Scarlett Johansson Covers Tom Waits

Filter reports: After making a cameo during The Jesus and Mary Chain's Coachella performance last year, many people have expressed an interest in the progression of actress Scarlett Johansson's musical career.

All inquiries will be quelled this spring. Johansson's interpretations of Tom Waits songs, Anywhere I Lay My Head, will be unleashed May 20th via Rhino's Atco imprint.

Featuring collaborations with Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek, Johansson's debut LP will feature ten Tom Waits classics and one original track. - more news from Filter

Beyonce Lands Film Role as Jazz Great

Contact Music reports: R+B star BEYONCE KNOWLES is set to play famed blues singer ETTA JAMES in new movie CADILLAC RECORDS.

The Dreamgirls actress will join Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Cedric the Entertainer in the 1950s-set film, reports AOL.com.

Actor Matt Dillon has been replaced by Oscar-winning Brody in the role of Leonard Chess, the founder of legendary blues label Chess Records , after scheduling conflicts forced him to pull out of the project.
- more on this story

Heath Ledger Died from Natural Causes?

TMZ reports: It sounds strange, but sources intimately connected with the Heath Ledger investigation tell TMZ it's possible the actor died of natural causes. The reason they think that -- it's now appearing that the level of toxicity (from medication) in Ledger's system was low enough that it may not have caused his death.

These sources say Heath's heart stopped. It could have been a heart attack but it's not certain, at least not yet. Although it's bizarre that a 28-year-old could die of natural causes, it happens.

We've also learned authorities do not believe the housekeeper heard Ledger snoring when she walked in his bedroom at around 1:00 PM. Sources tell us, a fireman observed rigor mortis in Ledger's jaw shortly after arriving on scene at around 3:30PM. Sources say they now believe Ledger was dead for around three hours prior to their arrival, so they don't believe the masseuse could have heard snoring.

Authorities are also annoyed at news reports that there may have been a sinister plot to remove illegal drugs from Ledger's apartment before cops and firemen arrived. - more on this story

Through The Eyes Of The Dead Temps

PR reports: Currently at home gearing up for the forthcoming Scum of the Earth tour alongside Throwdown, Soilwork, and War of Ages, South Carolina's THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD have issued an update on the band's recent line-up change: "We just want to fill everyone in on the current situation with TTEOTD," guitarist Justin Longshore says.

"First off, this band isn't going anywhere and we are still doing the Throwdown/Soilwork tour as planned. To avoid any complications, we'll just state that Josh [Kulick, drums] and Nate [Johnson, vocals] have both parted ways with the band under their own circumstances. We wish them the best of luck in the future.

"We are excited to announce that Lech, formerly of As Blood Runs Black, will be handling drums for us on the upcoming tour. He's a monster behind the kit and has proven to us to be the right fit for our style. And stepping into the vocal spot is Lou Tanius, who has previously put time in with On Paths of Torment and Invocation of Nehek." - dates

Vincent Black Shadow Drop Wednesday 13 Tour

PR reports: Vincent Black Shadow issued the following statement: "It is a huge disappointment to have to write this, but due to circumstances completely, and immensely frustratingly, beyond our control, the Vincent Black Shadow will NOT be going on tour with Wednesday 13.

This was not a decision made by the band, and without getting into the specifics, we will just use this Tenacious D quote, 'All you people up there in City Hall, you are fucking it up for the people that in the streets.' So instead of dwelling on this downer, we would rather focus on the future and the new album(s) we are writing right now. - more on this story

Journey Plan Virtual Party

PR reports: On February 1, multi-Platinum rockers Journey will release their new Virtual Island in Second Life. A grand opening party is planned inside Second Life at the "Journey Rock Band" sim and will feature a meet and greet with band members.

Live DJs will be spinning many of Journey's classic hits, recorded studio and live performances, as well as lots of other great music for fans to party to! The grand opening party is scheduled to start at 10:00am ET/PT. The Journey Island region in Second Life is named "Journey Rock Band".

Journey has long been known for innovations in stage sets, so creating a Second Life Island for fans to enjoy was an easy decision. The Island features dedicated areas for each album along with audio and video presentations. There are also two venues on the island, the Escape Club and the Captured Amphitheater, where live SL events can be held.
- Learn more at http://www.secondlife.com.

Hanoi Rocks Lose Member

Metal Underground reports: Finnish rock legends HANOI ROCKS have issued the update: "Hanoi Rocks will end their working relationship with their current drummer Lacu.

Lacu will leave the band after Hanoi Rocks' European tour, which will start from Stockholm on February 14th and will finish at the Astoria Club in London on March 7th.

"The change behind the drumkit will not affect the forthcoming Hanoi Rocks gigs or tours. The new drummer will be announced soon." - more metal news

Diddy Keeping Shiddy Name

Gigwise reports: US rapper P Diddy has denied reports that he's once again changed his name.

Earlier this week, it's was claimed that the rapper had become dissatisfied with 'Diddy' and wanted to be known as Sean John.

However, his publicist told MTV that the claims "are totally false", adding that "he is currently in 'Sean John' mode as the upcoming Sean John fashion show is scheduled for February 8th in New York."

[meanwhile the music business keeps falling and no one within the business can figure out the reasons] - more on this story

Hudson Exits Cellador

Metal Underground reports: Guitarist Bill Hudson has quit the Nebraska based extreme power metal band CELLADOR. His statement on the matter reads as follows: "After thinking about it for a long time and after a very relaxing holiday season, which included appearances at the NAMM show in Anaheim, I have decided that it's best for me if I part ways with CELLADOR.

"I'll be flying back to Omaha tomorrow, but the band is already aware of my decision. I'm really only going back to take care of the last details, before I move to L.A. permanently.

"CELLADOR and I did great things together, and a good fan-base was built. I played some of the most insane shows of my life with this band, including our recent appearance at Loudpark 07 in Japan in front of 12,000 crazy fans, and one at ProgPower USA, which was a dream I had since I was a teenager. Not to mention the great tours we were in during 2006. - more on this story

Hellyeah's More Balls, More Volume, More Strength Tour

PR reports: HELLYEAH--one of rock's most successful new acts--kicked off the second leg of their national headlining More Balls, More Volume, More Strength Tour last week in Clifton Park, NY, with Machine Head, Nonpoint and Bury Your Dead supporting.

While on the road, the explosive and uncompromising band will give fans daily updates. Guitarist TOM MAXWELL will "life cast"--a real-time broadcast of his life from his mobile phone--from the tour via www.kyte.tv.

In other news, HELLYEAH recently released their BELOW THE BELT DVD (Epic Records) which offers fans an inside look at the band's life on the road with clips dating back to the day the band was formed. - more including tour dates

Come Close To Saosin In Your Livingroom

PR reports: On March 11, music lovers will be able to experience the sights and sounds of Saosin live when the band releases it's first DVD and CD package, Come Close. "We've been on the road continuously since the release of our record and our fans have been there every step of the way. This DVD was made as a way for Saosin to give something back to them," said singer Cove Reber.

The DVD features 15 tracks recorded in hi-definition on November 3 at Philadelphia's The Theater of Living Arts. Highlights include a rousing performance of "Voices," the emotional "Bury Your Head" and the heart-aching yet equally uplifting "You're Not Alone," which Saosin dedicated to U.S. Troops in Iraq on Veterans Day. The band sent out a video message with the song to the soldiers through their MySpace and email list, encouraging them to put together their own Fliptrack video that expressed messages of hope, love and support for loved ones serving abroad. To date, the video posted on fliptrack.com has received almost 1.5 million page views.

In addition to concert footage, the DVD includes the music videos for "Voices" and "You're Not Alone," video intros for each and "AOL Music Sessions Under Cover – Time After Time." - lot more info

Metalmania Fest DVD

PR reports: Metal Mind Productions presents a live DVD featuring the footage from the 21st, particularly successful, edition of the Metalmania Festival, the biggest and the most prestigious metal festival in Central-Eastern Europe. Metalmania DVD+CD will be released on 11th February 2008 in Europe and 13th May 2008 in USA (via MVD).

The 2007 edition of Metalmania Festival was crowned with performances of cult bands: thrash-metal Testament, thrash/death metal Sepultura, doom/gothic metal Paradise Lost and the pioneers of death'n'roll Entombed. The DVD also includes the best excerpts of charismatic performances by such great metal acts as Korpiklaani, Crystal Abyss, Darzamat, Zyklon, Vital Remains, Destrucion and Blaze Bayley. Metalmania 2007 DVD includes an audio CD featuring a selection of songs by the bands that performed on the side stage of the festival (taken from their latest studio albums). British death metal band Benediction headlined the side stage and was preceded by Forever Will Burn, Root and TYR. Polish metal scene was represented by Wu-Hae, Horrorscope, Deivos, Ciryam, Carnal, Sphere and Witchking. - more including the full tracklisting

YouInSeries Cancelled

Lambgoat reports: YouInSeries has officially disbanded. Formed in 2003, the Las Vegas rock outfit released an album with [Emo] Vision Records in 2006. Here's a statement from singer Kyle Lobeck:

"After starting this band five years ago with my best friends in my garage, it seems as though YouInSeries has finally ran its course. We were in the process of writing songs for our second record when I was informed that some of us were not compelled to continue with this lifestyle anymore.

"It saddens me in such a way that its hard to express in words. I really wish we could have recorded our new songs for you guys to hear. It was some of my favorite material I have ever worked on." - more on this story

Radiohead Discussing BBC Special

Gigwise reports: Radiohead are in talks with the BBC to perform tracks of their latest album 'In Rainbows' during a special concert, it's been revealed.

Speaking to the BBC, the band's guitarist, Colin Greenwood, said that plans for the event were in the very early stages.

"We only started talking about it (the BBC event) yesterday in the meeting, so we are getting some plans together to play a show and play some songs from the record for the BBC," he said. - more on this story

Fred Eaglesmith Road Plans

PR reports: Fred Eaglesmith can't remain one of the finest under the radar musical artists in contemporary roots and Americana music for much longer with the release later this year of Tinderbox, an 18-song tour de force of songwriting prowess and imaginative, genre-defying musicality.

On February 28 to March 1 this year, the fifth annual Fred Eaglesmith Texas Weekend at historic Gruene Hall. Performers on the 2008 Texas Weekend include Jimmy LaFave and Jesse Dayton, with others to be announced, and in previous years such artists as Robert Earl Keen, Jr., Billy Joe Shaver, Tom Russell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bruce Robison, Butch Hancock, Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez, Bill Kirchen, Jon Dee Graham and Jason Ringenberg, among others, have played the festival. Eaglesmith's early 2008 tour also finds him making his fifth sailing on the perpetually sold-out Delbert McClinton Sandy Beaches Cruise (which was pivotal in launching the burgeoning trend of musical sea cruises). - more on this story

Vanishing Point Enter Fourth Season and Support Maiden

PR reports: Australia's progressive metal outfit Vanishing Point is entering the "fourth season" of its career with a new album on Locomotive Records. Vanishing Point is confirmed as support on the Perth and Melbourne IRON MAIDEN shows.

"The Fourth Season" is an album written straight from the heart, without anything to cloud the band's collective mind. "We had a strong positive view of what direction we wanted to go musically with this release and everything just fell into place perfectly," said vocalist Silvio Massaro. "We honestly feel the songs are emotionally stronger, drawing the listener deep into every chord and word." - more including the Maiden dates

.... I'm Not There (Bob Dylan) Soundtrack

The surreal film biography of Bob Dylan, I'm Not There, includes a soundtrack that is equally as expansive. With 34 songs across two discs, many notable names make their presence known on generally faithful readings from the Dylan catalogue. (4 stars) - Read the full I'm Not There (Bob Dylan) Soundtrack review

.... Ultimate Grammy Collection: Contemporary Rock

Looking over this CD's 16-track selection, the first thought that comes to mind is this: These are the times the Grammy Awards got it right. (Anybody still remember when progressive rockers Jethro Tull won a Grammy in the metal category?) (4 stars) - Read the full Ultimate Grammy Collection: Contemporary Rock review

.... Colosseum - Chapter 1: Delirium

Though there is much melody to be found on Delirium, both quiet and loud, never once is the disc anything less than totally heavy and absolutely soul-crushing. Delirium is a catchy, malevolent force, the likes of which is perpetuated by a surprisingly young band. - Read the full Colosseum - Chapter 1: Delirium review

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