RI Club Fire Civil Suit
Jam reports: More than 200 relatives of victims of last year's nightclub fire and survivors joined in filing a lawsuit Thursday, citing dozens of defendants including the state, club owners, the leader of the band Great White and a fire inspector. 

The lawsuit was filed in Providence Superior Court by lawyers representing 226 people -- the majority of those who survived the fire or had family members who perished. It was the largest wave of plaintiffs to bring suit over the deadly blaze. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Jam also has news on This week's Nielsen SoundScan charts, Beck, Dust Brothers hook up again, Jessica Simpson lands in Vancouver, Bonnie Raitt's Bush remark cheered, Cher continues long farewell tour and more click here to check it out

Slipknot Imposter
Blabbermouth reports: When you're watching a SLIPKNOT show, you can be reasonably sure that the guys onstage in the costumes are actually the members of the Iowa-based band. But if you ran into someone on the street who said he was a member of SLIPKNOT, could you be certain he was telling the truth? Apparently some people are trying to pass themselves off as the men behind the masks, as bassist Paul Gray recently told Launch Radio Networks. "Somebody was going around saying he was Joey (Jordison, drummer), and he's actually in Iowa, and it's really weird. And the police are actually involved in that one, 'cause he's going really, like, past the line, not just going into the bar and getting a free drink, saying he's Joey. He's, like, trying to use credit cards and stuff, I think, I don't know. There's so many weird people that try to get away with that, but it's totally cool, you know." [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Robbing For Ozzfest Tickets
Blabbermouth reports: Jim Collar of The Northwestern is reporting that three people accused in the Monday armed robbery of a Wisconsin convenience store devised the plan in order to get money for tickets to an Ozzy Osbourne concert, according to Winnebago County criminal complaints. 

Anthony S. Lewis, 17, Staci M. Beckerson, 18, and Matthew C. Melhorn, 21, were charged with armed robbery Wednesday afternoon in Winnebago County Circuit Court. The criminal complaint states that Melhorn watched the door to Omro Travel Center Monday, while Lewis and another teen held up a clerk with a BB handgun. Beckerson sat in the car, and was meant to be the get-away driver, according to the complaint. 

The fourth suspect had not been in custody as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Winnebago County Jail staff. Officers caught the three suspects soon after the robbery was committed, the complaint states. 

Upon arrest, Beckerson told officers that they were talking about getting money to go to an upcoming Ozzfest concert and eventually settled on robbery. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on KISS - Lost Photos To Be Included In VH-1 Special, IN FLAMES - Rare US Performances To Be Recorded For Future Release, AFTER DEATH Complete Jon Oliva Produced Demo, Sample Available Online, Staples Unveils Commercial Starring ALICE COOPER, THE LIZARDS Introduce New Lead Vocalist, RIOT's Mike Demeo and more click here to check it out

Judge Denies Love
Reuters reports: A judge refused on Thursday to suspend the warrant he issued nearly two weeks ago for Courtney Love, denying her bid to return to California to face an assault charge without fear of being arrested, her lawyer said. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Emo X-mas
Aversion reports: 'Tis the season, as Sense Field's Chris Evenson and The Juliana Theory's Brett Detar formed Belasana. The collaboration will appear on Nettwerk America's upcoming Maybe This Christmas Tree, due out Oct. 5. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Early Strummer Songs Found
Aversion reports: A college friend of Joe Strummer discovered tapes from the singer's early days, revealing a glimpse at the Clash front man's earliest days. 

Richard Frame, a friend of Joe Strummer in college, unearthed a pair of songs played by the singer/guitarist... No word has been made about making the tracks available for the public. [see full story for more details] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Aversion also has news on Healed Ryan Adams to Tour, Reggie, Full Effect in Studio, Fearless Gets Gatsby's American Dream, Wire Prepares Concert DVD, Franz Ferdinand Eyes Hip Hop Producer and more click here to check it out

Isis New CD Coming This Fall
Pitchfork reports: It's time to get excited: Heavy metal lovelies Isis are set to release a new record October 19th on Ipecac. The LP, entitled Panopticon, will be the band's first full-length since Oceanic, a wonderful record released in 2002 guaranteed to rock your face off with heaping spoonfuls of anthemic metal. Matt Bayles is handling production duties, also known as the man behind all of the band's work since their first LP, Celestial. Should you be an impatient sort (and the owner of a record player), you can pick up the album one or two weeks early on vinyl via Robotic Empire in the U.S. and Trust No In in Europe. [see full story for more plus tracklisting]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Pitchfork also has news on Bonnie "Prince" Billy readies new album for fall release, splits covers EP with Brightblack, R.E.M. finish work on next full-length, Shins, Death Cab on Wicker Park soundtrack, Sony, BMG merge into one giant grotesque abomination, eliminate 2,000 employees and more click here to check it out

Pirate CDs Sell Big
Variety reports: Illegal music sales accounted for $4.5 billion last year, the Intl. Federation of the Phonographic Industry said Thursday. 

The trade org, which represents more than 1,450 record companies, estimates that a record 1.1 billion pirated CDs were sold globally last year, some 35% of all music disc sales. 

In terms of value, China tops the list, where IFPI said the pirate market is worth nearly $600 million. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

An Album Only Gene Simmons Could Love
ArrowFM reports: Now that Stanley and Simmons have publicly massacred their former Kiss bandmates Peter Criss and Ace Frehley to the point of making themselves look like totalitarian jerks, they have started turning on each other. In a recent interview with South New Jersey paper, PressOfAtlanticCity.com, Paul is less than flattering when asked about Gene's new solo album. He says: "No comment," and then adds: "Let's just say, I hope it's what he wanted to do. He reaps the benefits or takes the... criticism. If this is the album he chose to make, then he deserves what he gets, either way." Wow, he should've just come out and said, "I hate it. It's crap." Poor guys, they've got nobody to pick on but each other. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Frampton Sues Billabong, Crosby and Nash Run For President, Give Me Your Best Guitar Face, The Who Rock Boston On DVD and more click here to check it out

Zevon Tribute
AZ Central reports: Live recordings by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, as well as newly recorded cuts by Jackson Browne, the Pixies and Ry Cooder will be featured on an upcoming tribute to the late Warren Zevon. Planned for a fall release by Artemis, the collection is being produced by Jorge Calderone, who worked closely with Zevon on his final album, "The Wind." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

(hed) Eye Rocktober Release
IAYM reports: (hed) are now eyeing a tentative October 19th release date via Koch Records for their upcoming new album "Raise Hell". - Click Here for the Full Story 

ZZ-QOTSA-Top
IAYM reports: Texan blues guitarist Billy Gibbons recently jammed with Josh Homme in a collaboration which is expected to show up on Queens Of The Stone Age's forthcoming new album. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on In Flames: U.S. shows, Khanate: West Coast tour in September, Bongzilla join Monster Magnet tour, Oceansize: "Music For Nurses", Gatsby's American Dream sign with Fearless, Fear Factory: "Archetype" video and more click here to check it out

Star Spangled Dropkick Murphys 
Punkbands.com reports: Dropkick Murphys will be performing the National Anthem & Tessie durring the Red Sox Vs Yankees game. The game is Saturday 7/24 @ Fenway Park and will be nationally broadcasted on Fox TV. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Vandals Get Warped
Punkbands.com reports: Proving that nobody likes to make two seperate trips, The Vandals and Warped Tour have agreed to have the band play the rest of the tour on the main stage, leading up to the big reunion show the band was already booked to play. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Pitchshifter DVD
The PRP reports: Pitchshifter are now eyeing an October 05th US release date for their upcoming "P.S.I.entology" DVD effort. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Haunted CD
The PRP reports: The Haunted have chosen "rEVOLEr" as the title to their upcoming new album which will see a release this fall/winter through Century Media. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on List It Off, Into The Metal, Society's Finest Track Listing, Tusk Till Don, Raise Your Hed , Old Man Goat and more click here to check it out

Duran Duran Box
Ananova reports: Duran Duran will release a box set covering their singles from 1986 through to 1995 on September 13. 

Singles Box 2 1986 - 1995 will feature all the band's tracks from the original seven-inch singles plus many bonus tracks taken from the 12-inch versions. It will be the first time many of the songs have been made available on CD. 

The album covers a period when the Birmingham band had lost two of its original members, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Clash Restoration
Ananova reports: Fans of the late Joe Strummer are being urged to vote for the world's first concrete building to win BBC2's Restoration series. 

The Strummerville charity, set up in the Clash star's memory, want to make Castle House in Bridgwater their headquarters. 

But first they need it to win the second run of Restoration which offers viewers a chance to vote and help save one of 21 endangered buildings in the UK. 

If it wins, the organisation aims to convert the building into the Concrete Casbah which would provide rehearsal space and studio time to young people who want to make music. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Ananova also has news on Indy bands sign up for iTunes, Beck to release new album, Embrace announce UK tour, Dirty Vegas to release new single and album, Brothers and Sisters heading for Creamfields and more click here to check it out

Rush Remasters
liveDaily reports: The first four Atlantic Records albums from Canadian rockers Rush --1989's "Presto," 1991's "Roll the Bones," 1993's "Counterparts" and 1996's "Test for Echo"--have been remastered, and will be re-released on Aug. 24.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Ryan Adams Rocks On
liveDaily reports: Rocker Ryan Adams, who broke his wrist during a fall from a Liverpool stage in January, is preparing to return to the road in North America. 

Adams so far is scheduled to perform at Atlanta's The Tabernacle on Sept. 15, at Texas' Austin City Limits Festival on Sept. 17, and at San Francisco's Warfield on Sept. 22. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on BT, Particle, others team for United Beats of Peace tour, Don Henley's 2004 tour keeps rolling, Jim Brickman lays groundwork for holiday tour, Toby Keith locks in more summer tour dates, Jimmy Buffett, Beastie Boys, Crosby and Nash and more click here to check it out

Supergrass Charity Show
Xfm reports: Supergrass will be playing a very special gig in their hometown of Oxford in August to raise money for Christian Outreach and The Fortune Centre Of Riding Therapy. 

The band will be playing the special charity gig at the intimate Zodiac Club in Oxford on Sunday August 22. 

The concert has been organised to be a tribute concert in memory and celebration of the lives of Eileen Coombes (mother of the band's frontman Gaz and keyboardist Rob) and Astrid Bale (wife of Supergrass crew member Ali). 

As such the proceeds of the show will be split equally between Christian Outreach - Relief and Development and The Fortune Centre Of Riding Therapy. [see full story for more including ticket info]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on The Zutons Set Sights On Mercury Prize, Indie Labels Sign Deal With iTunes, Embrace Return To The Road, Captain Kirk Sings Pulp, Morrissey Puts New Song Up Online and more click here to check it out

Least Metal Moments
Mark Strigl reports: [Mark Strigl checks in with us again with a somewhat related story to the VH1 Best Metal Moments special, here is what Mark had to tell us.] Due to do the amazing ratings on VH1's Most Metal Moments (some of their highest this year) - there will be a 2-hour sequel. Those amazing minds over at VH1 thought long and hard and they came up with the perfect idea - Least Metal Moments!!!!!! Sliver Suited Space Man - Johnny Ostronomy (www.ostronomy.com) will once again be on camera as he weighs in on the moments. Some of the moments include: Pat Boone's ill-fated metal covers album, Metallica's S&M orchestra album and Ron Keel goes country. [No word yet from Mark on when it will air, but I'm sure will let us know. He also told us Most Metal Moments will air again this weekend at 7pm on Saturday. So if you missed it the first time, here is your chance to see it again. Mark produced some of the segments in the special. Be sure to check out the full story link to scope Mark's new news site for stuff we might have missed.] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Susperia Euro Tour
press release reports: Norwegian metallers SUSPERIA have confirmed details of a major European tour in support of the recently released 'Unlimited' album. The band are set to team up with fellow Norwegians Mortiis on a double headline package under the banner of 'The Unlimited Grudge Tour 2004'. Starting in the UK on 15th September the tour will run through 19 countries finishing in Belgium on 14th November. (see full dates below) The tour will be one of the most extensive undertaken by the band and will be the first chance for many European fans to see Susperia since 2001, when they toured with Dimmu Borgir, Destruction and In Flames.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Garden Music
press release reports: Epic Records has announced an August 10th release for GARDEN STATE�MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE, the companion album to the upcoming Fox Searchlight romantic comedy starring, written and directed by Zach Braff (TV's Scrubs) and featuring Golden Globe-nominees Natalie Portman (Cold Mountain, The Professional) and Peter Sarsgaard (Shattered Glass, Boys Don't Cry) and Oscar-nominee Ian Holm (Chariots of Fire, Lord of the Rings). The film hits theaters nationwide on August 20th. 

Music plays a prominent role in "Garden State" and Braff hand-picked its songs, which include contributions from Grammy winners Coldplay ("Don't Panic"), British duo Frou Frou ("Let Go") and indie-pop darlings The Shins ("Caring Is Creepy," "New Slang") and Iron and Wine ("Such Great Heights"). - Click Here for the Full Story 

2 Cents: The First Amendment Blues
[It's Friday, time for Chuck DiMaria to give us his 2 cents. This week Chuck takes on an issue that was part of a big story earlier this week, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Contrary to rumors, Chuck did not mistaking sneak the Bill of Rights out of the National Archive by stuffing it in his pants. That's just a nasty rumor from the Clay Aiken fan club. ] 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 

Seems simple enough. (Special thanks to James Madison.) 

But there seems to be a bit of misinterpretation going on here. Some people believe that the forty-five words of the First Amendment guarantee them the right to say whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want and you better listen to 'em, dammit. 

It just ain't so, kids. 

Case in point, Linda Ronstadt. Linda is a Liberal and has been known in the past to speak her mind concerning political issues. But that didn't go over so big in Vegas and she was escorted from the premises of the Aladdin hotel. 

Was that a violation of her First Amendment rights? 

I don't know - let's see: Did Congress establish a law prohibiting her to speak? 

The answer is obviously no. 

Well, that about wraps it up. 

But was it censorship? 

Well, did the Aladdin stop her from saying anything? No, they didn't, they merely fired her for it. 

So it wasn't really censorship, either. It was more a reaction to what she did than a preemptive strike. 

But what it was more than anything was proof of what a cool country this really is. I mean, think about it: This is more publicity that the woman has had since she was last seen on that album cover wearing a satin jacket and roller skates. (For those of you too young to know what I'm talking about, too bad.) 

And Michael "Love Me or You're Un-American" Moore gets another truckload of free publicity from the ensuing incident, so he can't be too upset, either. 

And all she had to do was exercise her right to freedom of speech. I love this place. Let freedom ring. 

Of course, there is a price to that freedom; just because you have freedom of speech doesn't mean anything you say is worth listening to. And since enough members of that Las Vegas audience (whom she was being paid to entertain, not enlighten with her own political views) were offended by her statements, Linda had to suffer the consequences. 

Namely, she got fired. 

And that's pretty much what happened to The Dixie Chicks. They shot their mouth off and some radio stations and fans decided they weren't going to listen to or play The Chicks anymore. 

Of course, there were the usual cries of First Amendment foul, but think about it: Number one, they were outside of the US when it happened, and the Bill of Rights doesn't apply in the big bad world. Secondly, there was no law by Congress, blah blah blah, so no violation, either. And lastly, why is it that whenever someone shoots their mouth off and they catch hell for it, all of a sudden their First Amendment rights have been trampled? 

[That's 1 cent, you have to click the full story link to read Chuck's other cent. It's worth the click! Plus, if you missed last week's 2 cents, be sure to check the archives and see how Chuck single-handedly pissed off the Clay Aiken online fan club with one little line. Our hero! ] - Click Here for the Full Story