Rap Murder Conspiracy?

Federal authorities are investigating The Inc. founder Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo and notorious crack kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Neither Gotti nor McGriff has been charged in the case, but court filings allege the label, formerly known as Murder Inc., laundered more than $1 million in drug money. 

Three law enforcement sources said that investigators are examining whether the nightclub shooting, The Inc. and McGriff are linked. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Sharon O's Vagina Monologue

Blabbermouth reports: Sharon Osbourne is set to star in the next London production of raunchy play "The Vagina Monologues", according to Mirror.co.uk. 

The comedy — written by American Eve Ensler — features women talking about their intimate bits and has been a huge hit on Broadway and in the West End. 

An insider said: "Sharon saw the play and loved it. It's ballsy and fun. There's not that much acting and she will play different women at various stages of life. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Jake E Lee Covers

Blabbermouth reports: More details have been revealed about the upcoming "covers" album currently being recorded by former OZZY OSBOURNE/BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee. The CD, which is being engineered by Michael Lardie (formerly of GREAT WHITE), will feature the following lineup of musicians: 

Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS): guitars 
Chris Logan (MSG): Vocals 
Tim Bogert (VANILLA FUDGE, BECK, BOGERT & APPICE): Bass 
Aynsley Dunbar (WHITESNAKE, MSG, UFO): Drums [see full story for more, including tracklisting]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Motley Makeover To Air

Blabbermouth reports: VH1 unveils the first "New Year, New You" transformation on New Year's Day with the premiere of "Remaking", a series of specials that is dedicated to improving the careers and lives of artists through various forms of transformation. 

MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil is the first artist to "face the music" on VH1's "Remaking: Vince Neil" premiering on Saturday, January 1 at 9PM ET/PT. Throughout the hour-long special Neil will undergo a facelift, work out with a personal trainer and most importantly, kick his drinking habit. Following his physical transformation, Neil will then team up with some of the music industry's top producers to record a new single, "Promise Me", proving that true music legends never die. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Botox, the Spandex of the 21st Century
 

Robert Lowe Recovering

Blabbermouth reports: SOLITUDE AETURNUS frontman Robert Lowe underwent surgery on Monday (Dec. 27) to remove his gallbladder and is now said to be back home and recovering. 

In addition to Lowe's gallbladder being in worse shape than expected, the doctor reportedly told Robert that a lower abdominal hernia was also found and repaired during the operation. [see full story for more, including new album news]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

KISS Medicare

Blabbermouth reports: KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley this week underwent a second surgery on his hip to correct problems that arose following his hip replacement of October 12. After an undetermined period of rest and physical therapy, he is expected to make a full recovery. 

Stanley had previously said that his left hip degenerated from years of high-energy performances with KISS. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on SEBASTIAN BACH: Remembering DIMEBAG DARRELL, MALEVOLENT CREATION To Embark On European Tour In March, HATE ETERNAL Mixing New Album, Ex-SKINLAB/40 GRIT Project Uploads New Song, Continues Vocalist Search, GOD FORBID Announce New Album Title and more click here to check it out
 

Sum 41 Playboy

Punkbands.com reports: Sum 41 frontman, Deryck Whibley, is a guest character and contributes music to the soundtrack for the video game, Playboy: The Mansion, due January 11th. - Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Thursday Glassjaw

Punkbands reports: According to Alternative Press, Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw, Geoff Rickley of Thursday, Alex Saavedra of Eyeball Records, Eric Cooper of Kiss It Goodbye, and Chee of The Number Twelve Looks Like You are starting an untitled scream/grind project - Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Van Hanging?

BW&BK reports: VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony has posted the following update at his official website: 

"I'd like to wish everybody a happy and bashing holidays and all the best for the new year to come! It was great to be out on the road again rockin' everybody's asses off! I would like to personally thank everyone for coming out and supporting the tour. Van Halen fans are truely the best and you guys are "on the beach!" I'm not sure what the future holds for Van Halen, but I can tell you Sammy and I will be out there rocking together with the Wabos in 2005. Stay tuned for further developments."- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Ozzfest World Tour 05

BW&BK reports: OZZY OSBOURNE fan site Ozzyhead.com is reporting that Sharon Osbourne recently announced on MTV's Battle For Ozzfest that the Ozzfest 2005, 10th Anniversary Tour would "tour the world". 

This is a very good indication that fans in Europe will finally get to see the Ozzman next year.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: BW&BK also has news on SEBASTIAN BACH - "Dimebag Darrell Understood", GENE SIMMONS - ""Love They Neighbor ... At The Playboy Mansion"!, STEELHEART - "Things Are Moving Forward At A Steady Pace", PAUL STANLEY Undergoes Second Hip Surgery, MALEVOLENT CREATION - European Onslaught Announced and more click here to check it out
 

Eminem's Encore

liveDaily reports: Last-minute holiday shoppers snapped up about 430,000 copies of Eminem's "Encore" over the last week, enough to launch the album back to the top of the U.S. album chart. 

The album, which spent last week at No. 3, previously topped The Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks following its release in November.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Interpol begins plotting dates for 2005 U.S. tour, Joe Satriani scraps year-end concerts due to illness, Celine Dion's Las Vegas schedule set through July, Kenny Wayne Shepherd straps on guitar for 2005 shows, liveDaily readers honor U2, Maroon 5 in Best of 2004 poll and more click here to check it out
 

QOTSA Set Release

siN's metal news reports: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE have announced that their new disc ''Lullabies To Paralyse'' will be released through Interscope Records on March 21st, and will be embarking on a UK tour in February of next year. The CD will also include DISTILLERS frontwoman Brody Dalle and GARBAGE singer Shirley Manson guesting on a track called 'Man, You’ve Got Quite A Scene Going There'. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: siN's metal news also has news on SMNnews.com - 2004 Review - What's Hot? What's Not?, With Full Force - A Few New Names, Switchpin - Live JagerMusic Video Online, Linkin Park - Pave the Way for Music for Relief Donations, Malevolent Creation - European Tour in the Works and more click here to check it out
 

Skid Row 05

MelodicRock reports: Skid Row are at work writing new material for a new studio album hoped to be released by mid-2005.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Red Hot Record Breakers

Gigwise reports: The Red Hot Chili Peppers have made it into the record books to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time. 

The Guinness British Hit Singles and Albums book every year ranks artists according to how long they have spent in the UK single and album charts. 

The Chilis are the only new entry this year – coming in at number 97. 

Spandeau Ballet have been dropped from the list and Michael Jackson is the highest climber, now at number 8. 

Elvis Presley still tops the list, having notched up 2,463 weeks in the UK singles and albums charts. [see full story for more including the Top 10 list]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Metallica Dolls

MuchMusic reports: It’s too late for this year’s holidays but the Metallica Master of Puppets Playset is on the way. It features the members of Metallica as dolls, with instruments and stage accessories. Look for them to hit stores in January. - Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Stones Love Triangle

Herald Sun reports: HER five-year romance with Mick Jagger made Marianne Faithfull a face of the 1960s. 

But now she has revealed she preferred Keith Richards. The singer, whose convent education belied a wild side that led to drug addiction, says she regrets that her relationship with the Rolling Stones guitarist was just a one-night stand. 

She says she only dated Jagger because Richards told her to. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Boy Sets Fire Eye Next CD

Lambgoat reports: Boy Sets Fire look to begin the pre-production process for their next album in January. The group expects to select a studio and producer for the album in the very near future as well. Here's what BSF bassist Robert Ehrenbrand says about the new material: 

"As you can imagine we can't wait to go ahead and finally throw these songs down. We have about 25 to 30 songs and will have to decide which ones will end up on the record. They are all very different and unique little bastards and I guess there will be a couple of real surprises on the next CD for you as well as for us.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Hate Eternal Complete CD

Lambgoat reports: The new Hate Eternal album is currently being mixed and should be completed on January 4th. Entitled "I, Monarch," should hit stores in April 2005 via Earache Records. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Silly News: Elvis Cup

AP reports: Miss your chance to buy some water from a cup once used by Elvis Presley? Don't be disappointed — now you can bid on a chance to see, but not own, the cup that held the water. 

The North Carolina man who sold the water on eBay last week is now auctioning off a one-time appearance of the Styrofoam cup that originally held the water. 

Wade Jones retrieved the cup and water when he went to a Presley concert in Greensboro in 1977. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Musicians on Call Benefit

NMC reports: John Mayer, No Doubt and Alicia Keys are several of the artists taking part in the first fundraiser for non-profit organization Musicians on Call. Mayer and No Doubt have donated autographed guitars to be auctioned off at Sotheby's on January 31 in New York City. Mayer will also play an acoustic set during the fundraiser. 

Founded in 1999, Musicians on Call brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of people in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Janet's Boob Web Hit

Ananova reports: Pictures of Janet Jackson's breast being exposed at the Superbowl were the year's most popular celebrity internet searches. 

Images of the singer flashing her boob during a duet with Justin Timberlake prompted 60 times more requests than Paris Hilton's porn video, reports The Sun. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Bono & Geldof Duet

Ananova reports: Organisers of The Brits are reportedly begging Bono and Sir Bob Geldof to perform a duet at the ceremony. 

Sir Bob is being honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the bash in February and U2 are also signed up to appear. 

Bosses at the ceremony's 25th anniversary show in February want the pair to team up to provide a show-stopping finale, reports the Daily Mirror. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Ananova also has news on Will to host £10k New Year's Eve party, Tupac's third posthumous album tops chart, Robbie wants to become nudist, Elton 'dubbed Vicky Pollard' and more click here to check it out
 

Monster Garage Glasspack

press release reports: We’re proud to announce that the Glasspack will have a track in the upcoming video game for Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage” by Activision. The track used in the video game is from this years Small Stone Recordings’ release "the Glasspack/Bridgeburner.", the track entitled “Barn Party.” [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Dimebag Tribute Show in Arizona

submitted news reports: There is a Dimebag Darrell Tribute Show scheduled for January 7, 2004 to help raise money for the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund. It is at Minder Binders in Tempe, AZ and Tribute T-shirts will be sold for $10 donation to the cause, along with a raffle to have at the show for gift certificates and cool stuff. We want to remember this legend and this is the night for it.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 
 

Best of 2004 Countdown

As we close in on the New Year, we will be unveiling our writers' picks for the best of 2004. 

Today we have out final Top 5 list. Tomorrow we will reveal the master list and reader's choice list. 

Today antiGUY brings the countdown to a close with his Top 5 of 2004. (click the full story link to read his comments on the CDs and for related links for release and to submit your picks for the readers choice list - and see past days lists you may have missed!) 

antiGUY's Top 5 of 2004: 

1. Skindred - Babylon 
2. Brian Wilson - Smile 
3. Ike Reilly Assignation - Sparkle in the Finish 
4. Megadeth - The System Has Failed 
5. William Shatner - Has Been 

Runners Up 
Sparta - Porcelain 
Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine 
Coheed And Cambria -In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 

[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

(Fear Factory earns the biggest disappointment award for 04)
 

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