The Company Band Week: Day 4

antiMusic reports: This week we are featuring The Company Band, a new supergroup that includes members of Clutch, CKY, Fireball Ministry, and Puny Human. The band recorded a 4-song EP called "Sign Here, Here, and Here" and we have Neil Fallon (Clutch) with us this week to tell us about the new band, the songs of the EP, and more. Today Neil tells us about the songs "Company Man" and "Terrible Sufferin' Man".

The lyrics for these tunes were written in a fairly short span of time. When we named the band The Company Band, I got to thinking of the name as a point of reference. Consequently, we have the opening track, "Company Man." If you have a poster on your wall that reads "Commitment" or "Goals" with a photo of a mountain climber, this song is for you.

"Terrible Sufferin' Man" I see as the book end to "Company Man." Before and after. Rise and fall. A lot of the words were written while I was in the southwest, which may explain some of it. Except there are no big cats in the desert there. Unless, of course, they escape from a zoo. But that's another story.

We will be back tomorrow with Neil as he tells us about the songs on the EP. The EP is available on iTunes right now and will be released in CD form next week. It seriously kicks major ass. For now you can check out clips of the songs and get more info on the band - right here.

The Game Guilty

Contact Music reports: Rapper THE GAME is to plead guilty to felony gun charges in an effort to save the expense of a lengthy trial that could put him behind bars for five years.

The Dreams hitmaker stands accused of making criminal threats and possessing a firearm in a school zone during a fight in the middle of a basketball game last year (Feb07). The Game - real name Jayceon Taylor - pleaded not guilty to all charges in September (07), but now he has changed his mind, even though he insists he's still innocent.

He tells Monsta magazine, "The crazy part about this is that I've had guns before in my life. But this time I didn't have a gun. "Because one person said I had a gun and coaxed his homies into saying that I had a gun - more on this story

Britney Released

TMZ reports: TMZ has learned UCLA doctors determined Britney did not pose the legal danger to herself or to others such that they could continue to hold her against her will.

As a result, she was released today and we're told she's already back home. [after facing a barrage of stalkerazi]

The conservatorship is still in place. Sources connected with the case say they anticipated that UCLA would probably release her before the 14-day extension because she became cooperative and relatively stable. - more on this story

Winehouse Crackdown

BBC reports: Amy Winehouse has been questioned by police in connection with a video apparently showing her smoking a crack-cocaine pipe.

The singer has not been arrested, but was interviewed under caution and police said inquiries were continuing.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers had interviewed a 24-year-old woman in relation to an allegation of unlawful possession of a controlled drug. - more on this story

Pearl Jam and Metallica Heading Bonnaroo

XFM reports: Those Led Zeppelin rumours have been comprehensively shot down in flames as Pearl Jam and Metallica are confirmed to bring the rock to the Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival.

Scheduled for June 12-15 in Manchester, Tennessee the festival will also feature performances from M.I.A., My Morning Jacket, Rilo Kiley, Death Cab For Cutie and The Raconteurs.

Despite supposedly strong rumours to contrary, the highly speculated Led Zeppelin appearance has failed to materialise but fans of the band can take comfort that Robert Plant will play with current partner Alison Krauss. - more on the show and the rather impressive list of who will appear.

Bullet For My Valentine Debut at No 4

PR reports: BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's "Scream Aim Fire," the band's highly-anticipated sophomore album released January 29, will debut on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at No. 4. B4MV shares Billboard's Top 4 with Alicia Keys (1), the "Juno" Soundtrack(2), and the Mars Volta(3).

And it's not just the USA that loves this "Scream Aim Fire" - Also this week, "Scream Aim Fire" entered Japan's International Charts at #1, came in at #3 in Germany, #4 in Australia and #5 in the UK.

Bullet For My Valentine joins Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu on the Taste of Chaos tour which kicks off February 29 in Denver - dates

Linkin Park Looking at Next CD and New Projekt Revolution Tour

Billboard reports: As Linkin Park prepares for its upcoming North American tour, frontman Chester Bennington is predicting a much shorter turnaround for the group's follow up to 2007's "Minutes to Midnight."

"We sparked a new kind of life into what we do during the writing of ['Midnight']," Bennington tells Billboard.com. "We want to keep that going. I think we're in the mode, and I have a good feeling we're going to put another record out really quickly."

Bennington says Linkin Park will be bringing gear on the road to capture ideas that come up on tour. Besides the North American jaunt with Coheed & Cambria and Chiodos that kicks off Feb. 12 in Omaha, Neb., the group is also planning to host another edition of its Projekt Revolution tour this summer - lots more here

Van Halen Tap R&B Singer for Support

antiMusic reports: Bob Marley's son, Ky-Mani, supported Van Halen on the first leg of their reunion tour. The band has tapped another unexpected artist to support the second half of the second leg of their reunion tour, R&B singer Ryan Shaw.

Shaw is also nominated for a Grammy this year in the category of Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "I am Your Man" from his debut release This Is Ryan Shaw.

Shaw's official site had this announcement about the tour: [Ryan] will be going on tour as the sole supporting act for Van Halen starting on February 22nd! The critically acclaimed tour features Van Halen's original singer, David Lee Roth, who has not performed with the band in over 22 years. - Visit his site for dates and to learn more about him.

Heath Ledger Died From Acute Intoxication

TMZ reports: The NYC medical examiner has finished the toxicology report following the death of Heath Ledger, and has just ruled that the actor's death was caused by acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine

The NYPD found five different medications in Ledger's apartment after his death, including anti-anxiety medications Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan).

The sleeping medication Zopiclone (Lunesta) and the sedative Temazepam (Restoril) -- which is used by people with "debilitating insomnia" -- were also found. - More from TMZ

Lez Not Led Zeppelin Playing Bonnaroo

BW&BK reports: A number of news sites, including the British music news site NME.com, erroneously reported that LED ZEPPELIN was going to headline the 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for June 12th through June 15th in Manchester, Tennessee.

The lineup was posted at the official Bonnaroo site at midnight (ET) on Wednesday (February 6th). But in actuality the lineup includes LEZ ZEPPELIN, an all-female Led Zeppelin cover band from New York.

Nevertheless, dozens of other sites picked up the erroneous story without apparently first bothering to check the official Bonnaroo site itself. - more on this story

Sex Pistols For Exit Fest

Gigwise reports: Reformed punk legends The Sex Pistols have been confirmed as headliners on the closing night of this year's EXIT festival.

John Lydon and co. will bring their rock pantomime to the Serbian festival on Sunday, July 13.

The band have already been confirmed to headline Isle of Wight. - more on this story

Finger Eleven Won't Let Mono Keep Em Down

PR reports: Finger Eleven will return to the road in early March, once singer Scott Anderson has a full recovery from his recently diagnosed Mono. The February appearances have been postponed and the rescheduled.

"Paralyzer" has been a huge hit for the band. The track hit the top of the charts at Rock and Alternative, went on to reach the top five on the pop charts, and remains there at the HAC format.

At the Juno Awards announcement yesterday morning, the band received nominations for Group of the Year, Single of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. Finger Eleven will be performing at the ceremony. - dates

Motown DVD Box

PR reports: MVD has set a March 18th release date for the "Don't Forget The Motor City" DVD. This incredible three disc collection features 100 videos of the former classic artists of Motown!

Its priceless footage captures the magic of a long gone era - music to make your feet tap, your hair tingle, and your fingers snap. Some artists include The Miracles, The Supremes, Mary Wells, Martha and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, The Velvelettes, Billy Preston, Syreeta, Edwin Starr, The Contours, Marvellous Marv Johnson, Kim Weston, Chuck Jackson, The Elgins, Johnny Bristol, Brenda Holloway, and so so many more of these incredible hit makers.

Sadly over half these artists are no longer with us, but priceless footage remains, much of it never seen before the release of this DVD, so, sit back, press play, and feel the spirit of the legendary Detroit sound! - more on this story

Bon Jovi Stand Up For A Cure

Billboard reports: Bon Jovi, Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Wilson and Andrea Bocelli, among others, will perform in various New York City venues throughout 2008 as part of the inaugural Stand Up For A Cure concert series, designed to raise funds and awareness for lung cancer research at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

In the week leading up to the U.S. leg of its Lost Highway world tour, Bon Jovi will launch the series with a sold-out concert on Feb. 12 at the 3,500-capacity Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.

The intimate show will be dedicated to Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora's father, Adam Sambora, who received care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering before passing last year from cancer. - more on this story

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