The Day in Rock Report: 
antiMUSIC.com's look at Today's Top Rock News Stories From Across the Web

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Day In Rock 7/19: Senator Nugent- Jim Morrison Murdered?- Song Compares Iraq To Vietnam- Linkin Park's Comic Way To Bilk Fans- Metallica- AC/DC New CD- Scissor Sisters Wal-Mart Ban- Nick Cave- Sid & Nancy Museum- Summer Tour Slump- Double Foos- CBS Fight NippleGate Fines- Fu Manchu APC Get Political- The Melvins- more

Compiled by Keavin Wiggins
. Senator Nugent?
Blabbermouth reports: Controversial rocker, outspoken conservative and gun-rights activist Ted Nugent is being mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate representing the Illinois Republican Party. 

"He grew up in Arlington Heights. He went to St. Viator High School," said Cook County Republican Chair Gary Skoien, according to the Internet Broadcasting Systems. "He has more connection to Illinois than Hillary Clinton had to New York, and he's been a very articulate spokesperson on constitutional issues. He would be a very interesting candidate." 

The original candidate, Jack Ryan, left the race after allegations surfaced that he forced his former wife to go to sex clubs. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Imagine the floor debates, Sen Kennedy says something Ted doesn't like and Ted fires an arrow at him. It's doubtful kill 'em and grill 'em will go over well in D.C. But it would make CSPAN 2 far more entertaining. 

To My Surprise Leave Roadrunner
Blabbermouth reports: TO MY SURPRISE, the new band featuring SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. The Clown), have reportedly parted ways with Roadrunner Records after releasing one full-length album through the label. The group, who played two successful shows in Los Angeles in mid-May, are said to be seeking a new record deal. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on Report: 'Weak' Performances In Canada Bring Down METALLICA's 'Monster' Per-Screen Average, STATIC-X Frontman Can Read The Writing On The Wall, MNEMIC Finalize Release Date, Track Listing For New CD, DECEASED To Record New Album In November, AGGRESSIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL: Video Report Posted Online and more click here to check it out

Jim Morrison Murdered?
ArrowFM reports: Many rumors have surrounded the death of Doors singer Jim Morrison, including one that he's still alive. Yeah, and he's eating burgers with Elvis. One rumor which has been gaining momentum recently is that the poet/singer/songwriter was murdered. Writer Stephen Davis presents this theory in his new book called Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend, in which Davis presents certain facts and allows readers to reach their own conclusions. Still, Davis makes it clear that he's particularly suspicious of Jim's girlfriend, Pamela Courson: "Pamela Courson returned to California and several people who know her quite well told me that she admitted to them that Jim Morrison had died of an overdose of heroin. Now, the thing that is fishy about that is that Pamela Courson was the beneficiary, the sole beneficiary, or Jim Morrison's will. And according to the people I talked to, their relationship had gotten very rocky." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Fogerty Song Compares Iraq To Vietnam
ArrowFM reports: Former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty has breathed new life into the lost tradition of the protest song. Originated by such troubadours as Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the 60's, the protest song was birthed by those who came out of the woodwork to protest the Vietnam War. Like his counterparts, Fogerty also wrote scathing songs regarding the Vietnam war such as "Fortunate Son." Well, history seems to be repeating itself and Fogerty has taken up the cause again to protest the war in Iraq. Fogerty's new song, "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" is a scathing comparison of the war in Iraq with the Vietnam war. [see full story more including lyrics]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on New York Dolls Bassist Kane Dies At 55, Nash Donates Guitar to Hall of Fame, U2 Loses Tracks On New Album... Yikes!, Live Aid DVD Due In November, Isle of Wight 1970 Comes To Theaters & DVD and more click here to check it out

Linkin Park Discover Comic Way To Bilk Fans
MTV reports: Linkin Park will release a package containing a DVD, comic book and T-shirt on July 27. The disc will contain the animated music video for "Breaking the Habit" and behind-the-scenes footage, and the comic and T-shirt will be illustrated in an anime style reminiscent of the animation in the video.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Metallica Official Live Euro Bootleg
MTV reports: Metallica will make every show from their recent European tour, except Paris, available for download the first week of August on www.livemetallica.com. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: MTV also has news on Ass-Kicking P. Diddy Meets With Kerry, Young Republicans, Lock Up Your Mom: 'Idol' Raises Age Limit, Mary-Kate Olsen Extends Stay In Clinic, Jay-Z Asks Lady Friends To Step Up For Scholarship Fund, Sabbath, Priest, Slayer Teach Heavy Metal 101 At Ozzfest '04 and more click here to check it out

AC/DC Finishing Work on New CD
RIFTrock reports: "AC/DC are wrapping up work on their latest album, which they plan to release and tour behind in 2005, guitarist Angus Young recently told Australia's The Age newspaper. The band also is quite excited about the proposed plan to rename a Melbourne, Australia, street 'ACDC Lane.' 'It's a big thing for us,' enthused Young, who also said his group would consider performing a concert on the road."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: RIFTrock also has news on Hope of the States cancel debut, Downset gears up for Projekt Revolution, MTV briefs us on Ozzfest, Abacus signs Caliban, Shadows Fall new song online and more click here to check it out

Scissor Sisters Shrug Off Wal-Mart Ban
New York Daily News reports: In England, the Scissor Sisters have a No. 1 album and two top-10 singles. 

In America, the group's CD has been banned from Wal-Mart and every one of its songs has earned an "Explicit Material" warning on iTunes. 

"It's a sad state in America when you can't get our music at Wal-Mart, but you can walk right in and buy 'Manhunter' for your PlayStation 2 and see someone stab another person in the eyeball," says Sisters singer Jason Sellards. "In England, they just laugh about [our lyrics]." 

Despite his chagrin, Sellards has a sense of humor about the situation. To start with, he and his bandmates are themselves Americans - New Yorkers, to be precise. And they're well aware that the lyrics on their self-titled debut aren't exactly mainstream fare. 

They're packed with affectionate references to acid-taking prostitutes, "trannies" and "queers on the piers." [see full story for lots more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Nick Cave Plans Double CD Release
Pitchfork reports: As previously reported here at the House of Fork, Nick Cave has plans to follow last year's Nocturama with a double-album, which is now slated for a September 21st U.S. release on Epitaph subsidiary Anti- Records. (Europe will find it on shelves a day earlier, bearing the Mute Records logo.) The album, lucky #13 for Cave, was recorded in Paris last spring, and features the current Bad Seeds line-up of Cave, Mick Harvey, Thomas Wydler, Martyn Casey, Conway Savage, Jim Sclavunos, Warren Ellis, and James Johnston. [see full story for tracklisting plus tour dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Pitchfork also has news on Elliott Smith's Basement set for October release, tracklist confirmed, Sonic Youth release new song, expand tour, Xiu Xiu kick off North American tour tonight, JSBX ready star-studded album on Sanctuary, Björk sets August release date, tracklist for beatbox-crazy fifth full-length, Medulla and more click here to check it out

Sid & Nancy Museum
Reuters reports: Some of the blood-splattered history of punk rock's most infamous couple, Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, is to be displayed for the first time at an art exhibition in London, the Independent on Sunday said. 

Artifacts from the couple's room at New York's Chelsea Hotel, where Spungen died from a stab wound to the stomach in 1978, will be shown publicly for the first time at The Hospital gallery at a date yet to be announced. 

They include a blood-flecked poster publicizing the Sex Pistols' only official album release "Never Mind The Bollocks. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Govenator Signs Artist Rights Bill
AP reports: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday signed a law giving recording artists more flexibility to audit record companies' finances in search of potentially unpaid royalties. 

The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, allows artists to conduct annual audits and applies to any record companies doing business in California. The law holds down the cost of audits through means such as letting a single auditor work for several artists on the same label simultaneously. [see full story for a lot more details] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Summer Tour Slump
AP reports: When it comes to concert tours, the good times are not rolling this summer. 

...People aren't buying tickets," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, the concert industry trade magazine. "For whatever reason, ticket sales dried up around the middle of April � it was widespread across the industry." 

According to a Pollstar analysis of the top 50 shows through June, gross revenues were up 11 percent to $753.5 million, but ticket sales were down 2 percent to 12.8 million, with ticket prices up almost 13 percent. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Double Foos?
Billboard reports: [Foo Fighter's Dave]Grohl tells Billboard that his band is building a studio in Los Angeles to record its next project; it had done previous albums in Grohl's basement in Virginia. 

"I think it's going to be a two-record set," he says. "It's going to be 10 acoustic songs and then 10 tracks that are just koo-koo, really heavy," he says. He adds that the Foos already have a lot of acoustic material that the band has never recorded. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Sony, BMG To Axe Jobs
Hollywood Reporter reports: About 2,000 staffers worldwide will be let go as a result of the upcoming merger between recording industry giants Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), sources said. 

The combined company is expected to reap cost savings of $300 million-$360 million a year, according to industry insiders. 

The European Union's antitrust division is expected to announce approval of the merger as soon as Tuesday. The international restructuring of Sony BMG is expected to be complete by June 2005 and will mostly affect back-office operations, sources said. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

CBS To Fight NippleGate Fines
Reuters reports: Viacom Inc. co-president and CBS chairman Leslie Moonves vowed on Sunday to fight any fines levied against CBS-owned TV stations for airing Janet Jackson's breast-baring Super Bowl performance in February. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Fu Manchu 'Start The Machine'
IAYM reports: Fu Manchu have selected "Start The Machine" as the title to their next album, which is due out in stores on September 14th via DRT Entertainment. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Rescue Accident
IAYM reports: Members of Rescue were involved in a road accident last night, losing much of their equipment and van in the process as well as sustaining injuries. As a result the band have cancelled any live engagements until mid-August. [see the full story for a link to an official statement]- Click Here for the Full Story 

APC Get Political
IAYM reports: Perhaps seeking to address the rumors of a new A Perfect Circle album surfacing this November, which have been moving around the Internet at a rapid rate since we first made the suggestion early this month, the band's frontman Maynard James Keenan made an announcement on stage at last night's "Axis Of Justice" event in Hollywood, California with regards to the outing. He said that A Perfect Circle are in the process of recording a collection of political songs, which they hope to release by November this year. [see full story for some more details on the disc]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Contest reminder, Hook Echo updates, Senses Fail/Underoath/The Bled tour dates, Fear Before The March Of Flames: more tour dates, Inked In Blood sign with Strike First and more click here to check it out

The Melvins Fall For Touring
liveDaily reports: Alt-metal veterans The Melvins hit the road in late August to support their forthcoming album, "Pigs of the Roman Empire." 

The group has lined up an ambitious outing that kicks off on the West Coast and is so far scheduled to run through mid-October. 

Fellow Ipecac Recordings artists Trevor Dunn's Trio Convulsant--headed up by guitarist Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle)--holds down the tour's opening slot. [see full story for dates and more info on the new CD plus info on the collab with Jello] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Live Hit The Road
liveDaily reports: Live gets busy later this summer with a round of headlining shows and festival appearances. 

The group, which is continuing to back last year's "Birds of Pray," is due to resume its live-performance schedule in mid-August, and dates stretch into late September. 

Released in May of last year, "Birds of Pray" is Live's sixth studio album. The set features the cut "Heaven," which peaked at No. 2 on the Modern Adult Radio chart. [see full story for dates] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Rosanne Cash makes more 'Travel' plans for summer, fall, Kasey Chambers sets U.S. album release, tour, They Might Be Giants confirm more shows, Phish, The Who, Arthur 'Killer' Kane, Ike Reilly and more click here to check it out

Courtney Love Sentencing Delayed
antiMUSIC reports: Despite expectations that Courtney Love would be sentenced absentia on Friday, the judge instead issued an order that Love appear in court within 24 hours after her release from an undisclosed hospital. The sentencing is for a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance, Love plead guilty to the charge on May 25th and her sentence is expected to be mandatory treatment in a drug rehabilitation program. 

Love's attorney, Michael Rosenstein, said that Love would return to Los Angeles after her release from the undisclosed hospital where she is being treated for a "gynecological medical condition". - Click Here for the Full Story 

Godsmack Radio Hit
press release reports: Multi-platinum rockers, Godsmack, adds yet another feather in its radio cap, bringing the total of rock hits to over ten. From the certified gold, acoustic album THE OTHER SIDE (Republic/Universal Records), the second single, Touche, topped all the radio charts this week as the most added track at Modern & Active rock formats. 

Taking a break between legs of the bone-crushing and sold-out Metallica tour, Godsmack will resume its rock assault in arenas around the country on August 16. [see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Brick Bath Announce New Bass Player
press release reports: San Diego, CA thrash/groove masters BRICK BATH have recently parted ways with bass player Pete Stone and have recruited Scott (Rock) Rockstead as his permanent replacement. The band wishes Pete the best of luck with all of his future endeavors. 

BRICK BATH is currently in the studio recording their third full-length album (tentatively titled American Currency) for the Pavement/Crash Music label. The bands first two albums (I Won't Live the Lie - 2002, and Rebuilt - 2003) have recently been redistributed thru Caroline Distribution. The band is shooting for a release date in early February 2005 for the new CD along with another US tour to follow. [see the full story link to learn more about the group, check out mp3s and scope their new redesign] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Day in Rock Turns 1
The Day in Rock debuted one year ago yesterday (July 18, 2003). The report went from a handful of stories a day to our now current newswire of over 20 stories from the leading rock news publications on the web. A big thanks to our readers for making the Day in Rock a success and also to the sources used to compile the report; it wouldn't be possible without them. 

To mark the occasion we are going to kick off a new feature to the Day in Rock cleverly called One Year Ago Today. This will not run everyday due to calendar conflicts with the previous year, but it will be fun to see what the Top story was exactly one year ago. To kick things off we'll have a story from our debut on the 18th of last year, plus a lead story from July 19th. (see if you can figure out what they have in common).Enough with the introduction here are the stories. 

One Year Ago Yesterday: Tupac-U
Day in Rock reports: Don't tell your parents that the thousands of dollars that they spent on college tuition is going to be spent on studying the "literary influences in the work of Tupac". 

The folks at Hip-hop music site SOHO think that it's a great idea. We aren't sure if the writer who wrote the following is actually Tupac's publicist. Then again this could be a hoax like Metallica suing a band for using guitar chords. Soho writes, "Tupac continues to solidify himself as not only a rap idol, but also an American icon. Like many of the historical greats taught and revered in the halls of colleges and universities, the works of the late, great Tupac Shakur will be the subject of a class for the upcoming fall 2003 semester at The University of Washington." What would Penn and Teller say to that? Ok Penn... [see the full story link to read the Day in Rock report for July 18, 2003] - Click Here for the Full Story 

One Year Ago Today: Pearl Joke
Day in Rock reports: In the spirit of UnFaith's little internet hoax about Metallica suing them for using guitar chords and all of the news organizations that picked up the story without verifying it, we re-ran an updated story from one year ago as a new news item yesterday. Only one person appeared to pick up on it and emailed us. No other pubs ran with the story this time, like the time aG reported that A.J. from the Backstreet Boys took a 2 week crash course on guitar to join Limp Bizkit. But FYI, Pearl Jam released their 7th album, "Riot Act" last year and are no longer contractually bound to Epic. 

We know of no new Pearl Jam studio CD on the way, sorry to get your hopes up. But the bit about the Mexican tour was real. [see the full story link to read the Day in Rock report for July 19, 2003] - Click Here for the Full Story 
 

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