Paper Rival Week: Day 5 "The Kettle Black"

check out streams from the new album, plus grab tour dates - here

Rage Against The Presidential Conventions

antiMusic reports: Rage Against The Machine are considering crashing the U.S. political parties this year when the Republicans and Democrats hold their nominating conventions later this summer.

While the band only have one U.S. appearance set for this year (Lollapalooza,) Tom Morello said in an interview "There is the possibility that we will be playing at the demonstrations surrounding the Presidential conventions. The Democrats are in Denver, the Republicans are in Minneapolis. But we're still looking into that."

RATM staged a protest concert outside the Staples Center in 2000 as the Democrats danced the Macarena while giving their nod to Al Gore. That protest event ended in a near riot as fans and protesters turned violent. We reported at the time: According to LAPD spokesperson CMDR. David Kalish, the police were forced to declare the gathering an unlawful assembly due to violent outbreaks in the crowd attending the concert. Kalish stated at a press conference that concert goers and protesters were throwing rocks, bottles, pieces of asphalt at police on the scene. He also reported that several fires were started near the protest site and several individuals were attempting to breach the security fence around the Staples Center. It has been reported that is was approximately 300 of an estimated crowd of 8000 who resorted to violent behavior during the protest concert. - Read more about the Rage Against Al Gore Fiasco

50 Cent To Become 79 Cent For Taco Bell?

antiMusic reports: Taco Bell take lame advertising gimmicks to a whole new low with an offer to rapper 50 Cent to change his name to match their "value meal" prices. OK! Magazine has the story:

The fast food chain has challenged the rapper to change his name from 50--to 79, 89, or 99 Cent in connection with its new "Why Pay More" value menu for one day this summer.

Also part of the deal-- "Fiddy" (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) must stop by any Taco Bell restaurant of his choosing and rap his order at the drive-thru using his new moniker. - Oh it gets stupider with a silly "think outside the bun" letter and more.

Game Afraid of Miley, Get Staind This Summer, Motley TV, Chart Coldplay, Rush Officially Hollywood Stars, Oasis Big Brother Deal, Early Graves for Apiary and more

antiMusic reports: TGIF! Let's get to some quicks: While discussing his upcoming album with Carson Daly, The Game suggested that his label should release the album a week earlier so he wouldn't have to go head-to-head with Miley Cyrus' golden showers for the top spot on July 22. more

Staind has set an August 19 release date for its next Atlantic album, "The Illusion of Progress". "It's a departure from the last record," Staind frontman Aaron Lewis tells Billboard. "There's a lot more effect-y experimentation and a lot more textures with vintage instruments and vintage amps." more

The Story Of... Motley Crue premiers Tuesday, June 24th at 9 PM & midnight (ET) on MuchMoreMusic to coincide with the release of Saints Of Los Angeles more

On the heels of Lil Wayne's 1 million-plus debut sales week with "Tha Carter III," Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" (Capitol) will post similarly lofty numbers and bow at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 next week. The set leads Nielsen SoundScan's Building chart, released today (June 18), with un-weighted first-day sales of 316,000 copies more

It's official, RUSH will be getting their star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Thanks to efforts of their fans, spearheaded by none other than Donna Halper (the woman who is credited with discovering Rush while working at WMMS-FM in Cleveland back in 1974), Rush will be one of 25 recipients chosen by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Committee to be enshrined in 2009. more

Oasis has expanded its partnership with Sony BMG by signing a new three-album deal with the company. The profit-sharing agreement will find Oasis continuing to release music on its own Big Brother imprint more

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have made three changes to the rules for the Original Song category; starting with the Oscar ceremony that will be held in 2009, only two songs from any given film can now be nominated. Poor babies. On a side note, they'll call just about anything a science these days.more

Singer Derek Rydquist recently rejoined Los Angeles, California metal group The Faceless. As you may recall, Rydquist quit the band in January to pursue a college degree. more

Northern California's Apiary has changed its name to Early Graves. The group's new album, titled "We: The Guillotine", will be released on August 19 via Ironclad Recordings. more

Phil Spector has been sued by a Los Angeles hotel for allegedly failing to pay more than $100,000 worth of bills. - more

Another Baby Spears is Born To An Unsuspecting World

TMZ reports: Jamie Lynn Spears is no longer an unwed pregnant teen -- she's now an unwed teen mother of a baby girl, y'all!

We're told Jamie Lynn was extremely nervous before the birth, but our spies tell us big sister Brit "made a big difference" and helped a ton -- giving her advice and support.

JL's bro Brian was on family patrol, calling everyone with the news. As for a name -- the kids didn't narrow it down til the very last second. People says lil' Spears' will be called is Maddie Briann. - more on this story

Stone Temple Pixie

Filter reports: The Pixies' frontman, Frank Black, has dusted off his old his moniker, Black Francis, for an upcoming tour.

He joins alt-rock kings Stone Temple Pilots for selected dates. His latest release, a mini-album titled Svn Fngrs is available now on Cooking Vinyl.

The first date of the Stone Temple Pixie outing will be next Tuesday, June 24th at the Hollywood Bowl. Grab all of the dates - here

U2 Reissues Details

PR reports: U2's first three albums have been remastered and will be released by Universal on July 22nd. Following the remastered release of The Joshua Tree last year, Edge has overseen a similar re-mastering of Boy (1980), October (1981) and War (1983), all of which have been remastered from the original audio tapes.

Each album will be released in physical and digital formats; as a standard single disc, a deluxe double version including a disc of b-sides, live tracks and rarities, and an LP version pressed on 180gm virgin vinyl

The packaging on all three titles has been restored and expanded, with new liner notes for each record, previously unseen photos and full lyrics. - The full tracklistings and format information

Taproot Take The Long Road Home

PR reports: Taproot has announced a September 16th release date for highly anticipated new album Our Long Road Home. The album—Taproot's first since 2005's Blue-Sky Research—will be released through Velvet Hammer, the label founded by the management company of the same name (System Of A Down, Deftones, Alice In Chains).

Working with producer Tim Patalan (Sponge, Lovedrug), the band penned more than fifty songs for the album, twelve of which were recorded in a converted barn just a few minutes down the road from vocalist/guitarist Stephen Richards' home.

"We made each of our previous albums in expensive studios and always had to keep one eye on the clock to finish on budget," says Richards. "This time we got to record an album the way we did our early demos—relaxed, at our own pace, and allowed to indulge in our own guilty pleasures. It proved that you can actually go home again." - more on this story

Weiland WannaBes

Blabbermouth reports: Velvet Revolver's search for a new lead singer to replace Scott Weiland has led several potential replacements to actively campaign for the job through web sites such as YouTube, according to MTV.com.

A couple of these would-be stars even claim that they've got the inside track for the job, although none of them have apparently been officially contacted by anyone in the VELVET REVOLVER camp.

One of the biggest self-promoters is a singer named Brian Phyll Miller, whose online video audition features him "singing" Velvet Revolver's "Slither" and "Fall to Pieces", as well as AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie". Miller also discusses his love for "vodka, cigarettes and Jack (Daniels)," apparently unaware that Velvet Revolver is now a sober band. A lot of support for Miller has been generated online, although it is difficult to verify whether it's real or has been created by the singer himself. - grab some ear plugs and check out his and other wannabes out here

Albert Hammond Jr. Record Release Shows

PR reports: Albert Hammond, Jr. has confirmed his first show in support of his forthcoming album ¿Cómo Te Llama?, which will be released July 8th on Black Seal Records. Albert and his band will play Spaceland in Los Angeles on July 11.

¿Cómo Te Llama? is Albert's second album with bandmates Matt Romano, Marc Eskenazi and Josh Lattanzi, and features the single "GfC".

The video for "GfC" is being directed by Laurent Briet and will be on air soon. Albert's first solo album Yours To Keep won widespread critical acclaim, with Esquire awarding Albert their Esky Award for Best Solo Debut. - more on this story

Alejandro Escovedo TV and Vinyl Bonuses

PR reports: 'Real Animal', Alejandro Escovedo's ninth solo album and the follow-up to 2006's critically acclaimed 'The Boxing Mirror', will be released in stores and online June 24 2008.

In addition to the CD and digital release, a limited-edition run of double vinyl featuring two bonus tracks: "In Love Again" and a cover of the Stooges "I Got a Right" will be released.

Currently on the road with the Dave Matthews Band, Escovedo and band will bring their enigmatic and engaging live performance of punk rock and stirring strings to 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' on Friday, June 20th followed by a live performance on 'The Today Show' on Tuesday, June 24th - the day of the album's release. - more on this story

Anberlin to Surrender in September

PR reports: Anberlin are back with New Surrender, their new album, scheduled to release September 30th on Universal Republic. After working for years exclusively with longtime producer/friend Aaron Sprinkle this time around the band decided to enlist producer Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, New Found Glory) to capture their sound.

Although the album won't be available until the end of September, Anberlin can be found all summer long on the main stage of this year's Warped Tour, where they will be showcasing some of the new material. Available exclusively on the tour - a USB wristband that will be used as an exclusive pre-order for their Universal Republic debut. - more on this story

Umphrey's McGee Releasing Double Live Album

PR reports: In June, prog-rock powerhouse Umphrey's McGee will release Jimmy Stewart 2007 - an ambitious double-live album comprised of some of the band's most inspired improvisations, sequenced into two seamless 70-minute "mixtapes."

Several times each performance Umphrey's McGee delves into the "Jimmy Stewart" creation process. They aim to generate melody-rich, spontaneous compositions, utilizing a Zappa-inspired language of body gestures and hand-signals which allow the band to create structure on-the-fly.

As Umphrey's McGee's sound continues to evolve, each live performance is increasingly a showcase for their "Jimmy Stewart" approach to progressive improvisation, which they utilize as a breeding ground for new material. Fan favorites "In the Kitchen", "Intentions Clear", "Bridgeless", and many more have come from such sessions. In fact, the newest original to the Umphrey's McGee live repertoire is "Waist Down", a song with firm roots in the Jimmy Stewart 2007 track "Eat - 2.17.07 - San Francisco". - more on this story

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