New Drowning Pool Singer
The Metal Underground Reports: Although there’s still been no official announcement that he’s in the band, Drowning Pool played a show last week in Dallas with singer Jason ‘Gong’ Jones, the man who seems to be their choice to replace the late Dave Williams. The band is expected to start work on a new album later in the year. 

If he officially lands the gig, Jones will take the place of the late Dave Williams, who passed away last summer while the group was on the Ozzfest. - Click Here for the Full Story

Platinum Staind
Staind’s latest, “14 Shades of Grey,” has been certified Platinum by the RIAA, having sold a million copies in the US. The album debut in the number one spot on the Billboard charts when it was released in June, but quickly fell. 

While a platinum record is nothing to smirk at, sales for the new album are far lower than the band’s last CD, “Break The Cycle,” which reportedly sold close to seven million copies worldwide (over 4 million in the U.S.). 

The band is about to wind up a headlining tour before taking a short break. They are expected to hit the road again later this year. 

Kylie Kidnapping Hoax
MuchMusic Reports: Distressed neighbors of Kylie Minogue called police last night after spotting what they thought to be the kidnapping of the Aussie pop star outside her London home. After beginning their investigation, the police were told by a documentary film crew that the kidnapping was staged for cameras using a Kylie look-a-like. A spokesperson for Kylie, who was in the recording studio at the time, said: "This is an incredibly irresponsible thing to do and I can't believe anyone would be that stupid." 

The Scotland Yard believes the film crew worked for Britain's Channel 4 but the station denied their involvement. The police said they would be issuing strongly worded advice to documentary makers in the future. - Click Here for the Full Story

Slash Gershon
Rolling Stone Reports: For her debut album, actress Gina Gershon has amassed a songwriting team that would be the envy of any rocker. The sultry star of Showgirls and Face/Off has been collaborating with Don Was, ex-Wire Train guitarist Kevin Hunter, hot songwriter and producer Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Pink), and her new pals Slash and Matt Sorum. 

"[Former Eurythmic] Dave Stewart has been trying to get me to do an album for five years," says Gershon

Gershon has so far recorded eight songs for her own as-yet-untitled album, but hopes to put down at least fifteen more before she decides when, and if, she wants to release it. - Click Here for the Full Story

Lightning Strikes Thursday 
NME reports: The NEW JERSEY-five piece THURSDAY have cheated death after their van was struck by lightning. 

The group were on the road traveling in upstate New York en route to a date on the US Hellfest festival when tragedy was narrowly averted.

"We were in our mini van and there was this huge crash like the sound of a bomb going off," singer Geoff Rickly explained to NME.COM"Our radio antenna was all black after the storm so the lightning probably hit that. They say the chances of getting hit by lightning are pretty low and they say that lightning never strikes twice so we’re hoping we had to take it that one time and now we’re good."

When the group started on their way again, things didn’t get much better. "The next day we were in Ohio and all these tornadoes were touching down. It was like someone’s trying to kill us," Geoff joked.  - Click Here for the Full Story

New Anathema 
Blabbermouth.net reports:  ANATHEMA have entered Parkgate Studios near Hastings, U.K. to begin recording the follow-up to 2001's "A Fine Day to Exit",  tentatively due in late 2003/early 2004 through Music For Nations Records. - Click Here for the Full Story

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