Pulp Fiction Writer Going To Jail For Fatal DUI

The charges came from a 2008 crash in Ventura County, California where a passenger in Avary's Mercedes was killed when Avary hit a telephone poll while traveling at more than 100 mph. - more on this story

DJ AM Death Ruled An Overdose

antiMusic reports: New York medical examiner's office has officially ruled that DJ AM's death was caused by an overdose on a lethal cocktail of various drugs.

AP reports that: The toxicology report showed the 36-year-old had in his system cocaine, OxyContin, Hydrocodone or Vicodin, antianxiety drugs Xanax and Ativan, Klonopin which also controls anger, Benadryl, and Levamisole, a drug apparently used to cut cocaine.

The cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects the drugs, the medical examiner's office said. The dosage of each drug was not released. - Read more of the AP report here

Twilight: New Moon Bonus

PR reports: The iTunes pre-order for The Twilight Saga: New Moon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack launched today with four exclusive bonus songs, including an original song from Lupe Fiasco entitled "Solar Midnite."

As with all of the songs on the soundtrack, these bonus songs will be heard in The Twilight Saga: New Moon movie and are previously unreleased.

In addition, by pre-ordering the soundtrack through iTunes now, fans can immediately download Anya Marina's "Satellite Heart." The song debuted yesterday exclusively through MySpace - tracklisting

Tegan and Sara Return with Sainthood

PR reports: Tegan and Sara will release their eagerly awaited sixth studio album, entitled Sainthood, on October 27th on Sire/Vapor Records. Sainthood was produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla (who also produced 2007's critically applauded The Con) and Howard Redekopp (who produced 2004's groundbreaking effort So Jealous) and mixed by Grammy Award winner Dave Sardy (Oasis, Primal Scream, Marilyn Manson).

The follow-up to 2007's The Con, Sainthood addresses secular themes of devotion, delusion, and exemplary behavior in the pursuit of love and relationships. The songs, Tegan and Sara say, were "inspired by emotional longing and the quiet actions we hope may be noticed by the objects of our affection. Sainthood is about obsession with romantic ideals. In the service of relationships we practice being perfect. We practice our sainthood in the hope that we will be rewarded with adora­tion. As we are driven to become anything for someone else, we sometimes become martyrs for our cause.

Love, like faith, can never be held in an individual's hands. But the story of a great love affair – especially one that is unrequited or has ended too soon – can be woven like scripture or a bedtime story. And so the themes of Sainthood are tied together by this simple title, borrowed, with great respect, from the lyrics of the Leonard Cohen song 'Came So Far For Beauty': 'I practiced all my sainthood / I gave to one and all / But the rumors of my virtue / They moved her not at all.'" - more on this story

Idol's Jason Castro Announces Mall Tour

PR reports: Jason Castro has unveiled plans for a national mall tour that will take the Texas-based tunesmith - best known as the third runner-up on the 2008 season of Fox's American Idol - across the country this fall.

The "Jason Castro Live" tour begins on October 12th at Minneapolis' Southdale Center and continues through mid-November (see attached itinerary). The cross-country trek will be supported by a national media campaign with Akoo, an interactive music television network reaching 868 million annual viewers across 150 top shopping malls.

The free performances will give fans a sneak peek at Jason's forthcoming debut album, which features the buoyant lead single, "Let's Just Fall In Love Again." Akoo will feature the single's companion video, as well as exclusive segments with Jason, at all of its mall locations. The interactive television network uniquely empowers fans to activate music programming on thousands of HD TV screens in food courts across the country – free and on-demand – via SMS text message or Akoo's mobile application. - more including dates

Michael Jackson is Gone But His Legal Fights Live On

antiMusic reports: Michael Jackson may be gone but his legal fights apparently live on with two Jackson related legal stories hitting the wires on Tuesday. Seems his estate lawyers are on the giving and receiving end of legal action.

First up: the lawyers that defended Jackson in the child molestation case filed a claim against Jackson's estate, seeking $341,000 for fees from the period of July 2005 through February 2006. AP has more details here

On the other side of the coin, the Jackson estate filed suit against the Heal the World Foundation. According to AP "the federal court lawsuit claims the Heal the World Foundation is improperly using trademarks and Web sites to create the impression they were approved by Jackson to solicit donations." - Read more about that here

Variety Lab Team Up With Donovan and More

PR reports: Spanning multiple genres and featuring collaborations from some of the most inspiring artists in the world, Variety Lab's sophomore album Team Up! is set up to be the most wonderful musical surprise of 2009.

From the original blueprints through to the execution it's a grand slam. Collaborations with folk legend Donovan, David Bartholomé, Lisa Kekaula, Yael Naim and Lily Frost creates a broad musical spectrum while French comic artists Dupuy & Berberian bring Variety Lab's vision to life.

Variety Lab is the alias of one Thierry Bellia. His first CD – 2003's Providence – gained notoriety for its lead single "London In The Rain," which was, at the time, included in every single lounge compilation. As in the past Bellia, alone, put Team Up! together, but he did not forget to emphasize his friends' assistance in the process. Let's just name his henchmen from the French band Orwell (Jérôme Didelot and Alexandre Longo, aka Cascadeur and winner of the 2008 Inrockuptibles CQFD prize). Making use of his friends, instruments, machines and other weird objects (for instance the Optigan, a toy devised back in the 70's), Thierry has worked non-stop on this project. - more on this story

Souls Of Mischief Announce Montezuma's Revenge World Tour

PR reports: In anticipation of the November 10th release of their newest Prince Paul-produced effort, Montezuma's Revenge, Oakland, California hip-hop crew Souls Of Mischief are gearing up to set out on the "Montezuma's Revenge World Tour '09," a tour consisting of 35 dates over one and a half months throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.

They will perform for 19 dates here in the US and 16 in Europe with stops at Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Berlin, to name a few. Being one of the most globally expansive tours to date for the legendary group, emcee/Hiero Imperium CEO Tajai explains what he's looking forward to about this particular tour saying, "It's a new album and a new beginning for us. Also, the fact that it truly is a world tour makes it exciting. We plan to hit Japan, Australia and New Zealand as well as a Canada and the rest of the US next year. We even have a show in Bulgaria. That should be exciting!"

Souls Of Mischief, a group that has built a notoriously strong fan base since the 1993 release of their first, now classic, album 93 'Til Infinity, is looking forward to seeing their fans' reactions from around the globe to the new music of Montezuma's Revenge. As always, the crews' dedicated worldwide fans can expect nothing short of spectacular, high-energy shows. The legendary Prince Paul will be making cameo appearances as the tour progresses, and group Swollen Members will be joining the tour for a handful of dates as well. - more on this story

Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant

PR reports: On November 28th, "The Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant" first annual tour will kick off in Grand Rapids, MI. The Atlanta-based band's combination of dance and rock, funky rhythms and percolating club grooves will get anyone up out of their seats. "The Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant" tour promises to be no different, putting the Family Force 5 touch on classic holiday tunes and age-old favorites. The inspiration for the tour comes from The Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant album, set to release on October 6.

In accordance with the holiday spirit and in an effort to give back to the communities that "The Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant" will be visiting, Family Force 5 has asked that their fans bring canned goods for donation to local food banks.

Family Force 5 is currently ruling the road with their very own "DANCE RAWR DANCE 3" tour, powering the rise of their most recent album, DANCE OR DIE. The tour has already proven a huge success, but the band, feeling no need to slow down, wants to bring their notoriously crazy style on the road with them throughout the holidays as well. "We encourage fans to dress up in costumes, whether it be a killer whale, a big chicken or a Skeletor outfit," says guitarist Chap Stique. Or a Santa Clause suit! - more on this story

Lorrie Morgan Sets A Moment In Time Release

PR reports: The inimitable Lorrie Morgan is set to release A Moment In Time on October 27. This collection of evergreen classics includes "If You've Got Leavin' On Your Mind," a personal favorite of Lorrie's that she calls "the ultimate Country ballad."

With more than 30 charted Billboard singles, 14 top ten hits and 7 of her 12 albums having gone gold and platinum, Country's Lorrie Morgan could easily rest on her laurels. Not Lorrie. Always an overachiever, the sultry singer gives it her all on this album.

Morgan is joined by a stellar cast of musicians and guests on A Moment In Time, which includes duets with Tracy Lawrence on "After The Fire is Gone" and Raul Malo on "Easy Lovin'." The album captures Lorrie's crystalline vocals on timeless classics like "Are You Lonesome Tonight," and "Cry," all of which Morgan delivers with heartfelt and heartbreaking honesty. - more on this story

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