New Comp from K Records on the way.

On July 1st, those cuddly folks at Olympia indie-pop label K Records will be releasing the Invisible Shield compilation CD, a budget-priced (only 6 bucks!) sampler of everything the label's been up to lately. Included are songs from the latest albums by K mainstays Mirah, Yume Bitsu, Old Time Relijun, Little Wings, and many others, including several of label owner Calvin Johnson's seemingly never-ending stream of recording aliases. Collectors will be delighted to hear that the compilation will also include an untitled new song by The Microphones, recorded live in Japan during the past year, and "Sabley Goodness", a recent vinyl-only single by Johnson's Dub Narcotic Sound System. Also included is the last single from Johnson's in-limbo seminal outfit Beat Happening and a track from his recent first solo album. According to the super-cute K press sheet, the compilation reflects the "support network" spirit of the K artists, in which various artists collaborate and crossover with each other (as with John Edward); everyone "follow[s] their own artistic vision but... feed[s] off the artistic energy of their compatriots." Which means, basically, that every artist on the K roster is somehow involved with every one of these songs.

150,000 Tickets Sold For Toronto SARS Benefit

The star-studded Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto concert sold a record 150,000 tickets in its first day of sales, according to Ticketmaster Canada. The event's main sponsor, Molson Canadian, also said that sales to U.S. fans for the July 30 concert at Downsview Park were "well ahead of expectations." As previously reported, the event will feature the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Justin Timberlake, the newly added Rush, the Guess Who, Flaming Lips and Kathleen Edwards, among others. Tickets, priced at CDN $21.50 (US $16) plus service charges, went on sale Friday (June 27) at all Ticketmaster outlets. Grocery chain A&P has purchased 240,000 tickets at full price, which they will sell at stores in Ontario and the U.S. beginning this week. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has also tentatively agreed to broadcast a one-hour edition of the concert worldwide.The concert is in response to the large economic impact SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has wrought on the city's economy, particularly the tourism and hospitality sectors. One dollar from every ticket sold will go toward the Health Care and Hospitality Workers Relief Fund. SARS has resulted in 39 deaths in the greater Toronto area.

Beatles Christmas bootleg found.

A tape featuring The Beatles standing around a microphone getting ready to record a Christmas single has gone on sale online. The unedited warbling and all four members of The Beatles is clearly heard on the recording including a very abstract short story from John saying "pretty soon Henry was to find that his wife had been made oblivion to the former butler of the village. She of course left unheard of. The next thing we knew was Harry was down with the flu. Well we knew he hadn't been out so where had he caught it. Obviously off her and she was carrying it around like a bad thing. Over to the studio". He says "the tape was recorded in 1965 . Verification of this is at the beginning of the tape George mentions that" this is our 3rd Christmas record."" What you hear on the CD has apparently never before been released. "As far as I know this was an attempt at recording the 3rd Christmas record but was scrapped and none of it has appeared on any Christmas record or bootleg out takes album" he says. The person selling the rare Beatles tape has had it for more than 35 years. "I have had the tape since 1967 but only recently came across it again" he says. "It was given to me many years ago". At the website selling the recording there is a MP3 sample of the CD. The free MP3 download on the site appears to be a send-up of the famous (or infamous) Beatles butcher cover. It features sound effects of babies crying in the background. When asked if the sound effects where added later I was told "the engineer is playing sound FX to the Beatles to get them to come up with funny stuff they didn't know what was coming as faras I know. It then follows that the Baby thing was spontaneous as is all the stuff on the tape. This is what makes it. Basically no doctoring." The CD is nearly all spoken word. "There is one section where the Beatles are singing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' to the tune of Dixie. No other songs" he says. Copies of the tape are being sold for $US20. The CD can be ordered HERE

Katharine Hepburn: 1907-2003

Screen and stage legend Katharine Hepburn has died, according to Old Saybrook, Connecticut police. She was 96. Hepburn's film career spanned seven decades, and she was perhaps the most decorated actor, male or female, in the industry. She won more Academy Awards for lead roles (four) than anyone -- and her 12 nominations in the best actress category also was a record.

Film Movement Indie Movie Club

Too many great films are never released widely. Despite critical acclaim and major awards, millions of film fans across the country never get the chance to see them. Film Movement was created to change that. Film Movement allows film fans everywhere to participate in new releases. Our Members receive an award-winning new release each month on DVD as well as a Short Film. Film Movement's innovative subscription movie club gives you the freedom to see the year's best foreign and independent films. If you can't make the premiere, the premiere can now come to you. At its heart Film Movement is a grassroots movement that joins together filmmakers and film fans for a simple common cause -- to provide access to the best films made every year. Think of it as the Indie Rock version of Netflix.. So cool.. CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

New Death Cab for Cutie record coming soon

Barsuk Records has revealed details on the upcoming Death Cab for Cutie album. Set to be released on October 7th, the fourth official full-length from Bellingham, Washington's favorite musical sons is entitled Transatlanticism and will contain eleven tracks. Barsuk label head Josh Rosenfeld has offered this tip to tongue-tied readers who are no doubt stumbling over the name: "The title's a bit difficult at first, but after a couple attempts most test subjects are able to pronounce it with no problem... The c is soft." Ahhh, how cly, how cexy! The eagerly anticipated release, whose cover art was created by Seattle-based painter Adde Russell, will be followed by a "very large" North American tour, according to Rosenfeld.

KINGBLIND RECOMMENDS

Here is what is on the Kingblind stereo this week:
(The Mars Volta: De-Loused In The Comatorium)--(Radiohead: Hail to the Thief)--(Dismemberment Plan: Change)--(Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf)--(Superdeluxe: Via Satellite)

The White Stripes form an unlikely bond

The White Stripes frontman Jack White who revealed that he's taking his budding creative relationship with Loretta Lynn to a new level. He is now producing tracks for Lynn's next album. "We really hit it off," said Jack. "There's some kind of connection with us. I feel really comfortable with her, and I think she feels really comfortable with me, which I'm really glad for because I could see someone like me -- the way I look or whatever -- not being appealing or her thinking that maybe I wasn't down with the kind of music she does... She could tell that we had the same love for the same things about music.

Zerotec Independant Music Store

Founded by a member of Man Or Astroman, Zerotec sells CD's and records from Touch and Go, Estrus, Warm Recordings, Tiger Style and a ton more. Support independant music buy ZEROTEC. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ONLINE STORE OR check out the ZERORETURN recording studios. 100% analog recording. They have recorded such great bands as: Superchunk, The Black Keys, The Mooney Suzuki, The Woggles, Mastodon and many many more.

Sinatra coming to DVD

Reprise will issue "Sinatra at the Sands," the 1966 live album by Frank Sinatra featuring Count Basie and his Orchestra with conductor Quincy Jones, in the DVD-Audio format in August. The release, the first Sinatra album to be issued in DVD-A, will feature a 5.1-channel surround mix created by producer/engineer Elliot Mazer, plus bonus content. Mazer co-produced and mixed the DVD-A version of Neil Young's "Harvest," released last year by Reprise, as well as the original "Harvest" in 1972. A Warner Music Group spokesperson says additional Sinatra DVD-A titles are planned.

More than Music Festival is Back.

The Blood Brothers, Will Oldham, the Locust, Aesop Rock, RJD2, Mr. Lif, Peanut Butter Wolf, MF Doom, Songs: Ohia, Dead Meadow, Ex Models, Party Of Helicopters, Boom Bip and Jean Grae are among the acts confirmed for the 11th and final More Than Music Festival. To be held July 11-12 at the Factory in Columbus, Ohio, the event will also feature art and photo exhibits, panel discussions and 30 DJs performing over the course of the weekend. The event has previously featured appearances by such underground rock staples as Braid, Christie Front Drive, Jets To Brazil, Shellac, Avail, the Promise Ring and Lightning Bolt. Tickets are available from online retailer Insound or at various Columbus locations. For more information, visit the event's official Web site.

The Von Bondies Sign to Sire Records

LOS ANGELES--June 27, 2003--White Hot Detroit quartet, The Von Bondies, have signed a major label recording contract with Sire/Warner Bros. Records. The group is currently recording their new album, tentatively scheduled for 2004 release, in San Francisco with producer Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads, Modern Lovers, etc.). Formed in 2000 in their native Motor City, The Von Bondies is comprised of Jason Stollsteimer (vocals, guitar); Marcie Bolen (guitar, backing vocals); Carrie Smith (bass, backing vocals) and Don Blum (drums). In 2001, they released their first album, "Lack Of Communication," produced by the White Stripes' Jack White on the independent label Sympathy For The Record Industry and subsequently toured Europe with the White Stripes. Lauded by the Detroit Free Press for their "primitively raw musical approach ... garnering attention everywhere from San Francisco to the United Kingdom," The Von Bondies were brought to Sire Records by label founder Seymour Stein and A&R representative Perry Watts-Russell. "Our songs are about a girl I dated, heartache and playing rock n' roll," Jason Stollsteimer is quoted as saying. "Somebody characterized us as 'the romantic sound of depraved youth.' That's about right."

Lips to pay Cat Stevens Royalities

The Flaming Lips will split royalties for the song "Fight Test" with Yusef Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) according to the terms of an agreement between the two artists' publishing companies. The settlement stems from the similarity between the Lips' new single and Stevens' 1970 song "Father and Son." Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne acknowledged the likeness between the two songs in an interview last year before the song's release. "I know ["Father and Son"] and when I came up with 'Fight Test,' I knew there would a little bit of comparison to that," Coyne said. "Parts of it are radically different than what I intended in the beginning, which I thought sounded a lot like the Cat Stevens song, but I didn't give it that much thought. We did the song quite quickly once we came up with the arrangement. I think it's such a great arrangement of chords and melody that you just hope to express something, even though it's in a similar vein."Flaming Lips management declined comment on the settlement.

RHCP return for fall tour

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS have extended their North American tour with a further 13 dates, kicking off September 6 in WASHINGTON D.C. , with several more shows to be added at a later date. Queens Of The Stone Age and French Toast will be supporting on all of the shows, which are expected to run into November. The band will also be on the road during the summer playing at European festivals, including the V Festival on August 16-17. As reported yesterday (June 26), the Chili Peppers are set to return to the studio to write and record two or three new songs for a forthcoming Greatest Hits album.

Grokster Blasts RIAA Anti-Piracy Tactics

The Recording Industry Association of America's plan to sue individuals for distributing "substantial amounts" of music files on peer-to-peer networks isn't likely to change consumer behavior, critics of the initiative charge. Grokster president Wayne Rosso told attendees of an event sponsored by the Copyright Society of the USA yesterday (June 26) in New York that attempts by the recording industry to thwart file sharing through litigation are bound to fail. Rosso said lawsuits can't keep pace with technological innovation and development. RIAA attorney Dean Garfield told attendees that lawsuits against consumers are just one tactic in a multi-faceted strategy the industry is using to combat piracy. The move comes after litigation aimed at P2P networks themselves has failed to stem the growth of file sharing. Two years after the industry's shutdown of Napster, the practice is more popular than ever. The RIAA reports that an estimated 2.6 billion copyrighted files are traded over P2P networks every month. Leading the pack is KaZaA: The RIAA says that in May, the service had more than 230 million users, up from 100 million in July 2002. Additionally, a recent court ruling in the RIAA's suit against Grokster and others found that P2P networks cannot necessarily by held accountable for the illegal activities of their users. Rosso said the only real solution is for labels to strike distribution deals with P2P networks. However, he said, the RIAA's litigation initiatives are stifling negotiations.

WATCH THE BANNED FOO FIGHTERS VIDEO

Check out the new Foo Fighter's Video for 'Low' that was banned by MTV. The video features Jack Black and Dave Grohl in drag. Very strange.. CLICK HERE TO WATCH REAL VIDEO FORMAT OR CLICK HERE TO WATCH WINDOW MEDIA VIDEO FORMAT

18 INCHES OF TROUBLE

High camp Norwegian rockers TurboNegro flew into trouble earlier this week when they were arrested at Stuttgart airport for arms smuggling. The lipstick loving six-piece where on their way from their show in the German city back home to Oslo when the authorities grabbed them. As the band were passing through security at around 6am (June 23), an eagle-eyed official spotted an 18-inch knife in the band's luggage as it went through the X-Ray machine. Police immediately swooped. "The band tried to explain that it was a stage-prop used by Hank ," a spokesperson said. "It was held inside a cane and the cane was inside a guitar case. But they were having no of it. When the police asked who it belonged to, the band said it was all of them." The police refused to arrest the entire band and eventually one of the crew, identified only as Trond , took the blame and was hauled off to the local jail. He was released some time later after paying a fine. Meanwhile, TurboNegro remain unbowed. "What's the world coming to when men in long black hair and long black beards can't bring an 18 inch dagger onto planes anymore," leader Happy Tom said.

Black Keys Suffer MTV Identity Crisis

For Akron, Ohio-based rock duo the Black Keys, getting a video for their song "Set You Free" onto MTV was a big deal. The little-known group's new Fat Possum album, "Thickfreakness," has sold more than 10,000 copies in the U.S. in its first two months in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the Keys are about to finish a run of dates opening for Beck. But there's a small problem: according to Fat Possum, MTV is incorrectly labeling the Mark Maccora-directed "Set You Free" video as a song from rap outfit Black Eyed Peas' new A&M album, "Elephunk." MTV2 has even added "Set You Free" to the playlist for its show "Subterranean," but "what video they will actually show is anyone's guess," according to a source.

CHILIS TO CHILL AND WRITE NEW SONGS

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS have revealed that they will be returning to the studio to record new material for their greatest hits album after finishing their world tour. The band played their final show of the 'By The Way' dates on June 21 in Alberquerque . In a posting on the band's website, bassist Flea revealed that the band have a break and will use the time to write new songs. He said, "We have 7 weeks of no gigs. We are gonna take 2 weeks off and then write and record 2 or 3 new songs for a greatest hits record to come out at a future date, before getting back on tour in August." Flea also spoke about the death of Mars Volta sound manipulator Jeremy Ward , who died of a suspected heroin overdose last month (May 25). The band had been supporting the Chili Peppers during the tour. "I am listening to the Mars Volta right now," he said. "It makes me really miss them. I feel a deep melancholy about them not being with us on this last leg. God bless Jeremy . I think their record is coming out any day now, I can't wait to get a copy of it." He commented on Snoop Dogg 's contribution the last dates, saying it "has been a trip. A completely different energy than what we are used to." Flea added, "he fucking rocked the shit out of Denver tonight, he was really going for it. There was a deep groove on the stage."

Cash Plays First Show Since Wife's Death

Johnny Cash said it was difficult to be onstage without his wife, June Carter Cash, during his first public performance since her death. Cash made a surprise appearance Saturday night during the weekly show at the Carter Fold in Hiltons, Va., near Maces Springs -- his late wife's birthplace. She died May 15 at age 73 of complications from heart surgery. The venue is a musical performance center that strives to preserve the traditional music that the Carter family made famous. The husband and wife last appeared there in June 2002 at a birthday celebration in honor of June. "I don't know hardly what to say tonight about being up here without her," Cash said, according to the Kingsport Tennessee Times-News. "The pain is so severe there is no way of describing it. It's the biggest ... losing your mate. I guarantee it is the big one. It really hurts." Cash received standings ovations during the concert after each song. Among the classics he sang were "Folsom Prison Blues," "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line," and he described performing again as both a pleasure and a painful experience. Near the end of the performance, he told the audience that it was "a healing thing to come back here to this wonderful place with you," and that June had loved the valley and all the people. "I wish I could share it more, how we felt about each other."

The New Pornographers get into the groove

The New Pornographers' lead singer/songwriter Carl Newman said the indie pop/rock supergroup-of-sorts never thought past its 2000 disc "Mass Romantic". "It was just kind of a labor of love, the first record," says Newman. "We didn't really anticipate being a real band. We didn't have any plans for the future, whatsoever. Because it was so secondary [to our other projects], it was hard to get together and finish it. After a while, it was just a challenge. It was like, 'I'm going to finish this record. I don't care what happens to it after.' I didn't really think of a second record. But within a couple of months of ["Mass Romantic"] coming out, we suddenly realized we should do another record, because something weird was going on." For this Vancouver-based band -- which features Zumpano's Newman, filmmaker Blaine Thurier, Thee Evaporators' Todd Fancey and John Collins, Limblifter/Age of Electric's Kurt Dahle, Destroyer's Dan Bejar and alt-country singer Neko Case -- the weirdness resulted in a Juno Award, critical acclaim and indie-rock fans for the band's uniquely crafted pop sheen and carefree beats. Last month, the act released "Electric Version," its second album, and first for Matador Records. A bit more polished than the first, the new album is yet another batch of tunes invoking Blondie and Roxy Music on a power-pop roller coaster. The set debuted at No. 12 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and No. 9 on the Heatseekers tally. It has sold 21,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. "There was a little bit of pressure but you have to trust in your instincts and assume that whatever made the first record good, you've still got," said Newman. "And that's all we did." Response to "Electric Version" has been positive and the band is already talking about recording a third disc late this year for a spring 2004 release. One possible hurdle involves working around so many different schedules and projects (Newman is currently working on his own solo disc with no timetable for release).

The New Elvis

Elvis Costello has completed a new album to be released in September by Deutsche Grammophon, the classical division of Universal Music. The album 'North' features Attractions Steve Nieve on keyboards and Pete Thomas on drums as well as Brodsky Quartet, Lee Konitz (sax), Marc Ribot (guitar), Mingus Big Band, and Jazz Passengers. Costello says he wrote the 11 songs featured on the album from October to December last year. 'North' is yet another diversion in the often side-tracked Costello style but it is an area he has traveled to before. In a statement he says "The record begins with a song called 'You Left Me In The Dark' and ends with a track called 'I'm In The Mood Again.' He says he has called the album 'North' because that is where he is heading.

The World's Fastest Personal Computer

Dual 64bit processors (The PC world is 32bit), 1gb bus speeds (PC world 533Mhz), 8gb ram ( PC MAYBE 4gb is you are lucky) and MUCH More... Yes folks, Monday afternoon Apple computer introduced the new G5 Power Macintosh's.... Awesome. Check them out.. HERE Needless to say I really really want one.

Distillers Bare "Fang"

The Distillers have been holed-up in the Site studio in Marin County, California, since late May laying down tracks for their major-label debut, Coral Fang , due this fall. Hootie and the Blowfish recorded here," says drummer Andy Outbreak, reporting from the studio. The bucolic setting, and the less-than-punk reputation of Hootie and Co., may hint at a new direction for the California four-piece. According to Outbreak, "It's not gonna be punk-rock as usual." "I think the songs are a little more refined," adds frontwoman Brody Armstrong. "It's not just straight-ahead three chords, and here's my vomit." The band is enjoying the amenities of their newfound fame, built on the strength of 2002's breakthrough Sing Sing Death House . "We did the last record in two-and-a-half weeks in between tours," says Outbreak, "and it was really rushed and we had some problems. This time we have the luxury of a lot of time to work on the songs and make them sound exactly the way we want them."

The Mars Volta- De-Loused In The Comatorium

Think back three years, back in the days when seeking a new musical frontier was something a young man aspired to. At The Drive-In came scorching out of El Paso in Texas taking the power of hardcore and the experimental edge of the naffly monikered math rock and turned it into an incendiary fluid adrenalised rush. Their live shows were awesome, two big haired goons thrashing the stage and a tight crew whacking out the back beat. This awesome combination of ideas and energy was almost bound to implode. The group split into two. The two big hairs at the front have come back as The Mars Volta. A supreme band who mash up a whole bunch of styles into a stunning freeform workout that takes the ATDI musical ideology and takes it further out into deep space. At The Drive-In were on the verge of some big time booty and in the pre-Strokes era were the last seriously experimental group with a totally original sound to get embraced, but, neatly produced by Rick Rubin, who manages to capture the pairs manic rush of ideas, this album is a cool step forwards and a an escape route for the ex Drive-In core. 'Comatorium' is a concept album - a much and pointlessly derided idea since arguably all albums are concept albums of some sort. The Mars Volta's theme is obviously going to be a bit heavier than S Club 7's latest concept about splitting and retiring to kids TV; 'Comatorium' is about a friend, Julio Venegas' (an artist from their home town of El Paso in Texas) suicide - it's an attempt to come to terms with the tragic situation and its skittish emotional rollercoaster ride neatly captures the sense of loss and hopelessness of the tragedy. Omar Rodriguez and Cedric Bixier have reemerged from the ashes of ATDI and stretched the envelope, adding in all the sounds they were talking about before. There are moments of prog rock, jazz fusion and freakydelia in this rush of ideas and if that sounds awful then don't be put off. Instead of the shambolic mess that this kinda influence normally entails Mars Volta have come strictly disciplined. The album's rush of ideas and the songs' loose structure means there are no particular stand out tracks, but from the heavy percussion driven 'Drunkship Of Lanterns' to the less full on 'Televators' the Mars Volta are staking out new territory exploring the outer limits of their musical ideology: all hooky driving bass, some great spindly bits of guitar work, yelping vocals and freeform neo jazz drums, the songs go off at tangents and then come back home to roost and somehow in all the action still cut some great kick ass rock'n'roll. Is there life on Mars? You bet..

THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1998 - Johnny Cash returns to a Nashville stage and performs for the first time since has was stricken with Shy-Drager Syndrome the preceding October. Cash joins a surprised Kris Kristofferson, who is singing Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" at "Witness History II," a tribute to Cash and Waylon Jennings at the Ryman Auditorium.

1942 - Drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is born in London. The group's biggest hit is "Dreams," a million-selling No. 1 song in 1977. Billboard ranks the group's "Rumours" as the No. 1 album of 1977; it tops the album chart for 31 weeks.

Spiritualized In State Of 'Grace'

U.K. psychedelic rock outfit Spiritualized has set a Sept. 9 release date for its latest album, "Amazing Grace," which will be released in the U.S. on frontman Jason Pierce's own Spaceman label through the Sanctuary Group. The 11-song disc is reportedly more stripped-down than its orchestral 2001 predecessor, "Let It Come Down" Spiritualized completed a short U.S. tour earlier this month, during which the band debuted a number of songs set for "Amazing Grace." One of the new songs, "Hold On," was featured in a different version on the benefit album "War Child: Hope," released in the U.K. in April by the War Child charity in association with the Daily Mirror newspaper.

KISS.. You are Fired

Legendary rock group KISS fired by their bosses.. For the complete story CLICK HERE

Bummer Summer For Concerts — Why Aren't Fans Going?

On the cusp of the industry's peak period, a number of high-profile tours and festivals have already hit snags, among them highly touted outings from Mariah Carey, the Field Day Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and Beck and Dashboard Confessional. Faced with a crowded tour market combined with high ticket prices, permit hassles, a sluggish economy and poor buzz, these tours and a handful of others have either had to scale back the size of the venues they're playing, scrap shows or cut prices. (How do you feel about the summer concert season? "It is brutal," said the manager of a prominent artist who requested anonymity. "Places we thought we would do better were [just] good, and only 25 to 30 percent [of the dates] lived up to expectation." Has Pop Gone Pop? Well.. we will have to see.

Italy Records- Detroit, Michigan

Italy Records - born in 1997. Documents the underground rock & noise scene in Detroit (and beyond). Run out of a living room and soon into a full on retail space. This guy puts out some killer slabs of wax from The White Stripes, Whirlwind Heat, Greenhornes, Soledad Brothers and many more. This is the real deal people.. Get get over there and check this out Thanks to Professor Lambchop for the hot tip.

Hear SLAYER, IRON MAIDEN Songs Performed A Cappella By Japanese One-Man Band

An amazing "a cappella" version of the SLAYER classic "Angel Of Death", performed by the Japanese one-man project DOKAKA, has been posted online in MP3 format. Also available for download is DOKAKA's equally entertaining rendition of IRON MAIDEN's "The Trooper". Additional tracks by METALLICA ("Creeping Death" ), BLACK SABBATH ("Electric Funeral" ), IRON MAIDEN ("2 Minutes To Midnight" ), and HELLOWEEN ("Eagle Fly Free") can be heard via DOKAKA's MP3.com web site If this doesn't make you laugh.. Nothing will...

Ozzy invites Prince William to live in his L.A. home

Ozzy Osbourne has invited British heir Prince William to move in with his famous family. The rocker-turned-reality TV star has recorded a special message for the Prince ahead of his 21st birthday on Saturday, 21 June 2003. In it he offers William the chance to sample life inside the Los Angeles home captured by MTV in fly-on-the-wall documentary The Osbournes . In the message, broadcast tonight, 20 June 2003 on a British TV documentary dedicated to the Prince's special day, the former Black Sabbath singer says, "Your Royal Highness Prince William, I from the bottom of my heart hope you have a wonderful 21st birthday. Have as much fun as you can, play Black Sabbath on record and have a blast." "I've been told that you want to come and live in America. You're more than welcome to come and live in my house. My daughter would be thrilled. My wife would. And the dogs would." In the show, the rocker also recalls performing for the royal family at Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee concert in London last summer. He adds, "I was extremely nervous. Then when I'm doing 'Paranoid' I'm looking at the Royal Box and they're all head-banging. I was kind of shocked but I was pleasantly surprised how normal they are."

KINGBLIND RECOMMENDS:

Here is what is on the Kingblind stereo this week:
(New Pornographers: Electric Version)--(Public Image Ltd: S/T )--(The Shins: Oh Inverted World)--(Photek: Modus Operandi)--(Monster Magnet: Spine of God)

Looza Date

The revived LOLLAPALOOZA festival has had its opening date cancelled due to "technical and logistical" difficulties - though there are rumours poor ticket sales are to blame. After a five-year absence, the tour - featuring Jane's Addiction, Audioslave, Queens Of The Stone Age, Incubus and Jurassic 5 as well as around 15 other acts - was set for a July 3 kick-off at the Grand Rapids Ionia Country Fairgrounds in Michigan . It is now scheduled to open at Indianapolis Verizon Wireless Music Center on July 5. Rumours really have been confirmed when kingblind spoke with a Warner Bros. rep and they spoke of our certain cities were being "papered" with tickets. Meaning giving them away for free. I guess Perry Farrell has not heard the term "Flogging a dead horse" In regards to both his band and his festival.

Ex-GN'R Members, Weiland Make Live Debut As Velvet Revolver

Los Angeles— Not only was Velvet Revolver's debut performance more visceral, more pummeling and more hypercharged than even the most devoted Stone Temple Pilots or Guns N' Roses fan could have expected, but there was evidence of genuine personal chemistry — as opposed to a convenient partnership designed to boost mutually unstable careers — between the band's key players. Specifically, it was the moment when Slash affectionately laid his head on Scott Weiland's shoulder that seemed to drive the point of the evening home: The former "Project" is officially a real band. The new group's short set at the El Rey Theatre on Thursday night, taken in by an energetic crowd that included Dave Grohl, Vincent Gallo, Shane West, David Spade, No Doubt's Tony Kanal and "Hulk" director Ang Lee as well as some lucky fans, kicked off with a sped-up and chunky cover of the Sex Pistols classic "Bodies," which led directly into the band's "Hulk" soundtrack single, "Set Me Free." In spite of their veteran résumés and well chronicled battles with various substances, the bandmembers — Weiland, Slash, the former GN'R rhythm section of Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) and McKagan's onetime Loaded partner/ ex-Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner — appeared every bit as youthful and muscular as their set sounded, with all of them winding up shirtless by the end of the evening. Let's see if Weiland can hold it together enough to keep this band going. Only time will tell.

Old School Videogame Commercials

Well, maybe not THAT old, but you love 'em: Nintendo and Super Nintendo's best tv ads ! CLICK HERE TO CHECK THEM OUT

Top Artists Balking At A La Carte Downloads

Despite the major labels' success in clearing hundreds of thousands of tracks for purchase online through services like Apple's iTunes Music Store, some top artists continue to resist authorizing the dismantling of their albums for Internet consumption as a la carte singles. Some acts are requiring that their music be sold exclusively in album bundles. For example, Linkin Park recently pulled its music as a singles offering from digital services. Sources say the band has expressed concerns about undercutting album sales. Other acts with similar stipulations about their work include Radiohead, Madonna, Jewel and Green Day, sources say. Top acts and their representatives are expressing reservations about the creative and financial implications of shifting to a singles-based model. "The fear among artists is that the work of art they put together, the album, will become a thing of the past," says attorney Fred Goldring, whose firm represents Will Smith and Alanis Morissette.

Biafra Must Pay Back Royalties, Damages

Former Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra must pay $220,000 in back royalties and other damages to the other members of the band, a San Francisco appeals court judge has ruled. On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of a state appeals court in an unpublished opinion upheld an earlier ruling against Biafra for breach of contract and fraud. The panel also decided that the band's creative output, including songs "Holiday in Cambodia" and "Kill the Poor," belongs to a partnership formed among the four band members. But the panel reversed the lower court's decision to break up the partnership, sending the case back to the trial court to determine whether the agreement should be dissolved and its assets sold. "Biafra's fraudulent actions precipitated the rift in the partnership and made it impossible for the partnership to carry on its business as it had in the past," Justice Maria P. Rivera wrote for the court. The San Francisco-based punk band performed together from 1978 to 1986, but has since regrouped without Biafra.

Kraftwerk to Release First New Album in 17 Years

This July, man and machine will once again converge as the sickly influential, seminal electronic band Kraftwerk prepares to release their first new full-length in nearly twenty years. The record, due to drop July 22nd on Astralwerks (a day earlier on EMI in Europe), is to be called Tour de France , after their late-era 1983 non-LP single of the same name. This release marks a break in a long period of inactivity for the techno pioneers. Since their last album, 1986's Electric Cafe , they've remained entirely silent, with the exception of "Expo 2000", a single to commemorate the millenial Expo celebration held in Hannover, Germany. The full album will be preceded on July 8th (July 7th in Europe) by the EP for "Tour de France 03", which is an entirely new song based on the original tune and written to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the French bicycle race. The EP's release date is set to coincide with the race itself, which starts on July 5th. The press release for the single suggests that this new Kraftwerk music will provide "a soundtrack to the race" and inspire "feelings of drama, excitement and intensity." The album Tour de France will include not only all the "03" mixes from the single, but a new version of the original "Tour de France" and some new compositions. The original "Tour de France" was originally scheduled to be on the band's abandoned 1983 album Technopop , making it 20 years between when it was written and when it will finally appear on an album.

HIVE OF ACTIVITY!

THE HIVES are planning to return to the studio to start recording the follow-up to last year's 'YOUR NEW FAVOURITE BAND' Singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist has said that the band have a "hundred songs" and that fans could expect a new album from The Hives before the end of the year. He said, "I'd like to describe the work we are doing on the new record as going well, weller and wellest." He added, "It's a highly potent mix of the kind of elusive and innocent yet brutal fingertip feel magic that only The Hives are able to bring." Almqvist added, "As I speak a large proportion of the world's population are awaiting miracles and magic by a divine power. The Hives deliver when they want to."

Beach Boys Sold 68,000 CDs Last Week

Everything old is new again. Just a few weeks after Led Zeppelin debuted at #1 on the American charts, the Beach Boys sold over 68,000 copies of their new compilation in the USA. By weeks end, 68,800 copies of 'Sounds of Summer' were registered by Soundscan, enough to give the Beach Boys a #16 debut on the Billboard chart. That's not bad for a band who formed 40 years ago. Between April 1963 and November 1964, the Beach Boys had 7 consecutive Top 10 hits on the US chart. There first #1 was 'I Got Around' in 1964 and their last #1 was 'Kokomo' in 1988. In 2003, apart from 'Sounds of Summer', EMI will release a DVD-A version of their classic Pet Sounds album in 5:1 surround sound in July and '40 Top 40s', a new 2CD collection in September. The Beach Boys classic 'Surfer Girl' is also featured in the movie 'Charlies Angels : Full Throttle'.

Libertines Guitarist Out Of Band?

The lineup of rising British rock act the Libertines appears to be in limbo. According to a posting by guitarist Pete Doherty on the fan site thelibertines.org, the band is touring Europe without him. "I thought it was a sick joke when [group member Carl Barat] said not to show up because the band would not welcome me," Doherty wrote today (June 19). "But having spoken to [Barat] it is true -- he does not want to play with me, in my current 'condition.' I'm not sure what he means but he's deadly serious and its [sic] settled." "I am not comfortable with the line up and over the months have repeatedly (if a little cowardly in my subtleness) tried to explain to [group members] Gary [Powell] and John [Hassell] that I don't want to be in a band with them," Doherty added in a follow-up posting. "My capriciousness deters them from taking me seriously but that is the way it is. My new songs are all I have, along with my liberty, and everything has to be just right from now on in. I need to start singing my new songs, and I want to play with other people."

The New Men From U.N.K.L.E.

James Lavelle has put together another all star cast for his next U.N.K.L.E. project 'Never Neverland'. The line-up for the new album will include contributions from Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Jarvis Cocker and Eno, Graham Gouldman (10CC), 3D from Massive Attack and somewhat of a Stone Roses reunion. Josh Homme takes lead vocal on the track 'Faith In Mind'. Eno and Cocker team for what has been described as 'a synthesizer duel' on 'I Need Something Stronger' and 3D is the guest vocalist on 'Invasion'. The album gets interesting with the appearance of classic rocker Graham Gouldman, an original member of 10CC. He was laid down 140 vocal tracks for the song 'In A State'. Stone Roses fans should also get excited with the reunion of singer Ian Brown with bass player Mani on 'Reign'. The Brown / Mani collaboration makes for a 50% reunion of Stone Stones. Never Neverland will be the second album for U.N.K.L.E following up 1998's 'Psyence Fiction'. Guests on that album included Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Richard Ashcroft (The Verve), Badly Drawn Boy and Mike D (Beastie Boys). The original U.N.K.L.E. was a collaboration between Mo Wax founder James Lavelle and DJ Shadow. The new U.N.K.L.E. album will be a Lavelle project only.

Squarepusher finally comes to North America

Stop the prezzzzzttsgjjjjzzt! Schizoid drill-n-fretless-bass maestro Tom "Squarepusher" Jenkinson will be performing in front of North American audiences for the very first time in his near-decade-long career this July. The man responsible for some of the most innovative electronic hub-bub and hubris of the past nine or so years, the Brit who held the much-lusted-after #12 position in Spin Magazine Top Singles of 2001 list with a song that contained the line, "I'm gonna *uck you with my red hot coc*," and a man whose Warp namesake has never ventured out of the hermetically sealed hole of Europe-- this man is all things to all people, and that , my friends, you can quote me on. The catch? He's only got seven dates in him! And two of them are in Canada! Maybe he hates us! Regardless, he'll be executing these shows with a full rig of gear. Plus, in what's being billed by Warp publicists as a "special bonus," Jenikinson will be joined on all the dates by labelmate and obscurity-veteran Luke "I Sometimes Inexplicably Go by the Name of 'Wagon Christ'" Vibert, whose new record YosephH will be available for consumption in the fall. Dates: 07-18 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 07-19 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom 07-20 Montreal, CAN - S.A.T. 07-22 Toronto, CAN - The Phoenix 07-23 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine 07-25 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Athletic Club 07-26 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience makes its first U.S. appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Today's Birthdays: Paul McCartney (1942)

New Pornographers on Letterman

Last night on David Letterman, Canadian pop supergroup The New Pornographers tore it up with their new single "The laws have changed" from the new matador release "electric version". Not since I first heard the pixies masterpiece "surfa rosa" many many summers ago was I this excited about a band.. they are on tour now .. Catch them if you can.. You won't be disappointed.

Grandmaster Flash Writing Memoirs

Legendary New York DJ Grandmaster Flash is penning his memoirs with New York Daily News reporter/biographer Chris Coleman. A title and publisher for the biography are still being determined. Flash is also jumping into the endorsement game. He has inked deals with Pro-Keds footwear and the American Eagle Outfitters (AE) clothing store chain. He begins shooting the Pro-Keds ads shortly for a campaign slated to launch in the fall. Under the AE banner, Flash will promote a T-shirt line targeting college kids. More than 700 stores will begin stocking the line in November. In the meantime, Flash will join fellow DJs Kid Capri, DJ Premier and Funkmaster Flex in an all-star tribute to the late Jam Master Jay at this year's BET Awards. The event will be broadcast live June 24 from Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre.

Ween developing peer to peer software

Ween is developing a "handy-dandy" computer software application dubbed "WeenAmp" that will allow fans one-click access to the band's online radio station, official Web site, message board and chat rooms, and its own peer-to-peer service for trading live concerts. The group hopes to make the software available on copies of its upcoming Sanctuary album, "Quebec" or its Web site. "Quebec" will now arrive Aug. 5, two weeks later than its original July 22 date. "It is great timing for such an application," the band says on its site. "With our current post-Elektra free agent status, we now have ownership and control of our music again. Just as an example say we were to record a [Christmas] song, we could have it in your hands immediately if you're running this application. The taping community [has] always done a great job in circulating shows and this should really pull everyone into one central location to trade good sounding shows and other MP3s." The band says "WeenAmp" will allow users to view cybercasts of concerts from Ween's upcoming tour, including one "all-request" show where fans can vote for songs in advance. The trek begins July 24 in Pittsburgh and will likely encompass four separate legs of three-to-four weeks in North America, followed by international shows. Dates are expected to be announced shortly.

Queen to reform?

Putting together the DVD version of Queen's 1986 Live at Wembley album rekindled something for guitarist Brian May. "It's been a voyage of rediscovery,"he said last night at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in New York. "What impresses me most is the spontaneity. You can see us kind of eyeing each other to see what to do next. We were a great partnership." Those memories might finally push May and drummer Roger Taylor back on the road for a new tour, with guest-star singers replacing the late Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1992. "We're getting closer to the idea," Taylor admitted. "We wrestle with it daily," May said. "We don't want to go out and replace Freddie. It would be unseemly, and it wouldn't feel right. But if we can go out in some kind of partnership way, and have some special guests, we'd be up for it. We love Robbie Williams, who's quite a loose cannon but quite a phenomenal artist. George Michael, Elton. It would probably be more than one special guest." May and Taylor warmed up to the idea even more after backing Pavarotti at his charity concert in Modena, Italy, last month. "The whole audience treated us a like it was 1986 and we were still something to scream and shout about," May said. Sounds good to us.. Just stay away from Axl Rose !!!

Dashboard Confessional leaves Beck tour

Dashboard Confessional has left its support slot on Beck's North American tour , effective immediately. The Chris Carrabba-led group played its final gig on the trek Saturday outside Denver. The move is being chalked up to "circumstances beyond our control" on Dashboard's official Web site, although sources indicate the band left the tour for financial reasons. Fellow support act the Black Keys will remain on the trek through its June 27 conclusion in Irvine, Calif., and will play a longer set in Dashboard's absence. The move comes amid reports that despite respectable business in markets such as Atlanta and Chicago, the tour is not performing as well as had been expected at the box office. Venues for two of the remaining seven shows are being downsized, beginning Wednesday (June 18) in Vancouver. That show has been moved from the 10,000-capacity Plaza of Nations to the 2,788-capacity Orpheum Theatre. Sources say only about 1,400 tickets have been sold for the performance.

SLASH RECORDS IS BACK

Slash Records, the label which launched Violent Femmes, Los Lobos, Faith No More and The Blasters, is being reactivated. Original founder Bob Biggs has joined with artist / producer Will Fulton to bring the label back as Slash / BiggMassive. Bob once again owns the name, but not the back catalogue. Biggs once again intends to slap the industry in the face by producing real music. "With Slash/BiggMassive, our intention is to record this music, help develop it, and bring it to people via records, radio, touring, press, any means possible, really, to get people to understand that this music is authentic and why it's happening the way it's happening. If it doesn't kick the door down artistically and you don't make a statement, then what good is it?" he says. Slash was one of the original, true indie labels. The early days saw them release the first two X albums, now considered punk classics. Then came the soundtrack to the Penelope Spheeris-directed The Decline Of Western Civilization documentary (1981), spotlighting performances from The Germs, X, and Fear as well as Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, Catholic Discipline, and the Alice Bag Band. In 1981 The Blasters self titled album was released and became the record which started the Slash / Warner association. The first release under the new regime will be Salute This Vol 1, a compilation album featuring a dozen tracks spanning the history of the label -- plus one new song each from Fulton's Brooklyn-based alt-rock/rap outfit Shine Massive and its reggae-fueled spinoff Shiner Massive Sound System, whose self-titled albums will follow shortly thereafter. The Salute This album is expected to feature acts such as Violent Femmes, Asian Dub Foundation, X, Faith No More and The Gun Club. One special addition will most likely be the first record Slash ever released "Lexicon Devil" by The Germs. Their Lexicon Devil EP debuted the Slash name on disc in 1978.

Mashed, Remix, b**leg, mash-up, soundclash, bastard pop.. whatever

"mash-ups:" songs created by digitally synchronizing instrumental tracks with vocal tracks from two (or more) existing songs. Often the source songs are wildly disparate, and the result is frequently better sounding than you might first expect. This is what happens when you get a resourceful bunch of people making all new music with existing songs from today's most popular groups. MASHED music has it's strongest base in the UK and slowing moving worldwide this new phenomenon is really showing signs of strength whether folks are mixing Blondie with Public Enemy or Madonna and The Sex Pistols these DJ's / mashers are slowing forming a whole new genre themselves. In our option the head of the pack is currently GO HOME PRODUCTIONS. His motto is One bloke from Watford UK with a very big record collection Popular Music is an Artform.. use it and abuse it. Whether in nightclubs or on the radio (XFM has it's on station just for the mashers called THE REMIX) or just on the plain ol internet. This songs will keep you busy and dancing for quite sometime. Do yourself a favor and check this stuff out.. CLICK HERE for a great MASHED site with plenty of links and resources to get yourself mashing in no time..

R.E.M. Reunite

Former REM drummer BILL BERRY has paid the band a visit while they rehearse for their world tour. The band were in their native Athens ,Georgia last week getting ready for the jaunt, which kicks off on Saturday (June 21) in Utrecht , Holland. And Berry , who quit the band in 1997, popped in to reveal his new talent - he's become a sushi chef. In a post on their official website, remhq.com, the band's manager Bertis Downs said: " Bill dropped by rehearsals and revealed that he has been doing a lot more with his time of late than just farming and baling hay. "Word has it that Bill has become a bona fide sushi chef (well, at least he looks like one) and to prove it, he wowed the band with his culinary talents. No word as to whether or not Bill will have his own show on the Food Channel . Stay tuned for details..

Daft Punk Scores Animated 'Story'

Parisian electronic duo Daft Punk has scored a feature-length film, "Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem." Overseen by Japanese animation legend Leiji Matsumoto and written and scored by Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo and Thomas Bangalter, the hour-long "space opera" completes the story begun by the videos of singles "One More Time," "Aerodynamic," "Digital Love," and "Harder Better Faster Stronger." In those clips, an evil impresario kidnaps and brainwashes an extra-terrestrial rock group, transforms them into prefabricated pop stars, brings them back to Earth, and manipulates them to the top of the charts. Previewed at this year's Cannes Film Festival, "Interstella 5555" was released in 30 French theaters May 28 and has secured cinema distribution in Japan, Russia, Portugal, and the Baltic states. EMI plans to release a DVD of the film in December.

Radiohead hits #1 in UK

As expected, Radiohead go straight to the top of the UK album chart with 'Hail To The Thief. The album, the band's fifth, has thumped all-comers seeing off the heavyweights Stereophonics and Metallica, who drop to four on the chart.

KINGBLIND RECOMMENDS:

Here is what is on the Kingblind stereo this week:
(Pinback: Off Cell EP)--(The Polyphonic Spree: The beginning stages of)--(The Electric Six- Fire)--(Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind)--(David Bowie: Low)

This day in music: 1965- Elvis Presley film "Tickle Me" premieres. 1977- Alice Cooper's boa constrictor, a mainstay of his stage act, dies after being bitten by a rat.

The ever classic MULLETS GALORE

For the fashion conscious balding gentleman. A bi-level men's cut longer in the back and softer waves in front, brushing over the ears. Natural recession at the front hairline with soft material for comfort all around. Built in natural recession; front hairline undetectable. Reinforced tape tabs for added security, built into soft material all around front of wig. butt-rock (but-rk) rock n' roll music produced from the mid 70's to present that has the following characteristics: four or five male members with long, feathered hair (bangs are common, but not necessary) or mullets, wailing guitar solos, distorted guitars, and lyrics about women, sex, drugs, Satan, and fast cars. Click here for all the goodness

THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1969 - Mick Taylor meets the media as the new guitarist in the Rolling Stones during a photo call in London's Hyde Park. He replaces Brian Jones.
1995 - Irish rock great Rory Gallagher dies at age 47 in London from complications following a liver transplant.

Rancid hops to Warner Bros.

Veteran punk outfit Rancid will jump to Warner Bros. Records for its sixth studio album and first since their self-titled 2000 release. "This is true," confirms a representative from Epitaph Records, the band's long time home. The as-yet-untitled titled disc, due Aug. 26, was produced by Epitaph head and founding Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz. Hellcat Records, Rancid's label and home to records by the late Joe Strummer and the Dropkick Murphys, will continue to be aligned with Epitaph. The Distillers, a Hellcat band fronted by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong's estranged spouse Brody, also jumped to Warner Bros. imprint Sire earlier this year. That group is working on its label debut with producer Gil Norton.

Polyphonic Spree sign to Hollywood records

Hollywood Records has signed the 24-member Polyphonic Spree for North America in a multifaceted deal that includes a piece of the band's touring proceeds. The group is the brainchild of former Tripping Daisy leader Tim DeLaughter. The ensemble, clad in white robes with bright colors at the bottom, performs uplifting melodies replete with orchestral arrangements. The group can be experienced live at many outdoor festivals this summer, including England's Glastonbury Festival; Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn.; and the Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, Texas. Given the act's strong attraction as a live draw and its unproven radio appeal in these formulaic times, the Hollywood deal made sense to DeLaughter. "I didn't have any hesitation about giving up touring money because I knew if we were going to continue to let our live show flourish, we needed help," DeLaughter said. He adds that the contract is structured so that master tapes eventually revert back to the group. To find out more about The Polyphonic Spree CLICK HERE

VIDEO BEATBOX

Get your groove on!! Click on the squares to choose different beats. Too much fun.. CLICK HERE TO ROCK-IT
via milk and cookies.

Bob Mould goes electronic

As if being one-third of Hüsker Dü, the driving force behind Sugar and a writer for televised professional wrestling weren't enough of a resume, Bob Mould also has a kick-ass anagrammatical name: Loudbomb. This summer, Mould, Loudbomb and his newest project Blowoff DJ (with Richard Morel) are touring Washington D.C. and the west coast in some kind of crazy, three-headed tour. Loudbomb-- Mould's laptop-tinged incarnation-- already put in an appearance in D.C. at the end of May, but Blowoff DJ is still going strong. If the setlist from Blowoff's June 1st gig is any indication, these guys play anything and everything from Madonna to Electric Six to to Sigur Rós to a bunch of stuff you've never heard in your life. Mould will kick off the solo leg of his tour June 28th in Seattle as part of the Bent Festival at Gay Pride Weekend, then will play a handful of dates down the west coast. Mould promises old favorites, new tunes and working versions of the songs that are scheduled to appear on the forthcoming Body of Song.

Bowie To Upend 'Reality' On Fall Tour

David Bowie will embark on his most extensive tour in more than a decade with the A Reality world tour, which will begin Oct. 7 in Copenhagen and hit Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan before wrapping in March 2004. The tour is expected to be announced Monday (June 16th)

Adam Ant get busted

Adam Ant is a long way from his "goody two shoes" image today after being arrested again, this time for stripping naked and running berserk in a London café. The incident happened not far from his North London home. The 49 year old pop star entered the Curly Dog Café and started a strip tease for the patrons. He was soon carted off to a Central London police station and will appear in court in July. In the meantime, he is enjoying her majesty's pleasure at a London psychiatric ward. This is the second time Adam has fallen foul of the law. Last year the 80s pop star threatened patrons in a bar with a pistol after they laughed at his cowboy attire. He was sentenced to one year of community service and supervised rehabilitation.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1943 - # 1 Hit: "Taking a Chance on Love," Benny Goodman Orchestra. Steve Allen portrays Benny in the 1955 film "Benny Goodman Story."
1965 - All four of the Beatles are named to receive MBE's in Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honors List.
1994 - Bandleader Cab Calloway suffers a stroke at his Westchester, N.Y., home. The 86-year-old is later moved to a nursing home and dies Nov. 18th.

Actor- Gregory Peck: 1916-2003

Actor Gregory Peck, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of upstanding lawyer Atticus Finch in 1962's "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died at age 87. Peck was best known for roles of dignified statesmen and people who followed a strong code of ethics. But he also could play against type. All told, Peck was nominated for five Academy Awards. He will be missed.

Ted Leo: Healed and Back on the Road

It's been a rough spring for the health of some of our favorite musicians: John Davis of Q and Not U breaks his foot, Calvin Johnson nearly severs his finger, Grandaddy guitarist Jim Fairchild gets roughed up by an 18-wheeler, and Ted Leo damn-near destroyed his vocal cords. Luckily, the outcome for all has been positive. Bones heal, wounds seal, and vocal cord swelling eventually reduces-- which brings us to the subject of this report. Ted Leo's voice box is back in top form, with no permanent damage. He triumphantly returned to the stage on May 30th in Albany, NY, followed by a gig in Boston and another in New York. The resurrected tour resumes tonight in Akron, OH. It was back on May 3rd, in Urbana, IL, that Mr. Leo first lost his voice. Trooper that he is, he played the next scheduled stop in Chicago, but cancelled the tour after that show. He dutifully remained silent for the better part of May. In fact, those curious about the Ted's insides can now view two pictures of his vocal cords-- one taken shortly after the breaking point, and one demonstrating the progress-- on his website. After finishing out the originally scheduled US dates, the band heads to the UK for a week, then rushes back home for several costal dates, which include the Village Voice Siren Fest on Coney Island and the Lookout! Records 15th Anniversary Party in San Francisco. After that, it's Japan, baby

Bring on the Bling-Bling:

Now this is some SERIOUS Mr.T approved Bling: Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has partnered with Lincoln to design a Limited Edition Sean John Navigator. He was seen showcasing the $85,000 luxury ride at last week's MTV Movie Awards and his private after-party. Restricted to a production run of just 100, the vehicle will be available beginning July 1. The special edition SUV will boast such standard features as exclusive Sean John wheels, a platinum coated logo emblem, custom tinted