Slightly Stoopid Week: Day 4

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Being Emo A Crime?

antiMusic reports: Want another sign that Russia is sliding back into their old totalitarian ways? Soon Russians won't even have the freedom to listen to crappy music! Metal Underground has the story: The Russian government is in the process of drafting a law to make emo and goth music illegal.

Last month a parliamentary committee was convened to discuss a draft proposal of the Russian government's Government Strategy In The Sphere Of Spiritual And Ethical Education bill, the details of which were leaked to The Moscow Times.

The newspaper subsequently reported that, among other things, the draft bill dubbed the musical movements a "dangerous teen trend" and called for emo and goth websites to be regulated and young people dressing like emos or goths to be banned from entering schools and government buildings. - more on this story

Metallica Explain CD Title and Announce Tracks

Blabbermouth reports: METALLICA has revealed the official track listing (in the final running order) for its new album, "Death Magnetic". It is as follows: 01. That Was Just Your Life 02. The End Of The Line 03. Broken, Beat & Scarred 04. The Day That Never Comes 05. All Nightmare Long 06. Cyanide 07. The Unforgiven III 08. The Judas Kiss 09. Suicide & Redemption 10. My Apocalypse

Frontman James Hetfield explained the meaning of the record's title, saying, "It started out as kind of a tribute to people that have fallen in our business, like (Alice In Chains frontman) Layne Staley and a lot of the people that have died, basically — rock and roll martyrs of sorts. And then it kind of grew from there. Thinking about death...just like a magnet, some people are drawn towards it, (and) other people are afraid of it and push away."

Hetfield added, "The concept that we're all gonna die sometimes is over-talked about and then a lot of times never talked about — no one wants to bring it up; it's the big white elephant in the living room. But we all have to deal with it at some point." - more on this story

Alice Cooper Is No Idol Fan

House of Rock reports: Veteran rock star Alice Cooper has slammed the makers of reality TV shows like X-Factor for not searching for rock bands.

Cooper said shows like American Idol were only looking for artists that were "totally disposable".

"They aren't looking for rock bands, they're looking for people who are going to end up with shows in Vegas," he told People. - more on this story

All Star Tribute to Dimebag

Blabbermouth reports: Hard-rocking music fans headed to this year's Ozzfest will experience a special one-time only all-star tribute to fallen Pantera/Damageplan guitarist and Texas native "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott as part of the Saturday, August 9 one-day stadium spectacular at Dallas' Pizza Hut Park.

The tribute to "Dimebag" Darrell will feature Abbott's brother, Vinnie Paul (acting as musical director and playing drums), along with an array of prominent hard rockers. This not-to-be-missed performance will salute the acclaimed guitarist whose December 2004 murder while performing onstage at a Columbus, Ohio club still has the hard rock/metal community reeling.

Artists already confirmed to honor "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott include: Kerry King (Slayer), Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains), Mike Inez (Alice In Chains), King Diamond, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed, Kingdom Of Sorrow), Chad Gray (Mudvayne, Hellyeah), Bob Zilla (Damageplan, Hellyeah) - more on this story

Guns N' Roses Guitar Hero

GNRdaily reports: Famous rockers such as Guns N' Roses and Van Halen are said to be fleshing out deals to capitalise on the popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

That's according to Front Line Management boss Irving Azoff, who was speaking to the Wall Street Journal.

Those groups, alongside others such as The Eagles and Steely Dan, "all have deals of varying types in the works with one or the other or both of these companies" said Azoff, referring to Activision and MTV. - more on this story

Magical Mystery Tour Memories

MVD reports: The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour Memories is an upbeat rockumentary featuring the vivid memories of those who witnessed the making of the cult Beatle movie, The Magical Mystery Tour, in 1967.

The DVD hits stores on September 2nd and features a celebrity cast along with anecdotal stories and unseen 8mm home movie footage, as well as eye-witness accounts from fans, on-lookers and the cast of the movie. Featuring Dame Peggy Spencer (choreographer), Neil Innis (Bonzo Dog Do Da Band), Tony Barrow (Beatles press officer and close friend of Sir Paul McCartney), Keith McCartney (Paul McCartney's brother), Frieda Kelly (principle secretary to the Beatles Fan Club), Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group), Tony Bramwell (Beatles road manager), and Victor Spinetti (actor and close friend of John Lennon) sharing their memories with Victor supplying a fascinating commentary to the film. - more on this story

Miley Cyrus' Next Film Won't Be As Raunchy As We Hoped

Angryape reports: Teenage pop star Miley Cyrus has denied claims that she will be appearing in a raunchy R-rated movie.

Rumors suggested that the 15-year-old, who rose to fame as TV character Hannah Montana, would play the role of a promiscuous teen in a film titled 'Undiscovered Gyrl' - apparently based on a novel by Allison Burnett.

Despite "sources" saying Cyrus is interested in the role, the singer-actress has laughed-off reports, after she was quoted as saying "I'm not even allowed to go see R-rated movies." - more on this story

New Pretenders CD on the Way

PR reports: Shangri-La Music is proud to announce the newest album by one of rock's seminal bands with the release of The Pretenders' Break Up The Concrete out September 23rd. The album, the ninth in the band's illustrious career and its first in 6 years, has band leader Chrissie Hynde collaborating with a new group of musicians. Recorded in 10 days the result is a stripped down roots album, pure and raw, which highlights Hynde's timeless vocal sound.

Backing up Hynde on the album is a band that has no problems conjuring the true spirit of rock's earliest days. Classic leads by guitarist James Walbourne, the twang of pedal steel from Eric Heywood, and backed by a concrete foundation laid by the rhythm section of bassist Nick Wilkinson and legendary drummer Jim Keltner, this band allows Hynde to show off her best vocal work and songwriting since the early days of The Pretenders. - more on this story

Fiddy Sues Taco Bell For More Than Half A Buck

Jam! reports: Rapper 50 Cent has sued Taco Bell, claiming the fast-food restaurant chain is using his name without permission in advertising that asks him to call himself 99 Cent.

The rapper says in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that the Mexican-themed chain features him in an ad asking him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. His real name is Curtis Jackson.

The rapper's court papers say the ad is part of Taco Bell's "Why Pay More?" campaign, which promotes items for under a dollar - more on this story

Fountains of Wayne Solo Release

PR reports: Fountains of Wayne guitarist Jody Porter is set to release his first solo record via itunes on August 26, 2008.

Entitled Close to the Sun, the album is made up of 12 original songs that were recorded in New York and produced by Porter and Michael Tudor. Strokes producer Gordon Raphael also produced one song.

"Close To the Sun is a collection of songs I wrote and recorded over the last few years, in between Fountains of Wayne albums and tours," says Porter . "After working on my friends records (Albert Hammond, Jr., Juliana Hatfield), I decided it was time to put out my own. It was nice to be able to let this record come together gradually until I had the right songs to make sense together on one album." - more on this story

Holy Flaring Temper Batman!

TMZ reports: Christian Bale was one giant raw nerve just days before he allegedly pushed his mother. TMZ spies tell us Bale was on the set last Friday shooting "Terminator 4" at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

During a scene, Shane Hurlbut (seriously), director of cinematography, screwed up a shot -- at least in Christian's mind.

We're told Bale went ballistic, screaming "I will kick your ass" along with other choice remarks. Several hundred people heard the outburst, including Military Police, which was described as "intense." - more on this story

Nas Tops Charts

Billboard reports: One rapper replaces another atop The Billboard 200 this week, as Nas' untitled Def Jam album dethrones Lil Wayne's Cash Money/Universal set "Tha Carter III."

Nas' album sold 187,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the rapper's fifth No. 1 here.

Nas' prior album, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," also debuted at No. 1 but sold 354,000 over Christmas week. - more on this story

Scars on Broadway Release Party

HER reports: Scars on Broadway, the collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan, will launch the highly-anticipated release of their self-titled debut with an exclusive concert in the band's hometown of Los Angeles on Monday, July 28, the night before the CD hits stores.

The special show, presented by L.A. radio powerhouse KROQ-FM, will be held in the massive and ornate lobby of downtown's railway terminal, Union Station, and will be simulcast live at www.scarsonbroadway.com beginning at 9:25PM PT/12:25AM ET

To receive one of the limited number of wristbands that gains entry into this special performance, fans will pre-purchase the new Scars on Broadway CD beginning at 7:00PM on Monday evening at a special Best Buy tent to be set up at Union Station. The CDs at Union Station will be autographed exclusively for this event by Daron and John from Scars on Broadway. - more on this story

Dr. Phil To Save Mindy McCready?

TMZ reports: Mindy McCready is going back to rehab after trying to do herself in by quaffing her favorite swiggable, vodka and Ambien, and we hear Dr. Phil's inserting himself in the whole she-bang.

TMZ has learned the troubled McCready went off the deep end late last week after getting dumped by her last boyfriend, and actually collapsed while on the phone with her mother. She downed a bottle of vods and pills in what we're told was a "suicide attempt."

She's headed to Arizona for treatment -- and a source says that was all Phil's idea. We're told he's taken Mindy under his wing as his own "personal project." As for whether or not she'll be on the show, time will tell.
- more on this story

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