Anti-Gang Worker Robs Rapper

Jones and several other suspects are accused in the choking of rapper Byron McCane — also known as Bizzy Bone — in his hotel room and the theft of his jewelry on Jan. 5. - more on this story

AC/DC and Metallica Bank Mega Millions

Blabbermouth reports: AC/DC is the only hard rock band to make the Los Angeles Times' 2008 "Ultimate Top 10," the newspaper's annual survey combining sales of concert tickets, albums and digital downloads to measure which acts were most popular with the broadest swath of music lovers.

Metallica came in at No. 14 (with $56.4 million), an impressive feat considering that the band's latest album, "Death Magnetic", and corresponding U.S. tour didn't arrive until this past fall.

Regarding AC/DC's combined income of $82 million, the Los Angeles Times writes, "The new 'Black Ice' album took the veteran Australian hard rock band back to the top of the charts and also made its concert tour one of the year's hot tickets. The band's Ultimate Top 10 tally was almost evenly divided, with $37.5 million coming at the concert box office and $44.5 million from album sales. Like Kid Rock, AC/DC doesn't do digital tracks. Average ticket price: $99.73." - more on this story

Def Leppard and Poison Tour

Blabbermouth reports: Poison frontman Bret Michaels has confirmed that his band is in talks to tour with Def Leppard later in the year.

Speaking to CNN about his upcoming activities, Michaels said, "I've got a huge announcement, which actually just happened this morning. Def Leppard and Poison are gonna go out on the road this summer. And the reason that's exciting for me [is] I know it will be the rock tour this summer.

Poison and Def Leppard, with all those big hits, being out there, we put out a great show, we've got a huge fanbase, but the one thing the fans get, we always keep the ticket prices down and deliver an absolutely awesome, kick-ass rock show. And I look forward to it, because I'm still a fan of music — I'm very passionate about the music I make — and when you can be out on the road with people you like — I've been able to go out with Aerosmith, Kiss, Skynyrd — and to be out with Def Leppard and Poison this summer, I think that it's gonna be the tour of the summer."…
- Pour some spandex on me? Read more

Pavement Ponder Reunion- Celeb Retardity- Lil Kim Has A B.I.G. Problem- Johnny Cash Remixed and Podcasted- Hoppus Goes Solo- NYC Bloc Party and more

antiMusic reports: Former Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg has said that the band may reform soon--and that their booking agent has had talks with Coachella festival chiefs about them performing at the event. He did, however, warn that despite negotiations having taken place, it was more likely that the band would reform after 2009 had finished. more

Ratings set to plummet from all ready record lows? More contestants from VH1's series "Rock of Love," "I Love New York," "Flavor of Love" and "Real Chance of Love" are set to star in the network's latest celeb retardity series, "I Love Money 2." Hosted by Craig J. Jackson, the 12-episode series will pit 19 contestants against one another for a chance to win a $250,000 grand prize.

Lil' Kim has released a statement voicing her displeasure at how she is portrayed in 'Notorious' - the new movie based on the life of the late rapper Notorious BIG. She complains that there are many lies and false portrayals of her in the film, and that is does not reflect the true relationship between her and the late rapper. more

Though there were promises that the band would continue, it looks like Plus 44 is done. Mark Hoppus spoke MTV about the project: "Since late August of last year, I've been in the studio every week writing songs with the intention of putting out a record of my own. As of this week, I've got about 10 songs in various stages of completion and another 10 ideas that I still want to work on Travis has played on a bunch of [my] tracks, and he's working on his own album as well. We totally support each other in whatever we're doing." more

In anticipation of the January 27 release of Johnny Cash Remixed, Compadre Records/Music World Music has created a podcast featuring interviews with Snoop Dogg and John Carter Cash, son of Johnny and June Carter Cash. download here

Reason 5,673,432 why you can't take the Grammy Awards seriously: E! is reporting that The Jonas Brothers are set to "perform" at this year's "awards" ceremony which takes places on Feb. 8 at the Staples Center in Lala land. more

Cold War Kids have announced several US tour dates in support of their sophomore album 'Loyalty To Loyalty'. After playing a one-off date at New York's Mercury Lounge and performing on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on January 28, the band will embark on a spring tour. more

Bloc Party have announced a second show at Terminal 5 in New York City, scheduled to take place on March 25.more

Virgin Megastores announced today that they will close their famous Times Square location.   The impending store closure will officially happen in April, and business will remain the same through at least the end of January. more

Johnny Araya, brother of Slayer's Tom Araya and a member of the Canadian metal band Thine Eyes Bleed, will step in for bassist LynZ during Mindless Self Indulgence's upcoming tours. more

Iron Maiden have confirmed that they will play at the 30,000-capacity Aucas Stadium in Quito, Ecuador on Tuesday, March 10. This will be the band's first-ever show in the country. more

Times & Transcript reports that rumors that KISS will perform an outdoor show in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada got much louder yesterday as a Halifax promoter began circulating teaser advertisements for the show. more

Blood Red Throne and Abysmal Dawn will team up for a brief March tour. dates

Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley told fans yesterday: "As of yesterday, January 12, we have officially begun writing the new record. Well let me rephrase that. Jordan, Mike, Andy and Josh have begin writing and I have just attained a level 23 ranking on Call Of Duty: World At War online." Good to see his heart is into the new album. more

"Lord Belial has quit all their activities. All future gigs are canceled. We would like to thank all fans, bands we have played with, labels, organizers and everyone involved in the band for the past 17 years! The main reason for this is the hearing problem (tinnitus) that has grown into a quite big problem for Micke the last years…" - more

Cheap Trick to Turn Beatles Epic Into Vegas Show?

LVRJ.com reports: The iconic American rock band Cheap Trick is close to finalizing a headliner deal with the Las Vegas Hilton that would feature the group performing The Beatles' epic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" live with a full orchestra.

Word has it their performances could begin as soon as March and stretch throughout 2009. Cheap Trick's original members would be involved in the exclusive agreement with the Hilton.

[During the summer of 2007 Cheap Trick performed The Beatles' classic in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl].
- more on this story

Propagandhi Set March Release

PR reports: Propagandhi are pleased to announce the release of their new album, Supporting Caste on March 10th, 2009.

Recorded at the band's own Illegal Combatant Studios and the world-renowned Blasting Room in Ft. Collins Colorado, Supporting Caste is the fifth full length release from Winnipeg's Propagandhi.

Crafted in collaboration with Bill Stevenson (Black Flag, Descendents, Zeke, 7 Seconds), this 12 song collection of boundless power and depth is a 50 000 watt forward-thinking tip-of-the-hat to the giants -- Voivod, Rush, SNFU, Sacrifice, Razor, Guilt Parade – that have gone before them. - more on this story

My Morning Jacket Digital EP

PR reports: Capped off by their already legendary New Year's Eve performance at Madison Square Garden, 2008 was truly a momentous year for My Morning Jacket. The quintet released their fifth album: the beautiful, haunting, and mercurial Evil Urges, which has already attained classic status. Never known to rest for too long, the band is ready to unveil another ace up their sleeve: the iTunes exclusive gem, "Live at the Palms" – or as the band refers to it, "Ryan Pickett Presents, in Association with Pickettmax Films: Candles and Panties '08-the iTunes EP- LIVE in Las Vegas! A Ryan Pickett Production."

The EP, which earns it's "alternate" (a.k.a. true) name in honor of the band's Front of House engineer Ryan Pickett, includes the previously unreleased "Dear Wife" and
the seldom performed, classic rarity "Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You" – which originally appeared on The Tennessee Fire.

Jim James explains: "The purpose of this EP are to provide the listener with a sensual and deeply personal method for relaxational listening. It is to be enjoyed on a candle-lit bench, a secluded nook, or a sensuous dinner party. Under the careful guidance and watchful eye of Ryan Pickett, we have developed a highly pleasing method of subtle sensation! Who knows how deep thine gentle touch? Please to enjoy this EP!" - more on this story

If It's Too Loud, You're Too British?

PR reports: British metallers Evile know a thing or two about thrashing, and they know that the music has to be loud. The band were therefore slightly worried to hear something which could affect fans of live music all across the UK.

Evile lead guitarist Ol Drake explains: "I was browsing the Downing Street website to see what exactly our Prime Minister is doing, and I came across the 'Petitions' section. One that stood out to me was a petition for 'No Noise Control'. Now, I remember playing a show in a venue where they were strict on the level of noise, as they had one of these Noise Control devices. It was so quiet, it felt like a crime headbanging whilst playing the music. I'd hate to go and see my favourite band live and have the music being at that level.

"I urge all UK live music fans to sign this petition to make it be known that we love live music, and for it to be that ridiculously quiet would be a travesty. The kind of music we play is aggressive. You can't have aggressive music at low volumes. It defeats the purpose. I want to have my head blasted off by a riff, not my genitals slightly tickled. Please take a look, sign and pass on!" - To view and sign the petition, head here

Leonard Cohen U.S. Live Return

Reuters reports: Veteran folk singer Leonard Cohen, forced back on the road after his business manager lost his retirement savings, will play his first U.S. concert in more than 15 years next month, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The 74-year-old Canadian icon will perform at the Beacon Theater in New York City on February 19. Tickets for the show at the 2,800-seat venue will go on sale on Friday.

Cohen has been on tour since May, playing shows across Canada and Europe. He is about to begin a trek through New Zealand and Australia. - more on this story

Graham Coxon All Over Pete Doherty Solo CD

MusicRadar reports: Talk of a Pete Doherty solo album has been running the mill for years. But now, finally, the former Libertines/current Babyshambles mainman has finished it, and recruited Blur guitarist Graham Coxon for all but one of its 12 tracks.

Don't expect any solo snippets you may have heard during that time to appear on the album, though.

Doherty scrapped all previous work in favour of rewriting and recording everything from scratch in just one month. - more on this story

Hilary Duff Goes Barely Legal

Angry Ape reports: Hilary Duff has landed herself a new role as a lawyer in a forthcoming TV sitcom in conjunction with Fox.

As reported last year, the singer / actress signed a deal to star in her own show, which has now been revealed as 'Barely Legal'.

The series is based on the true story of Kathleen Holtz, who became a lawyer in California aged just 18. [How long before you expect a lawsuit over the name? On the other hand, any suit is likely to be dropped after the 3rd or 4th episode when Fox drops the show.] - more on this story

Sgt. Pepper Goes Raggae

PR reports: Following the widespread critical and commercial success of 2003's Dub Side of the Moon and 2006's Radiodread, Easy Star Records announces the Easy Star All-Stars' complete reggae re-imagining of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The album, titled Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, is set for release April 14 on Easy Star Records and features guest vocals from an impressive list of reggae, dancehall and dub greats including Steel Pulse, Matisyahu, Michael Rose (Black Uhuru), Luciano, U Roy, Bunny Rugs (Third World), Ranking Roger (English Beat), Sugar Minott, Frankie Paul, Max Romeo and The Mighty Diamonds. The first single, "With A Little Help From My Friends," featuring Luciano, will be released as an iTunes exclusive February 10. It will be paired with a b-side dub version featuring the legendary U Roy.

Dub Side of the Moon, (Easy Star's reggae tribute to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon) is one of the most successful reggae albums of the 21st century and spent over five years on Billboard's Top Reggae Chart. Mojo selected the record as the second greatest cover album of all time. Radiodread, which tackled Radiohead's OK Computer, spent over 18 months on Billboard's Top Reggae Chart and earned praise from Radiohead themselves. - more on this story

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