Eminem Skywalker

Gigwise reports: US rapper Eminem was considered for the lead role in Jumper, according to the films director.

Doug Liman has revealed that meetings were held between the film's studio and the rapper - whose last movie appearance was in the 2002 biopic 8 Mile.

The role in the sci-fi film, which is currently at the top of the US box office, eventually went to Hayden Christensen, although Liman said it could have suited the rapper. - more on this story

Judge to settle McCartney divorce

AP reports: Paul McCartney and Heather Mills' weeklong divorce hearing ended Monday without a deal, and a judge will now impose a settlement on the warring couple.

As legal teams left court, McCartney's lawyer Nicholas Mostyn told reporters that judge Hugh Bennett had reserved his ruling.

The judge will now spend several weeks working out a settlement
- more on this story

Jake E. Lee Stars New Group

Blabbermouth reports: Former OZZY OSBOURNE/BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee has launched a new heavy rock project with Vinnie Castaldo (drums), Fate-Al (PALEFACE) on vocals and Karma Cheema (AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, OTEP) on guitar. The group recently entered The Tone Factory studios in Las Vegas to record its first material. More information will be made available soon.

According to antiMUSIC, Jake E. Lee and original GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler will make guest appearances on ENUFF Z'NUFF's upcoming 12th studio album, due later in the year.

Entitled "Lost in Vegas", the disc was recorded primarily in "Sin City," with some additional tracking having taken place in Chicago.
- Jake's been real busy, find out more here

R.E.M. To Kick Off Austin City Limits 34th Season

PR reports: The acclaimed PBS live music television series AUSTIN CITY LIMITS welcomes R.E.M. to its stage for the band's first ever appearance on the acclaimed long-running show. The concert, which takes place on March 13 during this year's annual SxSW Music Conference, also marks the first taping of the 34th season of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS. The televised broadcast will air on PBS stations nationwide later this year.

Last month, R.E.M. - which is singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills - revealed details of their upcoming new album, Accelerate, due on Warner Bros. Records on April 1. The album is the band's 14th studio release and was recorded in Vancouver, Canada, Dublin, Ireland and Athens, Georgia last spring with Grammy Award-winning producer Jacknife Lee, who is noted for his work with U2 (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), as well as Snow Patrol, Bloc Party and Kasabian. - more on this story

Klaxons Backing Rihanna At Brits

BBC reports: Mercury music prize-winners Klaxons will team up with best international female nominee, Rihanna, at the Brit awards.

The nu-ravers have exclusively told Newsbeat that they're providing the music to her number one hit, Umbrella, at Earls Court in London on 20 February. [wouldn't it be easier to press play on the computer that makes her "music"?]

Klaxons have been nominated in two categories, best live act and breakthrough act - which is voted for by Radio 1 listeners. - more on this story

The Swell Season TV and DVD

PR reports: The Academy- and Grammy-Award nominated group The Swell Season recently filmed an intimate, private performance for the Artists Den at the Good Shepherd Center Chapel in Seattle, WA. The concert will premiere on Ovation TV's "Live from the Artists Den" - an innovative new weekly music series featuring acclaimed artists performing in extraordinary settings - on Thursday, February 28 at 8:00 PM (ET/PT).

This spring Artists Den Records will release a DVD recording of The Swell Season's performance featuring bonus footage not included on the February 28 telecast. Release date and additional information will be announced shortly.

Known to the world from the Fox Searchlight film Once, The Swell Season is led by Irish singer Glen Hansard (of the band The Frames) and Czech newcomer Markéta Irglová. The film's song "Falling Slowly" has received numerous prestigious award nominations, including Best Original Song in the 2008 Academy Awards. The group will perform on the 80th Annual Academy Awards on February 24. - more on this story

Korn Support Down Under

Metal Underground reports: According to LiveGuide, KORN has tapped BIOHAZARD (original lineup's 20th-anniversary reunion), CHIMAIRA and BLOODSIMPLE to provide support on KORN's upcoming Australian and New Zealand dates:

April 15 - Perth, AUS - Robinson Pavilion
April 17 - Adelaide, AUS - Entertainment Centre
April 18 - Melbourne, AUS - Vodafone Arena
April 20 - Sydney, AUS - Entertainment Centre
April 22 - Brisbane, AUS - Riverstage
April 24 - Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena
- more on this story

65daysofstatic With The Cure

PR reports: When British post-rock quartet 65daysofstatic was hand-picked by goth-pop legends The Cure to support its entire North American tour last fall, the group's fans were ecstatic; only to be disappointed a short time later when the headliner decided to postpone all tour dates. Now, 65daysofstatic and its fans worldwide have even more to celebrate with the announcement of several new releases AND reinstated dates with The Cure in Europe and the U.S. beginning this week and running through June

Hot on the heels of the tour, 65daysofstatic has announced the release of a new EP The Distant and Mechanized Glow of Eastern European Dance Parties (or, more succinctly, Dance Parties as the band likes to call it) on its longtime label, Monotreme Records. The EP, based around a core track from the band's current album The Destruction of Small Ideas, won't hit streets until April 29th, but until that time American fans can finally acquire a domestic release of 65daysofstatic's 2004 debut album The Fall of Math as well as the subsequent EP Hole which was released that same year.

As if that weren't enough good news, a gatefold double-LP edition of The Destruction of Small Ideas will also hit U.S. shelves in spring 2008. Upon its original release, The Fall of Math was heaped with critical praises and championed by BBC Radio One DJs John Peel and Zane Lowe, among others. It appeared on numerous best of 2004 lists and earned the band recognition as "one of the few genuine boundary-pushers in contemporary rock music." - more on this story

Destroy Destroy Destroy Drummer Bored Bored Bored and Quit Quit Quits

Lambgoat reports: Destroy Destroy Destroy drummer Eric Brown has announced his departure from the band via the following statement: "Yes, I have made the decision to leave Destroy Destroy Destroy, but it has nothing to do with 'creative differences' or 'bad blood' or anything remotely close. I am still in love with everyone in the band very much, which did not make the decision any easier... and the new material is sweeter, epic-er and awesomer than ever.

I've also never been in a band where everyone gets along so well, and even our worst shows were some of the best shows just because of the way we treated them and had fun the whole time no matter what... this is a rare quality.

The analogy I've been using to explain why I'm fairly proud of, as it seems to be fairly accurate: To me, Destroy became that girlfriend you date for almost 3 years, but eventually you get bored of each other and just feel it's best to make a clean break while you're still on good terms, and also can be happy with one another to pursue your own lives. - more on this story

Dengue Fever Expand Tour Plans

PR reports: Cambodian rock band Dengue Fever have today confirmed additional live dates in the Western United States in support of their new release, Venus On Earth (M80 Music). The first date of the band's expanding tour will be March 21 at Wonder Ballroom in Portland, Oregon, and includes many cities where the band will be making their live debut, including Denver, Salt Lake City, Houston and Ft. Worth.

To coincide with the tour, Dengue Fever will be releasing the first video off Venus On Earth for the song "Seeing Hands" which is directed by Lance Acord. Best known for his work as Director of Photography on MARIE ANTOINETTE, LOST IN TRANSLATION and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, Acord shot the video in High Definition in the high desert outside of Los Angeles.

Last month, Dengue Fever confirmed their first live dates in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands in May and June 2008. Additional tour dates, including high profile festivals in the U.S. & Europe this summer, will be announced shortly. - dates

T.S.O.L. DVD

PR reports: T.S.O.L.'s Early Years Live is coming to DVD on April 15th from MVD. This DVD compiles mega-intense T.S.O.L. performances from both the Flipside and Target Video vaults, circa 1983.

Featuring Jack Grisham (Vocals), Ron Emory (Guitar), Mike Roche (Bass), and Francis Gerald Barnes (Drums), this footage clearly defines T.S.O.L. as the founding fathers of vicious grindcore. Grisham's snarling vocals and menacing stage presence are as fierce as can be, as the band plows through 14 anthems such as "Superficial Love," "Abolish Government/Silent Majority," "Darker My Love," "Code Blue" and more. This rare footage is a true gem for fans of the band and old school punk alike.

Bonus Materials: A reading by Jack Grisham from his forthcoming book 'An American Savage Reformed' and includes bonus live clip of TSOL from 2007 from the archives of Team Goon/Big Wheel Media
-

Onslaught Live Assault DVD+CD

PR reports: Metal Mind Productions presents Onslaught and their "Live Polish Assault" DVD in a special DVD+CD limited swing case edition! The DVD+CD will be available on 3rd March in Europe and 13th May in USA (via MVD).

Onslaught's first live DVD "Live Polish Assault 2007" contains more than an hour of veritable thrash mayhem: dirty and furious guitar riffs, powerful rhythm section - all this havoc crowned with Sy Keeler's distinctive devilish shrieks.

Filmed during the band's first gig in Poland, the DVD will include a well-balanced mixture of some of the best Onslaught songs performed live! Among other bonus features, the DVD will also include an interview with Nige Rockett and Sy Keeler, bonus live video footage from the band's gigs in Japan, as also bonus audio tracks from the gig at Bristol Colston Hall, 1987 (featuring Onslaught's very first live performance of "Let There Be Rock")! Special edition of the DVD includes a CD with audio material recorded at the show! - more on this story

Willie P. Bennett RIP

Contact Music reports: Canadian folk singer Willie P. Bennett has died. He was 56. The star passed away at his home in Peterborough, Ontario on Friday (15Feb08) of natural causes - although he had suffered a heart attack last year (07).

Bennett was a revered performer in his native Canada, enjoying success for three decades - and he won a Juno award in 1998 for his album Heartstrings.

Robin MacIntyre, Bennett's agent, paid tribute to the star, saying, "He was a mentor. So many people were inspired and wanted to emulate him... his style of singing, his ability to turn a good phrase. - more on this story

.... 3 Inches of Blood - Fire up the Blades

The third album from defenders of the heavy metal faith Vancouver's 3 Inches of Blood, Fire Up the Blades is an epic journey from start to finish. It is packed with face melting air guitar anthems, fists in the air, capable sing-alongs, and kickass metal tunes. - Read the full 3 Inches of Blood - Fire up the Blades review

.... The Mahones Vs Catgut Mary

So who wins this "bout?" The listener, that's who. This album is thirty-four and a half minutes of spirited Irish punk in the tradition of The Pogues, or Flogging Molly. Fans of those, or any other Irish punk bands, should pick this album up. (4.5 stars) - Read the full The Mahones Vs Catgut Mary review

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