Death At Phish Phinal Show
MTV reports: The identity of a man who died at the final Phish concert over the weekend in Coventry, Vermont, has yet to be determined. The man, who appears to be in his early 20s, wandered into a fellow concertgoer's tent and died, according to The Associated Press. His body was found early on Monday morning, and an autopsy was scheduled to determine his identity. The man was carrying no identification. ... - Click Here for the Full Story 

Alien Manson
MTV reports: When you're a man who stands over 6'4" but weighs well under 200 pounds, has different-colored eyes and has been known to sprout breasts and lose all visible traces of genitalia, landing the role of an alien is kind of a shoo-in. 

For Marilyn Manson, who has been cast in the upcoming video game "Area-51," the job was even easier than that. No makeup was required � other than the ghastly white foundation he wears on the average day � when Manson hit Midway Games' studios earlier this month to lend his voice to the character Edgar, an ambivalent narrator of sorts who guides players through a conspiracy theorist's dream game. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: MTV also has news on Without Proper Video Planning, You Wouldn't See Eminem Naked, The Killers Out-Hip The Hipsters In New York, P. Diddy, Others Agree: Miami Is Hip-Hop Heaven, Wes Borland Back With Limp Bizkit, The Cure At 28: Back In Vogue, With A Little Help From Their Friends and more click here to check it out

Springsteen Boycott
liveDaily reports: Marilyn O'Grady, the Conservative Party's long shot candidate for a New York U.S. Senate seat this November, has begun airing a 30-second "Boycott the Boss" television advertisement that urges people to boycott Bruce Springsteen's music. 

The ad takes on Springsteen for his participation in the upcoming Vote for Change tour, which is aimed at motivating voters in so-called "swing states" to oust George W. Bush from the White House. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Fogelberg Cancer Fight
liveDaily reports: Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, who was scheduled to embark on a solo acoustic tour this fall, has canceled the outing to undergo cancer treatments. 

"Dan has been recently diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and has entered treatment," said a statement posted on Fogelberg's official website. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Briefly: Merle Haggard, Toby Keith, Steve Earle Clay Aiken fills in more gaps in tour plans, Dave Koz begins plotting Smooth Jazz Christmas shows, Old 97's extend tour well into the fall, Yellowcard deals out fall tour dates click here to check it out

Doherty Guilty Plea To Weapon Charge
Aversion reports: Pete Doherty changed his plea in a London court, entering a guilty one on charges of possession of a dangerous weapon. 

After hearing he could face prision time if found guilty, Doherty entered a guilty plea yesterday (Aug. 17) on charges of possession of an illegal weapon. Doherty was arrested in London June 18 for possession of a switchblade knife. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Again MTV needs to get Pete and Courtney together for a reality show. Or maybe Fox? They could call it 'when rock star crash and burn'. 

Source: Aversion also has news on Stars Celebrate Ramones 30th Anniversary, Franz Ferdinand Juggles Single B-Sides, No New Pixies Album in Works, Rock Against Bush Tour Heads East, Hot Water Music Celebrates 10 Years and more click here to check it out

Early Axl Uncovered
Blabbermouth reports: Several years prior to landing in GUNS N' ROSES, Axl Rose was apparently in a band called RAPIDFIRE. A picture of Axl purportedly performing with RAPIDFIRE and a track listing for a demo the group recorded in May 1983 has been posted online at TheAxlTapes.com.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Fear Factory, Lamb of God & Children of Bodom Plot Tour
Blabbermouth reports: FEAR FACTORY, LAMB OF GOD and CHILDREN OF BODOM will be teaming up for a U.S. tour beginning in October. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Blindside Dropped?
Blabbermouth reports: Swedish Christian hardcore/rock heroes BLINDSIDE are strongly rumored to have parted ways with Elektra Records less than six months after the release of their second major-label effort, "About a Burning Fire". [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on SOULPREACHER Record New Demo, Seek Record Deal, RESISTANCE To Release Full-Length Debut, ABATTOIR Frontman To Release Solo Album, ZO2 In Talks With Major Label, BACKYARD BABIES To Support VELVET REVOLVER In Europe and more click here to check it out

2 Songs For $1, Album for $5
Wired reports: RealNetworks will slash its song and album prices in half Tuesday in an attempt to lure music fans to buy its music downloads, which play on a slew of portable music players, including Apple iPods. 

At 50 cents a song and $5 an album, the prices are the lowest yet offered by a mainstream digital music service. The bargain prices will last for "multiple weeks," according to Dan Sheeran, a senior vice president at RealNetworks. 

Real's promotion is the latest volley by the company to pressure Apple Computer into opening up its music format to interoperate with other players. Several weeks ago, Real unveiled its Harmony technology, which allows music bought from Real to be played on more than 100 different portable players, including Apple's iPod. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Camper Van Reunion Explained
Pitchfork reports: Reunited indie rock pioneers Camper Van Beethoven have set October 12th as the street date for the Vanguard Records release of New Roman Times, their first album of all new material since 1989's Key Lime Pie. After reuniting as a touring entity back in 1999, the question of new material has been on the lips of many a CVB fan. In a lengthy email correspondence with frontman David Lowery, Pitchfork was able to get to the bottom of the band's decision to make a new album. 

"We did a couple of reunion type gigs but vowed to not milk it unless we were gonna do a new record," Lowery explained. So after selling out three nights in a row at New York's Knitting Factory, the band decided it was time to get back to business. "Apparently, people still cared about us. We could still play the songs [and] we didn't feel stupid playing the songs we wrote 20 years ago. We just needed to try to write some new songs together." [see the full story for lots more of Pitchfork's exclusive interview]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Boredoms Comeback
Pitchfork reports: Yes! It appears that, after an extended five-year hiatus, Japanese mega power maxi super-rock mayhem pioneers Boredoms will return this fall with their first album since 1999's glorious psychedelic excursion Vision Creation Newsun. Titled Seadrum/House of Sun, the record is presently slated for a September 23rd release via Warner Music Japan! Unfortunately, this is all that is known! Fortunately, the speculative details are legion! And we can now offer to you the fruits of our hours upon hours research! Let's go! [see the full story to read it]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Pitchfork also has news on Hayden gears up for North American tour, Stars of the Lid side project due in fall, Animal Collective kick off North American tour, The Kinks' Dave Davies paralyzed, The Libertines plan stateside tour and more click here to check it out

Haste The Day Make Haste
IAYM reports: Haste The Day will be returning to the recording studio in February in order to begin work on their next effort, which Solid State will release later in 2005. Meanwhile the band have lined up a run of dates alongside Martyr AD and Dead To Fall which will kick off on August 25th. [see full story for no dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Throwdown DVD
IAYM reports: Throwdown are now eyeing an October 19th release date courtesy of Trustkill for their new DVD effort "Together, Forever, United". - Click Here for the Full Story 

Nitro Tokyo
IAYM reports: Members and former members of Darkest Hour, Fairweather and Mancake will be hitting the studio together shortly to lay down tracks for a debut EP under the name of Nitro Tokyo. The outing is tentatively titled "Bullet-Train To Hollywood".- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Mortiis: "The Grudge" Video, Dillinger Escape Plan/Every Time I Die/Zao Tour Dates, Haste The Day: New Album, Tour Dates, KMFDM Tour Update, The Fury Update, Head Automatica: "Beating Heart Baby" Video and more click here to check it out

PJ, RHCP & Rancid To Play Ramones Anniversary Party
Reuters reports: Members of Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rancid will perform during the Ramones' 30th anniversary party in Hollywood on Sept. 12. 

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Red Hot Chili Peppers members Flea and John Frusciante, Henry Rollins and Rancid's Tim Armstrong are scheduled to play at the sold-out Avalon Theater event, along with Ramones alumni Marky and C.J. Ramone. 

The show will begin with a set by the Dickies, followed by "two very special unmentionable bands" [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Sony BMG Cuts Begin
Hollywood Reporter reports: Sony BMG Tuesday offered either early retirement or voluntary severance to all eligible employees at the newly formed music giant, warning that future layoffs may not be accompanied by such generous terms. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Maroon 5 Benefit
NMC reports: Maroon 5 drummer Ryan Dusick met up with MTV recently and revealed the group is planning a special fundraiser show in Los Angeles to help an ailing friend. 

Dusick said the band will play a benefit show on September 23 at the Troubadour. He told MTV, "We have a friend who recently just had a freak aneurysm in his brain and he's been in the hospital...We're raising some money to support him." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Prince's Paisley Park Back in Business
NMC reports: Prince has re-opened his Paisley Park Studios. 

The Associated Press reports that the studios, located about 30 minutes west of Minneapolis, are now back in business after being closed since 1996. Only Prince and some of his friends had continued recording and performing there since the closure. 

Last Thursday marked the official reopening of Paisley Park. The studio's editing and recording rooms have been newly digitized and upgraded and are available to musicians to rent. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: NMC also has news on The Dido Forest, Big Boi and LL Cool J Play SoulFest, Linkin Park's In Store For Chicago, Free Franz Ferdinand Download, Isaac Brock on Float On and more click here to check it out

Punk Voter Tour
Punkbands.com reports: Punk Voter has announced the Rock Against Bush Tour, which will travel through the battleground states from mid September and into October. The tour will feature Anti-Flag, Strike Anywhere, Midtown, Mike Park, Tom Morello's acoustic act The Nightwatchman (on select dates), The AKAs (September 26th thru October 10th) and The Epoxies (September 18th thru September 25th). [see full story for dates] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Free Franz
Xfm reports: Bad News: Franz Ferdinand have been forced to remove a track from the B-side of their forthcoming new single release �Michael'. Good News: The band have made it available as a free download from their website. 

According to a statement, due to an apparent "rather silly schoolboy error" Franz Ferdinand's record company, Domino have realised that by including the version of the song �Tell Her Tonight' (in which drummer Paul takes lead vocals, bizarrely in German) the second CD of the new single �Michael' would become �chart-ineligible' meaning it cannot be counted towards a Top 40 placing. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on X-clusive: Embrace "We Can Still Be The Greatest Band In The World", Babyshambles To Amble Around The UK, V&A Stage �Shhh�' Exhibition Concert, Keane On The Mercury Music Prize, Borland Limps Back To Bizkit and more click here to check it out

Brain Surgeons Ink Deal
press release reports: The Paris-based label, Bad Reputation will release Black Hearts of Soul, the 8th CD from the Brain Surgeons, the critically acclaimed New York City band, who begin a European tour October 2. The Brain Surgeons are the brainstorm of Albert Bouchard, whose prodigious songwriting, arrangements and creative drumming drove the legendary Blue Öyster Cult to platinum sales and arena rock status.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Action Action
press release reports: If you haven't heard Action Action yet, and you like The Killers, The Faint or Depeche Mode, you owe it to yourself to play this e-card and dance like a banshee! "Don't Cut Your Fabric To This Year's Fashion" comes out on September 7th, and the band has big plans between now and then. They are currently rocking the Pure Volume/Absolute Punk Tour � as it comes to a close they will play a record release party at the Downtown in Long Island on September 4th, followed by in-stores at Looney Tunes in Babylon, NY (Long Island) on September 7th and Vintage Vinyl in York, NJ on September 8th. Following these events in their home markets, they will embark on a free in-store performance tour. Keep playing this e-card to see tour dates as they are added and catch Action Action's fusion of dark new wave and indie rock at an independent record store near you. [see the full story link for said eCard]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Tragically Hip CD and US Tour
press release reports: The Tragically Hip will be hitting the road in the United States this fall. The tour, which will stop over 20 cities, will kick off on September 18th in Detroit. As a band known well and perhaps loved best for their live shows, the legendary live act has been making vibrant, gritty rock �n roll for over 20 years and has also sold over 6 million albums worldwide. The Hip will be touring in support of their latest album, In Between Evolution, which was released on June 29th on Zoë/Rounder Records. The album was produced by Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Pearl Jam). [see full story for more, plus those dates!]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Slapped! Motley Crue 
[The Day in Rock is reluctant to present "Slapped!" with Scott Slapp. He's been bugging us to do this for a while. So we figured what the hell, let's give him a shot at it. If he isn't assassinated by an irate fan, Scott will check in with us each Tuesday to tell us which rock star needs to be "Slapped". First up on the block to be slapped? Motley Crue] 

Motley Crue needs to be slapped.

 I was floored when I read that Motley Crue was thinking about a reunion. What genius decided this? Do we really need to see a drunken overweight Vince Neil stumble across the stage with his stomach hanging out, salivating over the 35 year-old groupies in the audience that can't figure out that they haven't had the figure for those sized 2 spandex since 1986? Is Nikki getting aroused thinking of the mullet convention that a Crue reunion could create? Did Tommy fall of the last bandwagon he was trying to jump on? The last I checked that fool was trying to get in on the dance scene and was thinking of changing his name to t.diddy. Anyone remember the last time the Crue had a big reunion? Of course not. No one cares! Nikki you may have died and come back to life, but dude you career isn't going to. Put a fork in Vince, that puppy is done. The idea of a Motley Crue reunion only makes sense if you are interested in a nostalgia tour where the world will wonder who is more pathetic; the clowns on stage trying to recapture their lost glory or the middle age people in the audience trying to relive their wasted youth. The kids could care less about Motley Crue. Remember how you viewed The Monkeys, the snickering over the album cover that you found in your parents record collection? They were a dated joke of a band that your parents listened to. Hate to break it to you, but that's how kids view Motley Crue. 

Hey Nikki, you know those old men on the beach with Bermuda shorts and black socks? Dude, that's how ridiculous you guys will look on stage in your Motley getup in 2004. It doesn't matter which one you use. If you go with the 'tough' leather gear from 'Shout', you'll look like rejects from a Village People fan club meeting. If you go with the lame glam crap from 'Theatre' you'll look like models for a geriatric special edition of the Victoria Secret catalog. My stomach turns just thinking about it. Remember your own words, "Those that have the youth, have the future." Well guys, you have neither. It's time to retire the lipstick and spandex. You already rode that pony into the ground. And sorry to tell you, that pony had one trick and it's all shot to hell and was put out to pasture where it belongs. Besides, with Pamela's involvement with PETA, Tommy is likely to get into a boxing match with her and get thrown in jail if you decide to beat that dead horse again. Dude, it died, dude. Let it rest in peace. Consider yourself slapped! 

Scott [click the full story link if you wish to comment on this Slapping... or slapp Scott] - Click Here for the Full Story