bands when the tour kicks off Oct. 11th in Denver, CO and will appear on every date of the tour. 

Adema have dropped off the entire tour. Sources have revealed that vocalist Marky Chavez (Jonathan Davis brother) has left the group forcing them to cancel their entire touring schedule. The news comes just after the band had announced their signing with Earache Records and their new album due Jan. 2005 through the label. A statement is expected to be made shortly. 

Dope, Twisted Method and Motograter will continue to wreck havoc on the upcoming American Apathy tour starting Oct and running through December. 

"We're psyched to have Motograter join the entire tour. These painted freaks will add a whole other level of intensity to this tour," commented Dope frontman Edsel Dope about the tour. "You have 3 bands on this tour that all live or die by their live show and I think it's going to give kids more bang for their buck." [see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Paul Rader Puts His Money Where His Heart Is
press release reports: A veteran solo acoustic entertainer from northern Ohio is returning to Florida for his second winter season this October, bringing relief from the recent hurricane disasters there by contributing music to generate funds for hurricane disaster relief. Paul Rader, who performs at Bear Bottom Beach Club in Key West every year, is donating five hundred ($500) dollars cash and fifty percent (50%) of the profits of his latest CD, Land of the Cover Band Live - Vol. I, to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. For the remainder of 2004 Rader will make weekly contributions to the fund that a Red Cross source says is already "strapped for cash." 

The Red Cross estimates damages in excess of $63 million dollars but that does not include potential costs of Hurricane Ivan making landfall. So far, they have only been able to raise $35 million dollars to help families effected by the storms. When you look at the staggering numbers, it would take to return everybody's life back to normal, it seems completely overwhelming. "What I'm offering seems insignificant by comparison but I'm hoping that it will inspire other independent performers to do the same," says Rader. For those who want to donate, he has set up links to the Red Cross's website, as well as links to make contributions through his artist website www.paulrader.com. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Twelvehourmary Release Debut
press release reports: Twelvehourmary, one of the most buzzed about bands in Southern California will release their highly anticipated debut album September 28th entitled "Blowing Over". The 13-track disc was produced by Rich Mouser (Weezer, Vast, Tweaker) and will be available at major online music retailers Amazon.com and CDbaby.com. 

As one of the leading bands from the Long Beach music scene, Twelvehourmary have amassed a large fan base across Southern California with sold-out performances and their unique alternative rock sound and introspective lyrics. The band now wants to take their music to the global audience with "Blowing Over". To accomplish the task and to retain their musical independence, the band decided to forgo signing with a tradition record label and instead continue their do-it-yourself tradition by marketing and distributing "Blowing Over" themselves. 

"The proceeds do not go to shareholders - they are a direct 'donation/expression of faith' in a band that is charting its own path," explained frontman Brett Bixby in a newsletter to fans. "We have created this ourselves and are now going to use the internet and folks like you as our primary marketing tool to pass the word along." 

Local fans will have the opportunity to purchase the disc before its wide release when the band holds a special CD release party Saturday September 18, 2004 at one of Orange County's most popular local music venues The Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest (http://www.thegypsylounge.com). [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Keep an eye on antiMUSIC next week when we will be offering a special preview of the CD. Great stuff!

2 Cents: And Now A Word From Our Sponsor
[It's Friday time for Chuck DiMaria to give us his 2 cents. This time around Chuck looks at the issue of popular songs used in commercials. ] 

I know I'm not alone on this one: If I gotta hear another one of my favorite songs used in a commercial, I'm gonna start breaking some or all of The Ten Commandments. 

I don't know exactly who's behind this, because you never know just who's in control of the rights of the material in question, but whoever it is, would you please just stop? Pretty please? 

Can't you people just hire a professional to write you a freakin' jingle and leave all the cool songs alone? 

I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to be thinking about product placement the next time I hear my favorite song because, God forbid, it was used in a feminine hygiene commercial. 

(Uh-oh; scary mental image. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts�) 

I'm over it, I really am over turning on the television and seeing a new product reaping the benefits from the nostalgia associated with the song playing in the background. 

It's not like this is a new phenomenon or anything; it's been going on for a long time. But now it just seems to be going on way too much. 

There was actually a time when artists didn't want their songs used in commercials. And they didn't endorse products, either. 

That was the ultimate sell-out. Rock was the anti-establishment soundtrack, and to be used by Madison Avenue to sell widgets was unthinkable. 

But that was then and this is all about the bling-bling. [That's 1 cent, click the full story to get the other one (with a twist) and post which songs you think would make for the funniest ad placements. - note: Chuck's 2 Cents will be moving to a bi-weekly publishing schedule. If you've been following the progress of his band (http://www.underpressurerocks.net) then you know his schedule has become more and more demanding. Because of this Scott Slapp's column will move to alternating Fridays] - Click Here for the Full Story 

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