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Jackson Indicted
AP reports: Pop star Michael Jackson was indicted Wednesday by a Santa Barbara County grand jury investigating child molestation allegations, according to news reports. 

The Santa Barbara News-Press cited county sources but had no details about the indictments, nor was there any official confirmation or announcement. Similar reports by ABC, CNN, MSNBC and Web sites for The New York Times and USA Today cited sources that were not identified. 

Grand jury indictments are usually secret until a defendant is arraigned. The grand jury proceedings in the Jackson case replaced a preliminary hearing, which determines whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Metallica Reality Show Was Planned
SFgate.com reports: The revealing documentary "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster,'' a hit at the San Francisco International Film Festival, almost got scrapped in favor of a TV reality show about the band members. The decision over how to tell their story came down to the exorbitant cost of the rights to Metallica's music. 

"We waged an epic battle with their record company, Elektra,'' "Monster'' director Joe Berlinger said during an illuminating panel discussion Monday night on the partnership between music and independent film. Originally, Elektra had been happy to give Berlinger and co-director Bruce Sinofsky the rights for free as a way of promoting Metallica's new album. But that attitude changed "when the band started falling apart, and we started filming their therapy sessions, and when James (Hetfield) came back from rehab,'' said Berlinger. Suddenly Elektra execs could see larger financial rewards in turning the footage into an Ozzy Osbourne-type reality show. 

"Fortunately, Metallica stood up for us and told them to take a hike. They said, 'We're Metallica and we don't need a cheesy reality show,' '' Berlinger said. Band members paid Elektra $2 million for the music rights and forked over an equal amount to the filmmakers to allow them to finish their documentary. [see full story for lots more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Folk Pub Beating
AP reports: Shane MacGowan, former singer with Irish folk-rockers The Pogues, suffered facial injuries during a beating in a central London pub, a British newspaper reported Wednesday. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Travis Infected
NME reports: TRAVIS have been forced to cancel a six-date tour of JAPAN after frontman FRAN HEALY was struck down by a viral illness. 

The announcement was made on the band's official website travisonline.com "It is with great regret that we must announce the cancellation of the forthcoming Travis tour in Japan. Fran was admitted to hospital last weekend suffering from a severe viral infection. Following several days of tests, Doctors have advised that Fran is unfit to travel to Japan and needs time to recuperate and receive treatment. 

"Travis would like to sincerely apologise to all their fans for any inconvenience this may cause." [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Darkness Throat Surgery
NME reports: THE DARKNESS singer JUSTIN HAWKINS has revealed he is to undergo throat surgery. 

The vocalist told Los Angeles’ KROQ radio he’s going under the knife later this month to correct a recurring heartburn problem. He told the Kevin and Bean morning show: “I’m going to have an operation . (It’s on) my oesophagus, because I get acid reflux, which comes into my throat and is the reason why I had to cancel a couple of shows this tour.” - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: NME also has news on Liars, Zutons, Shane MacGowan, Oxegen Festival, Franz Ferdinand, PJ Harvey and more click here to check it out

Celeb Feuds
press release reports: From wars of words to knock down drag-outs these aren't your average everyday domestic spats, these are the headline grabbing pop-culture punch-ups and squabbles of show biz legend. Hosted by 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, "40 Greatest Celebrity Feuds" will feature a mix of altercations involving noted personalities from the music, television and film. Feuds featured in the special include: David Lee Roth vs. Van Halen, Britney Spears vs. Fred Durst, Dixie Chicks vs. Toby Keith, 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule, Michael Jackson vs. Paul McCartney, Eminem vs. Moby and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Notorious B.I.G. vs. Tupac Shakur, David Letterman vs. Jay Leno and many more.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Napster Battle Continues
ZDnet reports: Napster has been reborn as a legal online-music service, but the ghost of its former renegade song-swap self is trailing about $17bn (£9.6m) of legal baggage. 

Music labels and publishers will face off against Bertelsmann in federal court 2000 investment in Napster kept the file-swapping service operating eight months longer than it would have done otherwise. 

The lawsuits claim the extra lease on life promoted wide-scale piracy and cost the music industry $17bn in lost sales. - Click Here for the Full Story 

BMI Head Retiring
Reuters reports: The music industry veteran who has run performing rights group BMI for 18 years will step down from her post in August as part of what she billed on Wednesday as a "carefully planned management transition." 

Frances Preston, who has worked at BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) since 1958, will be replaced as president and CEO by Del Bryant, who is currently the company's executive vice president. 

Preston will segue to the temporary post of president emeritus until the end of the year, BMI said in a statement. Preston is aged 69, according to the Web site of the Country Music Hall of Fame, into which she was inducted in 1992. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Zebrahead Tour
IAYM reports: Zebrahead have lined up an extensive U.S. tour which will see them through until late June. Dates and venues are being confirmed throughout the week. The band's DVD offering "Live At The House Of Blues" is set for release on May 04th through Kung Fu Records.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Adema Play On
IAYM reports: Despite being dropped by their label Arista Records following poor sales of their sophomore full length "Unstable", Adema are continuing on and as such have entered the studio to lay down four new tracks, expected to surface on a full length release later in the year. The groups current plan is to release this independently. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Denali, Off-fest, Eden Maine, Tub Ring, ISOR, Please Mr. Gravedigger, Converge and more click here to check it out

Summer Cure
liveDaily reports: The Cure has nailed down a June 22 release date for its first new studio album in four years. 

The as-yet-untitled set, which is the follow-up to 2000's "Bloodflowers," is the band's 13th album, and marks its first release for Geffen imprint I Am Records, with whom the band recently signed. I Am Records label-head Ross Robinson produced the set. 

The group will hype the upcoming release with an April 30 performance on "The Tonight Show," and a May 2 headlining set at the Coachella Festival in Indio, CA. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Usher, Gov't Mule, The Dead, Poi Dog Pondering, Dresden Dolls, Mission of Burma and more click here to check it out

Denali Breakup
punkbands.com reports: From Jade Tree: After two records and countless hours on the road, Richmond Virginia’s Denali have decided to move on. The band will not be playing their scheduled dates on the Plea For Peace tour and have headed home after finishing their recent tour with Brand New. While we are very sad to hear this, we do want to wish both Cam and Maura the best of luck in their future endeavors. Above all else Denali were an incredible live band and after seeing them recently, with new members Stephen Howard and Ryan Rapsys, at both SXSW and Skate and Surf we will have fond memories of their electrifying stage show as well as the last few years working together. [see full story for a statement from the band] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Camp Freddy Radio
Blabbermouth reports: CAMP FREDDY, the Los Angeles-based "jam" band consisting of JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro, former THE CULT touring bassist Billy Morrison (on guitar), ex-GUNS N' ROSES/THE CULT drummer Matt Sorum, and vocalist Donovan Leitch (the son of 1960s U.K. folk-rock icon Donovan), launched their weekly radio show this week on Indie 103.1 FM. The band will be hosting their own brand of madness, live every week on Saturday nights from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. on the station. "This week was the first show, and the highlights featured Matt Sorum, live from his hotel room in Las Vegas, Carmen Electra doing the weather, and Johnny Fayva doing traffic," reads a post on CAMP FREDDY's web site. "The band had a great time doing the show, and were pimping their gig for the radio station next Tuesday in Los Angeles at the Avalon Theatre. 

"Among the bands played were the SEX PISTOLS, an amazing Mash Up mix of JANE'S ADDICTION, Billy's band DOHENY, X RAY SPECS, NANCY BOY, VELVET UNDERGROUND, OZZY OSBOURNE and many more. Tune in next Saturday at 6.00pm for more FREDDY on the airwaves." - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on BUDGIE, EVERY TIME I DIE, DIMEBAG Vs. PHIL, MAJESTY, GORGOROTH and more click here to check it out

Motograter Splits
siN's metal news reports: MOTOGRATER's Ghost has checked in with an infuriating message on the bands official message board regarding the departure of guitarist Ty Fury, and the direction of the band: 

"There have been countless f***ing rumors, and it seems ending them is going to require some hard facts!!!"READY?!?" 

1. Steve Richards passing on,put a HUGE rock in front of Motograter,as well as countless other people!(For various reasons.)So the touring has been on hold while No Name settled their guns. 

2. Sylvia Rone(President of Elektra) was "let go of ",1 month ago. Throwing a HUGE wrench in our ability to tour ,record ect...!Elektra has been re vamped now and is in full motion again! So that was out of our hands as well! 

3. Ty Fury HAS been let go.(Not) because of anything more than artistical differences, and our vision for MotoGrater developing into something different than what Ty was searching for!......"Cool!"He's a great f***ing guy!And he'll do well somewhere else!"Much Love,and Best Wishes!" ...Remeber people, Ty was standing in while we finished our tour!We have already made the adjustment and we are sorry for not telling you before ,but we wanted to be respectful to Ty!"He deserves no less!!!" [see full story for more rage from Ghost]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Off-Fest Pairings
siN's metal news reports: Most of the Ozzfest, Off Fest band pairings have been released and heres what they look like, thanks to Blabbermouth.net. 

JUDAS PRIEST, SLAYER, and HATEBREED 

HATEBREED and DEVILDRIVER 

SLIPKNOT, SUPERJOINT RITUAL, and GOD FORBID 

DIMMU BORGIR, BLEEDING THROUGH, and LACUNA COIL 

LAMB OF GOD, EVERY TIME I DIE, ATREYU, and UNEARTH.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: siN's metal news also has news on Every Time I Die / Scarlet interviews, Metal Comic, Kataklysm, Insision and more click here to check it out

Premonitions of War Singer Swap
RIFTrock reports: Premonitions of War vocalist Brad Wharton has left the band and been replaced by Nate Johnson (ex-Deadwater Drowning).- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: RIFTrock also has news on Drowning Pool, Underoath, Clockrock Records, Converge, Slipknot, First Taste Tour and more click here to check it out

Mission Of Burma 
Pollstar reports: Mythical post-punk band Mission Of Burma is releasing its first studio album in 22 years this May, and they're touring to promote it. 

The band - composed of original members Roger Miller, Clint Conley and Peter Prescott along with Bob Weston of Shellac - will kick off their U.S. tour May 7 in Columbia, Mo., three days after On Off On is released on Matador Records. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Number One Fan Held Back
press release reports: The release date for Number One Fan's, Compromises (PRC/Universal) has been pushed back to June 29th. 

Originally scheduled for a May 18th release, the disc will now be enhanced with a bonus music video of the lead track, "Come On," directed by Darren Doane.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Lame Strokes Game
promo emailing reports: We all know that rock bands have plenty of time to "chill" on the road as they crisscross the country in giant tour buses and The Strokes are no exception. Through their mutual love and respect for one another, The Strokes and their favorite road trip time-killer, Xbox, have teamed up for the next Xbox Game With Fame. 

What is this lamely rhymed game, you may ask? Well, "Game With Fame" gives fans from all over the world a chance to play Xbox games (via Xbox Live) against NYC rockers, the Strokes on April 27 from 3-5pm (Central Time). The fellas will be using the gamertag "newyorkcitycops." Crazy, no? 

Gamers looking to join The Strokes for a sporting afternoon on Xbox Live should head to the official "Game with Fame" site (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/news/events/gamewithfame.htm) for more details and see if they can't ace the pants off of Fab in Top Spin or jack a home run off of Julian in ESPN Major League Baseball next Tuesday afternoon. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Metal Church 6-pack
BW&BK reports: It took a while to locate the band, who were in the process of recording a new album. Then they had to sort out plans for overseas, but BW&BK is proud to FINALLY announce that METAL CHURCH will headline the second annual BW&BK 6-Pack Weekend. In preparation for the release of a new album, METAL CHURCH will mark their return to the live stage with an EXCLUSIVE appearance at the BW&BK 

6-Pack Weekend, June 2-5, 2004, in Cleveland, Ohio. [see full story for all the info]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Summer of Metal 
Speaking of special events. Roadrunner Records is putting on a series of 'Summer of Metal' listening parties in select cities across the US. Fans get to come check out new offerings from Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Three Inches Of Blood, Trivium and more. The parties will include giveaways and in some cities will be attended by Roadrunner bands. 

antiMUSIC is co-hosting the Los Angeles party along with HappeninHarry.com that will also include a special performance from original Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin and other special guests. This party will take place at The Joint in LA on Wednesday May 5th. We'll have a page up at antiMUSIC will all the info next week, right now check out HappeninHarry.com for more details. Not in LA and want to see if there will be a 'Summer of Metal' party in your area> Click the full story link below. - Click Here for the Full Story 

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