Weekly Music News

[FH]

VELVET REVOLVER: More U.S. Dates Planned In June
Source: Blabbermouth

VELVET REVOLVER's U.S. tour in support of their debut album, "Contraband", has been extended into the second half of June. The trek is currently shaping up as follows:

May 13 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
May 14 - Kansas City, MO @ Memorial Hall
May 15 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest
May 19 - Chicago, IL @ The Riviera
May 20 - Detroit, MI @ TBA
May 21 - Toronto, ONT @ Kool Haus
May 26 - New York, NY @ Roseland
May 27 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
May 28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
May 29 - Boston, MA @ TBA
Jun. 04 - Portland, OR Roseland
Jun. 05 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater
Jun. 07 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
Jun. 08 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Jun. 09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Jun. 12 – Las Vegas, NV @ TBA
Jun. 13 – San Diego, CA @ TBA
Jun. 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ TBA
Jun. 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
Jun. 19 – Denver, CO @ TBA
Jun. 23 – Dallas, TX @ TBA
Jun. 24 – Austin, TX @ TBA

As previously reported, VELVET REVOLVER are believed to be planning a warm-up show for their upcoming tour in the Los Angeles area early next month — most likely on Sunday, May 9 at the Roxy in West Hollywood

The band — who've only played one show before (last year in Los Angeles) — recently shot a video for their first single, "Slither", with director Kevin Kerslake (NIRVANA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, IGGY POP). Look for the "Slither" video to premiere Tuesday, April 27 at 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific as part of MTV2's "Makes The Video".

VELVET REVOLVER's much-anticipated debut album, "Contraband", is scheduled for release on June 8 through RCA Records.

[FH]

Ex-MÖTLEY CRÜE Singer VINCE NEIL F*<&s With Your Phone
Source: Blabbermouth

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil has lent his voice to the new *&#@Tones under the Voicetones category of custom audio ringtones available only on Modtones (www.modtones.com).

Neil burns his vocals onto these new ringtones available directly from handsets under Faith West's Modtones branded application sold on multiple wireless carrier networks.

"Recording for mobile phones opens up a whole new world of people to f*Neil in a press release. "If people think they are offended by a little slip of a t*t on TV, wait till they hear me on their phones."

Modtones, created by Faith West, launched in the summer of 2002 with polyphonic re-creations of songs licensed from hundreds of leading entertainment companies. The bass-thumping ringtone service has since expanded its offerings to include animated ringtones (images synchronized with music), wallpaper with images licensed from noted street artists, and all sorts of audio and MIDI combinations to truly customize a phone's incoming call alert. And if Vince Neil's audio announcements get to be too much, Modtones customers can download the sound of silence to replace him for a couple bucks.

"We appreciate Vince's subtle attention to #%&ing detail," said Jeremy Xavier, Faith West's Creative Director. "Our customers like everything from fart ringtones to women calling out 'booty call' and we know they'll love a piece of Vince's action."

[FH]

VELVET REVOLVER: 'Contraband' Cover Posted Online
Source: Blabbermouth

The cover artwork for VELVET REVOLVER's debut album, "Contraband", has been posted online at guitarist Slash's official web site, www.slashonline.com. All three images will reportedly be used as part of the CD packaging.

As previously reported, "Contraband" is scheduled for release on June 8 through RCA Records. The band — who've only played one show before (last year in Los Angeles) — recently shot a video for the album's first single, "Slither", with director Kevin Kerslake (NIRVANA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, IGGY POP). Look for the "Slither" video to premiere Tuesday, April 27 at 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific as part of MTV2's "Makes The Video".

VELVET REVOLVER will embark on a North American tour beginning on May 13 in St. Louis, Missouri.

[FH]

DAMAGEPLAN's VINNIE PAUL Wants To Tour With The Reunited VAN HALEN
Source: Blabbermouth

DAMAGEPLAN guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul played with many of their favorite bands when they were in PANTERA, but Paul told Launch Radio Networks that there is one tour they'd really like to be part of this summer. "When I was a kid growing up, I had four bands I always dreamed of playing with, one being BLACK SABBATH, we got to do the reunion tour all over the place. KISS, we got to play with them in South America, which was amazing. JUDAS PRIEST, which was the first tour we ever did in Europe. And then VAN HALEN, you know. And if they get back together, which they have, man, we've got to be at the front of the line, man. We wanna go play with them. That'd be kick-ass."

[FH]

ZZ Top Celebrating 35th On The Road
Source: Billboard

ZZ Top will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a North American summer tour. The shows begin June 25 at Kay Yaeger Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas, and will include visits to arenas, amphitheaters, fairs, festivals and casinos.

The recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have dates on the books through September, concluding with a Sept. 24-25 stand at the Las Vegas Hilton. Preceding the tour is a previously announced June 6 engagement at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, as part of the Crossroads Guitar Festival to benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua, the treatment and education center founded by Clapton in 1997.

ZZ Top, which boasts founding members Frank Beard, Billy F. Gibbons and Dusty Hill, claims to be the longest running "intact" road show in rock history. The summer tour is support of the band's latest RCA release, "Mescalero." A comprehensive boxed set, "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ," was released last October.

Here are ZZ Top's tour dates:

June 6: Dallas (Cotton Bowl / Crossroads Guitar Festival)
June 25: Wichita Falls, Texas (Kay Yeager Coliseum)
June 26: Beaumont, Texas (Ford Arena)
June 28: Hidalgo, Texas (Dodge Arena)
July 1: Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Soaring Eagle Casino)
July 3: Muskegon, Mich. (Heritage Landing)
July 4: Tinley Park, Ill. (Tweeter Center)
July 5: Lansing, Mich. (Common Ground Festival)
July 8: Kelowna, British Columbia (Rock the Park Festival)
July 10: Craven, Saskatchewan (Rock 'n the Valley)
July 11: Camrose, Alberta (Stage 13)
July 14: Walker, Minn. (Moon Dance Ranch Jam)
July 16: Sarnia, Ontario (Bayfest 2004)
July 17: St. Clairsville, Ohio (Jamboree in the Hills)
July 23: Minot, N.D. (North Dakota State Fair)
July 24: Cheyenne, Wyo. (Frontier Days)
July 25: Winter Park, Colo. (Winter Park Resort)
July 28: Pala, Calif. (Pala Starlight Theater)
July 30: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Field Amphitheater)
July 31: Paso Robles, Calif. (California Midstate Fair)
Aug. 1: Costa Mesa, Calif. (Orange County Fair)
Aug. 3: Kennewick, Wash. (Tri-Cities Coliseum)
Aug. 5: Deer Island, Ore. (Columbia Meadows)
Aug. 6: Spokane, Wash. (Lilac Bowl)
Aug. 7: Great Falls, Mont. (Montana State Fair)
Aug. 9: Sturgis, S.D. (Buffalo Chip Campground)
Aug. 10: Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sioux Empire Fair)
Aug. 11: Hayward, Wis. (LCO Casino Lodge)
Aug. 13: Sedallia, Mo. (Missouri State Fair)
Aug. 14: Oklahoma City (Zoo Amphitheater)
Aug. 16: Atlanta (Chastain Park)
Aug. 20: Louisville (Freedom Hall)
Aug. 21: Lima, Ohio (Allen County Fair)
Aug. 22: Des Moines, Iowa (Iowa State Fair)
Aug. 24: Pueblo, Colo. (Colorado State Fair)
Aug. 26: Green Bay, Wis. (Onieda Casino)
Aug. 27: Minneapolis (Minnesotate State Fair)
Sept. 1: Syracuse, N.Y. (New York State Fair)
Sept. 2: Allentown, Pa. (Allentown Fair)
Sept. 3: Essex Junction, Vt. (Champlain Valley Exposition)
Sept. 5: North East, Pa. (Lake Erie Speedway)
Sept. 10: Blackfoot, Idaho (Eastern Idaho State Fair)
Sept. 11: Grand Junction, Colo. (Rock Jam 2004)
Sept. 12: Albuquerque, N.M. (Sandia Casino Amphitheater)
Sept. 16: Puyallup, Wash. (Western Washington Fair)
Sept. 17: Bend, Ore. (Schwab Amphitheater)
Sept. 18: Reno, Nev. (Reno Hilton)
Sept. 20: Laughlin, Nev. (Flamingo Hilton)
Sept. 23: Alpine, Calif. (Viejas Casino)
Sept. 24-25: Las Vegas (Hilton)


-- Ray Waddell, Nashville

[FH]

New CD Releases 4/20

The Alarm In the Poppy Fields (Snapper)

Alien Crime Syndicate Ten Songs in the Key of Betrayal (The Control Group)

Alkaline Trio/One Man Army Split Series - Vol. V (split) (BYO)

Theresa Andersson Shine (Basin Street)

Atombombpocketknife Lack and Pattern (recorded w/Jeremy Legos and mixed by Brian Deck) (File 13)

Automato Automato (Coup de Grace)

Azita Life on the Fly (featuring and engineered by John McEntire of Tortoise, w/Matt Lux and Jeff Parker) (Drag City)

Bad Acid Trip Lynch the Weirdo (ICE #205; produced by Daron Malakian) (Serjical Strike/Columbia)

David Becker Tribune Where’s Henning? (Paras)

Beyond Surface Destination’s End (Sanctuary/Noise)

Big Fuzz (ex-Deep Banana Blackout) Exercising the Demons (Harmonized)

BiggaBush BiggaBush Free (Stereo Deluxe)

Black Label Society Hangover Music, Vol. VI (Spitfire)

Norman & Nancy Blake The Morning Glory Ramblers (DualTone)

Blanche If We Can’t Trust the Doctors (Cass)

Brazil A Hostage and the Meaning of Life (produced by Alex Newport) (Fearless)

Kevin Breit (Norah Jones’ guitarist) John and the Sisters (NorthernBlues)

Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels (EP; ICE #205) (Crank!)

BT The Technology EP (Nettwerk)

George Calle Dark Beats NYC Vol. 2 (Oh Music)

Cesium_137 Elemental (Metropolis)

Jon Cleary Pin Your Spin (ICE #205) (Basin Street)

Clemente Teeth Measure the Need (Moodswing)

Debase Unleashed (Sanctuary/Noise)

Decomposure Taking Things Apart (Unschooled)

Demolition Doll Rods On (Swami)

DJ Icey For the Love of the Beat (System Recordings)

Dyecrest Dyecrest (Sanctuary/Noise)

Echobrain Glean (ICE #205) (Chophouse/Surfdog)

Ektomorf Destroy (Nuclear Blast)

Ela Stapled to Air (Third Earth)

Fear Factory Archetype (ICE #205) (Liquid 8)

Flight Recorder From Pinkertons Assorted Colours to the Flying Machine (Sanctuary/Castle)

Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (Epic/Domino)

Full Speed Ahead Born to Lose (Manic Ride)

Ghostface Killah Pretty Tony (Def Jam)

The Glasspack Bridgeburner (Small Stone)

Go Betty Go Worst Enemy (SideOneDummy)

Ross Golan and Molehead Reagan Baby (Insider Trading Corporation)

Gold Cash Gold Paradise Pawned, Vol. 1 (Times Beach)

James Grear with Next A Special Place (Liquid 8)

Patty Griffin Impossible Dream (ICE #205) (ATO)

Grupo Fantasma Movimiento Popular (Valley Entertainment)

Hangmen Loteria (produced by Rick Parker; w/cover of Rolling Stones’ "Citadel") (Acetate)

Hanson Underneath (limited-edition w/DVD same day) (Three Car Garage)

Daniel G. Harmann The Lake Effect (Post436)

Stefon Harris and Blackout Evolution (ICE #205) (Blue Note)

Sophie B. Hawkins Wilderness (Trumpet Swan/Lightyear/WEA)

Head Automatica Decadence (Warner Bros.)

John Lee Hooker Jr. Blues with a Vengeance (Kent)

Howling Hex (Neil Michael Hagerty) Section 2 (limited-edition) (Drag City)

Rob Ickes with Blue Highway Big Time (ICE #205) (Rounder)

In Passing Look Alive (Indianola)

Intelligence Boredom and Terror (w/bonus CD) (Narnack)

Jay-Z Madison Square Garden (CD/DVD combo; ICE #205) (Def Jam)

King Wilkie Broke (covers of songs by Jimmie Rodgers, Governor Jimmie Davis and the Monroe Brothers) (Rebel)

Kottonmouth Kings Fire It Up (w/bonus DVD) (Suburban Noize)

Lach Today (Fortified)

Jon Langford All the Fame of Lofty Deeds (Bloodshot)

LMNO Economic Food Chain Music (Up Above)

Lords The House That Lords Built (EP) (Initial)

The Lost Trailers Welcome to the Woods (Republic/Universal)

Louque So Long (Lava/Everfine)

Machine Head Through the Ashes of Empires (Roadrunner)

Martyr AD On Earth as It Is in Hell (Victory)

Matt Mau Lifted: Live in Buenos Aires (Journees)

Vinny Miller On the Block (4AD/Beggars Banquet)

Millie Time Will Tell (Sanctuary/Trojan)

John Michael Montgomery Letter from Home (ICE #205) (Warner Bros.)

Gurf Morlix Cut ’n Shoot (ICE #205) (Catamount)

Norselaw Sweet Home Scandanavia (Direct Music Group)

Overproof Soundsystem Nothing to Prove (Different Drummer)

Persuader Evolution Purgatory (Sanctuary/Noise)

Prince Musicology (NPG/Columbia)

Lali Puna Faking the Books (Morr)

Ratatat Ratatat (XL/Beggars Banquet)

The Reputation (Sarge’s Elizabeth Elmore) To Force a Fate (Lookout!)

Retisonic Return to Me (ICE #205) (Silverthree Sound)

Smokey Robinson Food for the Spirit (Liquid 8)

Carl Hancock Rux Apothecary RX (w/Vinicius Cantuaria, Leroy Jenkens and Rob Hyman) (Giant Step)

Sevendust Acoustic Live (TVT)

Sharks and Minnows The Cost of Living (Two Sheds)

Keaton Simons Currently (EP) (Maverick)

Single Frame Wetheads Come Running (Volcom)

Skalpel Skalpel (Ninja Tune)

Slicker We All Have a Plan (Hefty)

Smut Peddlers Coming Out (TKO)

Spill Canvas Sunsets & Car Crashes (One Eleven)

Stitchie Kingdom Ambassador (Ejaness Reggae)

the subdudes Miracle Mule (ICE #205) (Back Porch/EMI)

Craig Taborn Junk Magic (Thirsty Ear)

Tajai Power Movement (Heiroglyphics Imperium)

The Talk It’s Like Magic in Reverse (produced by Mike Mogis) (MoRisen)

Thelonious Monster California Clam Chowder (Lakeshore)

Time Machine Reviviscence (Sensory)

Tornado of Knives Tornado of Knives (EP) (Manic Ride)

tweaker (Chris Vrenna) 2 a.m. Wakeup Call (guest appearances by Robert Smith, Johnny Marr and Will Oldham; ICE #205) (iMUSIC/Waxploitation)

The Veils The Runaway Found (Sanctuary/Rough Trade)

Vomitory Primal Massacre (Metal Blade)

W.A.S.P. The Neon God Part I (Sanctuary/Metal-Is)

A Wilhelm Scream Mute Print (Nitro/Mute Print)

Alyson Williams It’s About Time (Three Keys)

Charles Wilson If Heartaches Were Nickels (ICE #205) (Delmark)

Mario Winans Hurt No More (Bad Boy)

Wolf Evil Star (Prosthetic)

Young People/Friends Forever Buddy Series Vol. 3 (Narnack)

[FH]

A PERFECT CIRCLE's HOWERDEL Slams BILLY CORGAN Over IHA Comments
Source: Blabbermouth

A PERFECT CIRCLE guitarist Billy Howerdel has slammed former SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan over his recent disparaging comments against ex-PUMPKINS/current A PERFECT CIRCLE guitarist James Iha, calling Corgan "sick" and speculating that he " probably has seven therapists telling him seven different things."

In a February posting to his official web site, Corgan blamed Iha for the break-up of SMASHING PUMPKINS, stating, "[Drummer] Jimmy [Chamberlin] didn't want to break up the band, and I would have gone on forever, the SMASHING PUMPKINS were essentially my entire life. Many friends at the time suggested letting James leave, so Jimmy and I could continue under the name, but I was too loyal to the man I had started the whole thing with, and I protected him until the very end," he said.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Howerdel responded to Corgan's remarks, saying, "It's unfortunate. It sounds like he is in a lot of pain. It sounds like he is kind of reaching — kind of desperate. We read it. It was funny, but then the realization came that I sympathize with the guy because it sounds like he is really sad. I'm sure James is affected by it, even though he says he's O.K. But I'm sure he's affected by it, because anyone would be. [Corgan] is obviously sick and has a lot of problems and probably has seven therapists telling him seven different things. Hopefully he will work himself out. Billy Corgan is a great songwriter and a great musician, but let's just keep it at that."

[FH]

VELVET REVOLVER Frontman Recording PINK FLOYD Cover For Upcoming Soundtrack
Source: Blabbermouth

VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland (ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS) is recording a cover of PINK FLOYD's "Wish You Were Here" with producer Douglas Grean for an as-yet-unannounced movie soundtrack. "This is a Scott solo thing not a [VELVET REVOLVER] thing," Douglas writes on his web site. "And it's coming out really well if I do say so myself. One of the best songs ever written in my opinion."

VELVET REVOLVER's debut album, "Contraband", is scheduled for release on June 8 through RCA Records. The band — who've only played one show before (last year in Los Angeles) — recently shot a video for the album's first single, "Slither", with director Kevin Kerslake (NIRVANA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, IGGY POP). Look for the "Slither" video to premiere Tuesday, April 27 at 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific as part of MTV2's "Makes The Video".

VELVET REVOLVER will embark on a North American tour beginning on May 13 in St. Louis, Missouri.

[FH]

Built This City Tops Worst Songs List
Source: Launch

Starship may have built this city on rock and roll, but Blender magazine is tearing it down, naming the band's "We Built This City" as the worst song ever.

Some tunes on the "50 Worst Songs Ever!" list were selected for their melodies, others "are wretchedly performed" and "quite a few don't make sense whatsoever," the magazine said.

The list, which appears in the May issue, includes songs by New Kids on the Block, Meat Loaf, The Doors, Lionel Richie , Hammer and The Beach Boys, among others.

Blender describes 1985's "We Built This City" as "the truly horrible sound of a band taking the corporate dollar while sneering at those who take the corporate dollar."

Starship lead singer Grace Slick says, "This is not me," when the magazine reminds her of the tune. "Now you're an actor. It's the same as Meryl Streep playing Joan of Arc."

Rounding out the top 10: "Achy Breaky Heart," Billy Ray Cyrus ; "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" Wang Chung; "Rollin'," Limp Bizkit; "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice; "The Heart of Rock & Roll," Huey Lewis and the News; "Don't Worry Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin ; "Party All the Time," Eddie Murphy ; "American Life," Madonna; and "Ebony and Ivory," Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder .

Other songs on the list: Toby Keith 's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" (No. 22); Whitney Houston 's "Greatest Love of All" (No. 30); Ricky Martin 's "She Bangs" (No. 39); Billy Joel 's "We Didn't Start the Fire" (No. 41); Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence" (No. 42); The Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (No. 48); and Celine Dion 's "My Heart Will Go On" (No. 50).

Blender and VH1's TV special "50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs ... Ever" airs May 12.

___

[FH]

WHITESNAKE To Release Two-Disc Live Album In The Summer
Source: Blabbermouth

WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale is currently compiling material for a two-disc live album recorded on the group's recent American and European tours. "I am assembling the live album from over 60 shows," Coverdale said. "It is taking FOREVER!!! But, it is extraordinarily consistent stuff, I'm delighted to say, and I am very pleased. I will be adding songs that we didn't play in Europe, and songs we didn't play in the States. It's shaping up grand, and mega-bollocksy, thank you very much. It seems it will feature at least 14 songs. I will probably start mixing in about a month. I hope to have it out (ahem) around the time I start touring Europe in August."

[FH]

DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZY, JOE SATRIANI: More Dates Announced
Source: Blabbermouth
A bunch of dates have been announced for the upcoming North American tour featuring DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY and JOE SATRIANI. The trek is shaping up as follows:

Aug. 10 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QUE
Aug. 11 - Agora - Quebec City, QUE
Aug. 13 - Meadowbrook Musical Arts - Gilford, NH
Aug. 14 - FleetBoston Pavilion - Boston, MA
Aug. 15 - Jones Beach - Wantagh, NY
Aug. 17 - Performing Arts Center - Saratoga Springs, NY
Aug. 18 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Aug. 20 - Erie County Fair - Hamburg, NY
Aug. 21 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Aug. 23 - Marcus Amphitheatre - Milwaukee, WI
Aug. 25 - Verizon Wireless Theatre - Kansas City, MO
Aug. 27 - Cynthia Woods Pavillion - Houston, TX
Aug. 28 - Verizon Wireless Theatre - San Antonio, TX
Aug. 29 - Smirnoff Music Centre - Dallas, TX
Aug. 31 - Universal Lening Pavilion - Denver, CO
Sep. 02 - Reno Hilton Amphitheatre - Reno, NV
Sep. 04 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 05 - Sleep Train Amphitheatre - Sacramento, CA
Sep. 06 - Chronicle Pavilion - Concord, CA
Sep. 09 - Clark County Amphitheatre - Portland, OR
Sep. 10 - White River Amphitheatre - Seattle, WA
Sep. 11 - Orpheum Theatre - Vancouver, BC
Sep. 13 - Stampede Corral Arena - Calgary, AB
Sep. 14 - Shaw Conference Center - Edmonton, AB

More dates will be announced soon.

[FH]

Label Expects to Sign Imprisoned Rapper
Source: Launch


Island Def Jam expects to sign imprisoned rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow to a $3 million record contract this week, a source familiar with the negotiations said.

Shyne, now serving a 10-year term for his role in a New York nightclub shooting involving Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, was expected to finalize the deal by the end of this week, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Shyne would be the first artist acquired by Island Def Jam Music Group since Antonio "L.A." Reid took over as chairman in February.

The label plans to produce the album with material Shyne recorded before he began serving his sentence, the source said. The prospect of other releases from prison — some rappers have recorded albums over the phone or in visiting rooms — was unclear.

Shyne, whose deep voice has drawn comparisons to late Notorious B.I.G., is not slated to be released from the state prison in Dannemora, N.Y., before 2009.

The proposed contract includes a stipulation that Shyne's albums would be released on an imprint called Gangland Records, the source said.

A spokesman for Island Def Jam parent Universal Music Group declined to comment. Calls to Shyne's publicist were not returned.

Shyne's career got derailed before it really got going. His self-titled debut album on Combs' powerhouse Bad Boy Entertainment label was released in September 2000. He had a modest hit with the single "Bad Boyz," and the album has sold more than 900,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

But the following year, when he was 19, Shyne was sentenced to prison for his part in the 1999 shootout at Club New York.

Three people were wounded in the melee, which reportedly started after a patron insulted Combs, who was there with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez .

Shyne was convicted of gun possession and assault for firing a gun in the crowded club and hitting at least one person.

No charges were filed against Lopez. Combs and his bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, were acquitted of gun possession charges.

[FH]

New Ozzy/Tony Iommi Interview

[FH]

Former THE CULT Singer To Release Solo Album Next Year
Source: Blabbermouth

Former THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury has worked on series of demos with producers such as Gordon Raphael (THE STROKES, THE WILDHEARTS) and James LaVelle (U.N.K.L.E.), and he hopes to release a solo album, tentatively titled "Warriors of the Mystic Plains", on a yet-to-be-determined label sometime in 2005, according to Billboard.

"My sound will be a mash-up," he said. "Songs that are melodically and rhythmically driven. Like a car crash between LED ZEPPELIN, THE DOORS, PRIMAL SCREAM, BLONDE REDHEAD and NINE INCH NAILS. It's a combination of different elements."

Astbury told Billboard that he was inspired by his work with two-thirds of the surviving members of THE DOORS when it came to writing his own solo material.

"The style of music is so stripped down, it's about organics, it's about craft, there's nowhere to hide, it's about musical excellence, it's about creativity," he said. "It's really inspired me more to go in and have that approach to my own writing process."

THE DOORS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, featuring Astbury, original THE DOORS keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger, along with drummer Ty Dennis, will embark on a brief slate of U.S. dates April 23 in Minneapolis, with a July trip to Europe to follow. Dates in June and August are still coming together.

[FH]

OZZY And SHARON Excrement Figures Now Available
Source: Blabbermouth

World Entertainment News Network is reporting that a quirky Californian lady has turned Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne into wacky toys — made out of horse excrement.

Karen Engelmann, who runs Web site www.turdbirds.com, makes bird-like figures out of horse feces she collects near her home in Lodi.

And Sharon Osbourne was so impressed with her gift, she called Engelmann during one of her recent talk shows to get more information.

Engelmann explained, "I was really stuck one year for presents for a group of friends and they turned out to be a hit.

"I have to go and collect each and every specimen. I have abandoned barbecue tongs and yellow dishwashing gloves and tote bags and I won't touch them until I've coated them in plastic."

The Sharon and Ozzy TurdBirds (pictures), which come complete with leather and leopard-skin outfits, are Engelmann's first celebrity offering.