The Vines Breaking Up?
An anonymous Australian source has told antiMUSIC that: "last night, Australian Rock Radio station Triple M held an exclusive listener only concert for the Vines, which has been reported as the worst performance of the year. 

"Bass player, Patrick Matthews, walked out on the band after an on stage argument after the 1st song and refused to come back. Lead singer, Craig Nicholls then abused their fans, calling them 'cu*ts' and 'sheep' for being there. 

"Later in the performance, minus the bass player - Nicholls allegedly had altercations with a fan and a photographer that was covering the event. 

"There was a discussion overheard backstage that the band are breaking up. Could this be the end of the Vines? Full updated details of this event will" reportedly be available soon. 

Update: The band canceled their show in Sydney on Friday night (May 28). A press release from EMI's press office reads, It is with great regret and disappointment that The Vines announce the cancellation of their Metro show in Sydney tonight. 

The show will no longer take place as planned due to illness. The band sincerely apologise for any disappointment caused. [see full story for a photo of Craig thrashing on stage and the Triple M listener response] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Avril Gives MTV Finger
Ananova reports: MTV cut short an interview with Avril Lavigne after she stuck her middle finger up at the camera. 

She was reacting to a question about what she thought about the way she was portrayed in the media. 

MTV immediately scrapped plans for Lavigne to perform another song on Total Request Live, reports the New York Daily News. 

Lavigne's spokeswoman defended the singer's actions saying: "It wasn't a gesture of defiance. She was laughing." [see full story for more including MTV's reported reaction] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Libertines Singer Quits
Ananova reports: Libertines front man Pete Doherty has quit the band. 

Doherty left The Priory clinic last week while being treated for drug addiction. 

He's told The Sun he's now decided to turn his back on The Libertines. 

He said: I'm heading to Paris to escape with my girlfriend Irene. She's the one person who understands me. She will help me give up the crack pipe. 

"I couldn't do that in The Priory. I was barely aware of what was going on in there. All these visitors were coming in to see me and saying they were my family and my sisters - but really they weren't. [see full story for lots more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Ananova also has news on The Darkness Songwriter of the Year award, Strokes' Julian to marry, Morrissey cancels TV shows after meningitis scare, New single and album for Radio 4, Cowell tells Posh to quit singing and more click here to check it out

Nipple Gate Case Dismissed
liveDaily reports: A judge in Utah has thrown out a lawyer's $5,000 false advertising claim against Viacom, which he filed in small-claims court after Janet Jackson's bare breast was exposed during this year's Super Bowl halftime show. 

According to an Associated Press report, attorney Eric Stephenson claimed CBS-TV, which is owned by Viacom, led him to believe that the halftime show would be a "family oriented, patriotic celebration." [more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Cave-In Leave RCA
Punkbands reports: According to recent rumors, Cave In are said to have now amicably parted ways with their label RCA. It is as yet unknown on which label the bands next effort will surface. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Punkbands.com also has news on The Dillinger Escape Plan Will Rule The World!, Underoath - Not Under Oath With Punkbands.com, Tsunami Bomb Summer Tour Dates Announced, Stream Subliminal Messages and more click here to check it out

Megadeth Release Date
The PRP reports: Megadeth are now set to release their new album through Sanctuary on September 14th. A title has been decided upon for the effort but has yet to be announced.- Click Here for the Full Story 

DEP Tracks
The PRP reports: The Dillinger Escape Plan have announced the final track listing for their upcoming new album "Miss Machine", it is: 

01 - "Panasonic Youth" - 02 - "Sunshine The Werewolf" - 03 - "Highway Robbery" - 04 - "Van Damsel" - 05 - "Phone Home" - 06 - "We Are The Storm" - 07 - "Crutch Field Tongs" - 08 - "Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants" - 09 - "Baby¹s First Coffin" - 10 - "Unretrofied" - 11 - "The Perfect Design" 

The album is slated for a July 20th release date through Relapse. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: The PRP also has news on Dangerous Downloads, Mondo Activity, Lopez To Ashes, Megarelease, In The Track List Tonight, Prison Romance, Marigold Moves Forward, Shallow Water Strength, Finalign and more click here to check it out

Rare Static-X
Digital Noise reports: Static-X will be releasting a rarities album in July. 

The album, titled "Beneath, Between, Beyond", will include "2 songs that never appeared anywhere before, special demos from all 3 albums and much more."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Mudvayne Finish Up
Digital Noise reports: MuDvAyNe has finished writing 12 songs for their third studio album. Chad, Ryan, Greg and Matt have left the ranch in Santa Cruz (Corralitos, CA to be exact) and are on their way back to their respective homes in California, Illinois and Wisconsin. On Saturday, June 12th, 2004 the band will reconvene to commence recording the album that will sound both "brutal and beautiful". - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Digital Noise also has news on Slipknot U.K. Tour Dates False Megadeth Set September Release Date for New Album, New Underoath Track Posted Online, My Chemical Romance and more click here to check it out

Iced Earth's Greatest
BW&BK reports: Century Media is releasing a 2CD best of collection from ICED EARTH called The Blessed And The Damned on July 27th. 

The album features 23 remastered tracks (over two hours of material) with two different album covers. IE leader Jon Schaffer talks about each song in the 20 page booklet that's included in the package. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Cheap Trick Drummer Passes Out
BW&BK reports: On Saturday, May 24th, after the CHEAP TRICK show in Seattle, WA drummer Bun E Carlos fainted from exhaustion and dehydration. He checked himself into a hospital for observation. Bun was released and flew home on May 25th. Today (Thursday May 27th) Bun E got the medical results and passed all the tests. He received a clean bill of health. The diagnosis is exhaustion, dehydration, and low potassium levels.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: BW&BK also has news on VAN HALEN, HELLOWEEN, JOE SATRIANI, PRIMAL FEAR, TEN, STEPHEN PEARCY, ATHRETIC, KEVIN DUBROW and more click here to check it out

Blink-182 Charity Building
AP reports: The trio blink-182 went from punk rock to house painting when they helped complete a Habitat for Humanity project. 

The band's volunteer work Wednesday was part of Raise The Roof, a partnership between Clear Channel Entertainment and Habitat for Humanity, which provides homes for people in need using volunteers. The band, which spent about 40 minutes at the Habitat site, played a show at the Star Pavilion in nearby Hershey on Wednesday night. [see full story for comments from the band]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Uni Recovering
AP reports: French media and telecommunications company Vivendi Universal slashed its first quarter losses and posted a 10 percent increase in operating profit Thursday, offering a clear sign that the worst is over as it recovers from a brush with bankruptcy. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Oliveri Keeps Busy
IAYM reports: Mondo Generator plan to tour Europe in July alongside Brant Bjork & co., dates and venues will be announced shortly. In the meantime, the band are said to be working on a new album which will see production from ex-Queens Of The Stone Age drummer Gene Trautmann. Furthermore, Mondo Generator frontman Nick Oliveri is planning to release his first ever solo acoustic outing this summer- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on The Dillinger Escape Plan: "Miss Machine", Meshuggah UK dates, Byzantine: new album update, Classic Case/Beloved/Time In Malta dates, Place Of Skulls/Pale Divine tour, KMFDM U.S. dates, and more click here to check it out

Wilburys Travel Again
ArrowFM reports: Most rock and roll fans would agree that the late, great Roy Orbison had one of the most magical and beautiful voices in music history. He basically sounded like an opera singer in a rock and roll band. Fellow musicians Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and George Harrison thought he was equally gifted, which eventually led them to form The Traveling Wilburys with Orbison in the Eighties. The super group released two incredible albums and a top ten hit in 1988 with "Handle With Care." Orbison died of a heart attack when visiting his mother only a few months later. Well, Orbison may only live "in dreams" now, as one of his great songs attested, but his widow Barbara Orbison is bringing back the Wilburys. Barbara Orbison has been working on a Traveling Wilburys audio-video set that she hopes to release by late 2004. Also working with George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, Barbara plans to release recordings that have been out of circulation for nearly a decade. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: ArrowFM also has news on Bono Chills With Nancy Sinatra, Kelly Osbourne Comes Clean On Drug Use, Page Makes An Architectural Pilgrimage, Sting, Cooper Rock The 2004 Summer Games and more click here to check it out

Misfits Added To Hellfest
Hellfest.com reports: You are reading it correctly... the legendary MISFITS have been scheduled to play HELLFEST 2004! More additions coming soon. [see full story link for more info on Hell Fest]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Buckley Revisited and Revised
AZ Central reports: The lone Jeff Buckley studio album released in his lifetime will be reissued in a remastered, expanded edition this summer, Billboard.com can reveal. Due Aug. 23 via Columbia, "Grace: Legacy Edition" features the original 1994 album, a 13-track disc of rarities and a DVD featuring four music videos, studio footage and live performances. [see full story for all the details]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Bee Gee Royalty
liveDaily reports: Barry and Robin Gibb, the surviving members of The Bee Gees, were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire during a Thursday (5/27) ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace. Adam Gibb, son of late Bee Gees member Maurice Gibb, accepted the honor on his father's behalf. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen discuss reunion tour, best-of set, Celine Dion back on stage in Las Vegas after injury, X-ecutioners pack their turntables for club tour and more click here to check it out

Red Hot New CD
Xfm reports: The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have announced details of a new album currently set for a summer release, Anthony's forthcoming autobiography and the support acts due to support the band for their UK shows. 

The Chilli Peppers will be releasing a live record this summer recorded at their London Hyde Park shows. Currently, the album is only set to be released in Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and is tentatively pencilled in for an August 2 release. 

While the album is likely to be based on a greatest hits set, the inclusion of new material has not been ruled out. [see full story for lots more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Xfm also has news on Snow Patrol Talk Celebrity And Cliff, Chuck Berry Heads For Bulldog Bash, Green Day Take their '...Idiot' To Broadway, Radiohead, Coldplay and Ninja Tune Film Fest and more click here to check it out

Godsmack 500
press release reports: Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum Godsmack, fresh off 100 dates of a sold out tour with Metallica, will join a number of today's top celebrities at the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on Sunday, May 30. They have been invited to launch the legendary car race, known as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," by circling the track in a specially designed convertible Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car. [check out the full story link to visit the official Godsmack site and learn more... plus check out their new CD "The Other Side", which has just been certified gold]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Dear Andrew WK
press release reports: MTV2 has given Andrew W.K.--and you--a brand new show. Every week, Andrew will answer E-mails from viewers and fans, and even help you solve your problems. Drop Andrew a line and your question could be featured on Your Friend, Andrew W.K.. If you live in the greater New York City or San Francisco area and your letter rocks especially hard, Andrew just might show up at your door and help you personally. Sit tight, 'cause help is on the way. 

Your Friend, Andrew W.K. airs every Saturday on MTV2 @ 9pm EST / 6pmPST 

Want a chance to be on air? Want to chat with Andrew W.K.? Got a problem you need to vent about? Want some advice? click the full story link and drop him a line. - Click Here for the Full Story 

No Love For Courtney Love 
[It's Friday, time for Chuck DiMaria to give us his 2 cents. This week Chuck ponders the train wreck that is Courtney Love. Read on for 1 cent and click the full story link to get Chuck's full 2 cents on this subject plus see the link for a special 2 cents on the 80s!] Train wreck. 

That's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Courtney Love: Train wreck. 

The funny thing about a train wreck is that you can see it coming, you see the out of control locomotive speeding down the track, heading straight for disaster, and you can not (Will not?) look away. 

And as that train is hurtling towards inevitable and complete destruction, you have enough time to ask yourself a few simple questions: How did this happen? Was somebody asleep at the switch? Just who the hell is in charge around here? 

The same questions enter my mind whenever I see Courtney Love. 

Who thought this was a good idea? Who green-lit this project? Who's running this show? 

Now, before I get out my ginsu knife, the one that can cut through a tin can and still beautifully julienne a carrot, and proceed to carve this woman a new one, let's get something out of the way; I don't hate this woman. Really, I don't. 

What I hate is this woman's single-minded pursuit of stardom at the expense of all those around her. 

And I give credit where credit is due. I have in the past applauded her efforts to raise public awareness of the plight of recording artists who are getting ripped off by record companies. (Salon.Com: Courtney Love does the math) It's a great article and I would have liked to seen her do more with it - A trip to Congress with other musicians would have been a good start - but that was, sadly, all we got from her. 

Regardless, it was a decent effort on her part and not many other musicians were saying much on the subject. Like I said, I give credit where credit is due, but that's about all she's due. The rest of her is a complete waste of DNA. 

I'm torn here. The problem is celebrities, even out of control ones like Courtney Love, are people, too. And what's more, there is the matter of the only person involved who's pretty much innocent: Her daughter, Francis Bean. (I hate the thought of a little kid with internet access seeing this stuff.) 

However, Courtney Love should have considered the possible consequences of subjecting her daughter to Mommy's relentless pursuit of intergalactic notoriety before Mommy flashed her boobs on Late Night with David Letterman over and over and over again. 

So, having said all that, on with the show� 

[that's 1 cent.. now click the full story link to get the other. Plus get a bonus 2 cents from Chuck on the 80s - an article you don't want to miss!] - Click Here for the Full Story