Morrissey Wants Bush Dead
Aversion reports: According to the Manchester Evening News, Morrissey wished death upon President George W. Bush while on stage. 

When announcing the death of ex-President Ronald Regan, he added a note about wishing it was George W. Bush instead. The singer's camp didn't deny the claim, saying that Morrissey was simply excercising his political views. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Aversion also has news on Libertine in Rehab ... Again, Tindersticks Island Catatlog Revamped, D. Plan's Morrison Plays Solo Shows, Ray Charles 1930-2004, Vines Dis Inubus Tour Commitment, Rainer Maria Tours, Secret Machines Play U.S. Tour and more click here to check it out

Silly News: Britney Snubs Bono
MuchMusic reports: Before Britney was hospitalized for knee surgery on Tuesday, the pop princess made quite a splash in Ireland last week. According to Irish papers, Britney snubbed Bono and his kids after her Dublin concert, claiming she was too tired to entertain. But when ex-beau Colin Farrell and friends came knocking, she was all smiles. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Maybe the knee was karma?

Helmet To Tour
siN's metal news reports: The newly reformed HELMET will take center stage when they kick off a nationwide tour starting in late September in support of their forthcoming new album which is out in mid-September.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Lo-Pro Dropped
siN's metal news reports: LO-PRO, who have toured with notable acts such as STAIND, have received their marching orders from Geffen Records. The band will no long be a part of the major label, but will still remain on Aaron Lewis' imprint 413 Records. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Fear Factory Mastodon Tour Announced
siN's metal news reports: It's now official. FEAR FACTORY, MASTODON, SWORN ENEMY will all be hitting the road for a US tour. Relapse Records recording artists MASTODON have announced their first tour of 2004 in support of their highly anticipated new album "Leviathan". MASTODON will team up with FEAR FACTORY for a month-long trek beginning July 26th in Towson, MD. The tour is scheduled to conclude August 22nd in Las Vegas, NV with additional dates pending. [see full story for more details and dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: siN's metal news also has news on Kitte, 36 Crazyfists, Candiria, 12 Tribes - 1st dates released , Robofest cancelled! The Red Chord's summer plans , Unearth/Black Dahlia Murder/Terror/Remembering Never - Fall Tour - 1st date, Single Bullet Theory - 2nd Album Completed, Lamb of God and more click here to check it out

Songwriter Hall Inductees
AP reports: The creators of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," "Private Eyes," "Let's Stay Together" and "American Pie" are all getting their due. 

The Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts the Motown team of Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield; the blue-eyed soul duo Daryl Hall and John Oates; soulman turned preacher Al Green and folkie Don McLean on Thursday. The hall is also inducting Charles Fox, writer of Roberta Flack (news)'s hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song." 

Stevie Wonder, Neil Sedaka and Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty also are getting special awards at the 35th annual ceremony. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Life After OLP
Jam! reports: Harem Scarem's Pete Lesperance and former Our Lady Peace's Mike Turner have joined forces. While the two Toronto guitarists still don't have a band name yet, the material will be culled from "Down In It," a solo album Lesperance just released in Japan on the independent label, Avalon/Marquee. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Dio Pushed Back
Electric Basement reports: The new DIO studio album, Master of the Moon, will not see a July released as initially planned. Instead, the latest opus from the legendary vocalist will be issued in September, following a European Summer tour [see full story for dates] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Switchfoot Limited
NMC reports: Switchfoot is getting ready to release a limited edition version of their platinum album, "The Beautiful Letdown." The special release includes a limited-edition bonus DVD and sticker. The special Switchfoot album will be in stores June 22. [see full story for bonus details]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Kinks Reissue
ArrowFM reports: Those intellectual, posh British rockers The Kinks plan to re-release their 1968 concept album the Village Green Preservation Society in a brand new three-CD set through Sanctuary Records. Considered one of their greatest efforts, the deluxe package will contain the original stereo and mono mixes, plus a new version remastered from the tapes. The album will also feature previously unreleased tracks and new interviews with Ray and Dave Davies. A release date has yet to be announced.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Ray Charles Dies At 73, KISS Retrospective Licks The Summer, John Paul Jones Rocks The Roxy!, Kerry Nixes Huge Celebrity Fundraisers, Clarence Clemons Gets Married in China and more click here to check it out

GNR Legal Delays
MTV reports: After having worked with a long list of producers � including Roy Thomas Baker, Bob Ezrin, Sean Beavan and Moby � Axl Rose has taken over production duties for the album, Stinson said. The reason the disc isn't done yet, he added, is because Rose is a methodical perfectionist who wants to make the creation of Chinese Democracy as democratic as possible. 

Stinson added that he thinks the record is finally almost done, and the only thing that's holding back its completion is legal issues. Even the recent departure of guitarist Buckethead isn't slowing anything down. "As far as I know, he hasn't been replaced, but we already have enough guitarists," Stinson said. "We have Robin Finck and Richard Fortus, and Buckethead will be on the record, too. I really have no idea why he decided to leave, but it didn't come out of left field because he's always come and gone. Even when I do see him, I don't know what he thinks." [this is only a small part of the article at MTV.com, click the full story link to read it all]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: MTV also has news on Ray Charles Dead At 73, Brit-Knee Spears Update: An Expert Weighs In, Bizkit Best-Of Due Later This Year, Dave Chappelle Is Rick James, Bitch!, 'Napoleon Dynamite' Hip Without Resorting To Sex And Shock, By Kurt Loder and more click here to check it out

Emo Slayer?
Blabbermouth reports: Major festivals can often bring a wide variety of acts to the stage as TAKING BACK SUNDAY found out at the Download Festival. The group ended up on a bill with SLAYER after a scheduling mix-up, leading to a somewhat hostile crowd. With SLAYER moving off the main stage and their crew running behind, TAKING BACK SUNDAY was asked to move up their set time. The band agreed, but as they prepared to take the stage, they were greeted with chants of "SLAYER, SLAYER, SLAYER" by the audience. The crowd was then notified of SLAYER's delay, and they responded in a violent manner. Festival organizers then told TAKING BACK SUNDAY that it would be dangerous for them to take the stage, so they waited to go on after. The group says via their web site, "SLAYER played, barely left us any stage to play on, and then after every single person there to see them left, the much smaller, less wasted, tighter pants-wearing punk rock folks came in and we played our first show in England." Afterward, the group laughed at the experience: "We used to joke about what some of the most unlikely bills to play on would be, and we were all in agreement that us and SLAYER would be hilarious. Well�that little daydream (nightmare) came true." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Bon Scott #1 Singer
Blabbermouth reports: According to AC/DC fan site Crabsody In Blue, late AC/DC singer Bon Scott has topped the list of 100 greatest frontmen published in the July 2004 issue of the U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine. 

Top 10 greatest frontmen, according to Classic Rock magazine: 

01. Bon Scott (AC/DC) 
02. Freddie Mercury (QUEEN) 
03. Robert Plant (LED ZEPPELIN) 
04. Dave Lee Roth (VAN HALEN) 
05. Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH) 
06. Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH) 
07. Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES) 
08. Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN) 
09. Roger Daltrey (THE WHO) 
10. Phil Lynott (THIN LIZZY) [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on PASSAGE, MASSEMORD Leader Breaks Arm, Recording Sessions Halted, SINGLE BULLET THEORY Set Release Date For New CD, DUNGEON: New Album Nearing Completion, JUDAS PRIEST, NEVERMORE, RAGE Perform At Italy's GODS OF METAL Festival: Photos Available, BATHORY's Official Web Site Posts Tribute To QUORTHON and more click here to check it out

Royalty Ripoff
Ananova reports: Pop stars including Robbie Williams have been left £700,000 out of pocket after funds allegedly went missing from a royalty payment company. 

According to BBC online Blur, Travis and Tom Jones were also affected by the incident involving the Association of United Recording Artists which issues payment for radio airplay. 

The London-based firm said it dismissed director Peter Horrey after discovering "significant financial irregularities". 

A High Court injunction has been obtained freezing Mr Horrey's assets. 

The company's chairman, Stephen King, said at least £700,000 had been "misappropriated". [full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Free Ryan Adams
Ananova reports: Ryan Adams has posted an album's worth of demos on his site. 

According to NME all the content at ryan-adams.com has been taken down, except for a picture of a jukebox with 13 songs posted up. 

Apart from The Rescue Blues which appeared on 2001's Gold and Come Pick Me Up from 2000's Heartbreaker, the songs have never been given an official release. 

The four-track recordings have, however, been available as bootlegs under the name Exile On Franklin Street. - Click Here for the Full Story 

That ought to piss his label off.

Corgan on Iha
Xfm reports: Corgan recently fanned the flames of the split via his online weblog by all but blaming bandmates D'Arcy and James Iha for the split of the Pumpkins. Corgan has once again addressed the 'rumourmill'. 

"Some of these comments that I have made in the recent past have confused many� So let me say one last thing to one person in particular, Mr James Iha, and I hope the whole world reads it with him: 

"James, I love you, you will always be my brother, and even though I have my issues with you, I love you very, very much. The depth of my heart is only matched by the depth of my gratitude� You will always be a Pumpkin, no matter whose band you played in. You did good, never forget the lives you changed and inspired and healed� that is your legacy, may it always inspire you� love, bc" [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Oasis Prodigy
Xfm reports: Its expected to be confirmed next week that the new Prodigy record 'Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned' will feature a collaboration with Oasis' Liam and Noel Gallagher. The band have also confirmed the release date for the record and hinted at an extensive Prodigy tour in the autumn. 

'Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned' is pencilled in for an August 16 release and is reported to be a star studded affair with guest appearances from Noel and Liam Gallagher, Princess Superstar, Kool Keith, Twista and, as already announced on Xfm Online, actress Juliette Lewis. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on New York Dolls Extra Date, The Vines Pull Out Of Stadium Tour, Metallica Drummer Finally Speaks Out, Jack White: "I Hate The Word Celebrity", Nick Cave New Album And UK Dates and more click here to check it out

Dropkick Red Socks
Punkbands.com reports: Dropkick Murphys have recorded a sequel to 1903 Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie." The band recorded it a few weeks ago and this past Sunday had Red Sox members Johnny Damon, Bronson Arroyo and Lenny Dinardo contribute backing vocals. The original "Tessie" was sung at Red Sox games to taunt opponents by a group of boisterous fans called the Royal Rooters. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Megadeth Megatour Plans
The PRP reports: Megadeth are now planning to begin their US tour in late October, with European dates to follow. More info, including confirmed openers, is currently pending. The groups new album "The System Has Failed" will see a release through Sanctuary on September 14th. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on Wake Up (Make A Video, Back In The Ashes, Kittie Blood, When Revolution Was Dead, The Preview Of Zao, March Of The Fear Ants and more click here to check it out

Music For Nations No More
Metal-Rules reports: Legendary U.K. record label Music For Nations � current home of OPETH and ANATHEMA and past home of METALLICA, CRADLE OF FILTH, TESTAMENT and countless other metal bands � has officially closed its doors. The company's catalog � which has previously included titles from artists as varied as LOST HORIZON and FRANK ZAPPA � will be folded into parent company Zomba Records Group (the world's largest independent music group). - Click Here for the Full Story 

Dave Chappelle As Rick James
antiMUSIC reports: Can you think of anyone better to portray Rick James in a film then Dave Chappelle? Apparently, producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura couldn't think of anyone either and is in early talks with Chappelle to play the "Super Freak" in a film based on James forthcoming book, "Memoirs of a Super Freak." 

Di Bonaventura is currently trying to gain the rights to the book for a Paramount Pictures feature film. The Hollywood Reporter says that Di Bonaventura is looking to secure Chappelle for the leading role, reprising the impersonation that he uses for some skits to his Comedy Central sketch comedy program, "Chappelle's Show". - Click Here for the Full Story 

Ray Charles RIP
antiMUSIC reports: Music legend Ray Charles died on Thursday at the age of 73. Charles died at 11:35 a.m. with his family by his side at his Beverly Hills home. According to his publicist, Jerry Digney, the cause of death was complications from liver disease. 

Ray Charles was born Ray Charles Robinson September 23, 1930 in Albany, Ga. In 1979, the song that he helped make a pop standard, "Georgia on My Mind" , became the official state song of his native Georgia. 

Charles, a 12-time Grammy Award winner, spent most of his life overcoming adversity. He watched his brother drown in a tub at age 5, was blinded at age 7 and orphaned at age 15, spent most of his youth in poverty living in the segregated South and then later overcame heroin addiction. But it is his musical catalog that made Charles a legend. He used his soulful voice to make songs such as "What'd I Say" and "Georgia on My Mind" enduring hits. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Eddie Van Halen On The Reunion
Day in Rock reports: Guitar World was kind enough to share part of their exclusive interview with Eddie Van Halen with us. Below is just one excerpt from the interview, Eddie's first major one in five years. Click on the full story link for some more excerpts and pick up the current issue of Guitar World for the full deal. 

On what brought Sammy Hagar back to the band: "He called, we had a couple of good conversations and he was back in. It was as simple as that. Usually when bands break up and get back together, things are never quite the same. But I think there's a chance that this will work out because we're communicating a lot better. For example, there was some tension a few days ago. Sam said a few things I didn't like, but we ended up talking about it and cleared it up. That's the way it's supposed to work. I gave him a hug and kiss today and told him that I loved him." - Click Here for the Full Story 

ZO2 Get KISSed
press release reports: The Brooklyn-based rock trio ZO2 has been named as the opening act for the eagerly anticipated KISS and Poison tour in summer 2004. KISS has always fearlessly taken hot up-and-coming acts on the road with them as openers often rocketing those artists to success, and ZO2 is the latest in that long, distinguished line of bands. ZO2 will be out promoting their dazzling debut album "Tuesdays & Thursdays" independently released on their own Splivey Cool Entertainment Inc. label. 

"We all grew up idolizing KISS, so this tour is a dream come true for us," says Paulie Z. "There are tapes of David and I as kids singing and playing their classic �Alive' album." [see full story to visit the band's site and get the dates, more info, etc.. etc... etc...] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Eighteen Visions Get Lost
press release reports: In what promises to be one of the hottest rock tours of the summer, Eighteen Visions are hitting the road with Lostprophets for a string of dates beginning July 15th at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. 

Eighteen Visions (vocalist James Hart, guitarists Keith Barney and Ken Floyd, bassist Mick Morris and drummer James Shrout) are currently gearing up for the June 15th release of their highly anticipated new album OBSESSION. Produced by Mudrock (Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold), OBSESSION was recently dubbed one of the "20 Albums You Have To Hear in 2004" by Metal Hammer. The companion clip for the album's new single, "Waiting For The Heavens," was recently added to MTV2's Headbanger's Ball and FUSE's Uranium. [see full story to visit the band's site to get dates and more info]- Click Here for the Full Story 

2Cents: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation
[It's Friday, time for Chuck DiMaria to give us his 2 cents. This week Chuck attempt to decipher the myths surrounding Generation-X] 

I hate the label "Generation-X". 

I hate it because I'm in that generation. (Hell, I am practically a float in that parade.) 

I'm tattooed, pierced and, most importantly, born between the years 1961-1981. That's the cut-off point: Before 1961 and you're a Baby-Boomer, after 1981 and you're a Millennium Baby. 

Of course, that depends on whom you ask. Some say it's from 1964-1975, some 1970 to 1980�well, you get the idea. Personally, I like to take it in 20-year blocks. (That seems to make the most sense to me, but it's a personal feeling.) 

But since it's my column and my rules, twenty-year blocks it is. 

So having said that, let's say if you're somewhere around the ages of 23 to 43, congratulations, you are in Generation X. 

You know the funny thing about all that? I'm between those ages, but so are my brother and two sisters, and none of them resemble either me or the stereotypical Gen-Xer in the slightest. 

My brother? Less than two years older than me, not a tattoo or a piercing in sight, is a Sargent on the State Police, and is married to a schoolteacher (who also has neither piercings nor tattoos - at least none that I've ever seen.) My one sister is less than a year younger than me and is a nurse who is married to a fireman. My other sister is only about four years younger than me, has her Master's in business and she and her husband and own an Italian restaurant. (Which I believe is up for sale, so make me an offer.) 

(Incidentally, my mom and dad are still married and still seem to like each other, even though you are lead to believe that we are a generation that's almost entirely a product of divorce.) 

I am the one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb in this family. (Actually, it's not so much a family as much as Mr. Rogers' freakin' neighborhood.) 

So what went wrong? Why am I the only one with a nipple ring and a tattoo? Why am I the only one who even remotely resembles the Gen-X prototype? 

Simple: That prototype is absolute BS. 

Hang on, kids - we're about to kill us some sacred cows and make barbecue out of them. Go grab a bottle of A-1 steak sauce and follow me. [That's one cent, click the full story link to get Chuck's other cent�] - Click Here for the Full Story