Velvet Revolver Ushers Avril To #3
USA Today reports: With first-week sales of 257,000 copies for debut album Contraband, Velvet Revolver outgunned Usher to capture the No. 1 post in Billboard, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The rock-metal crossbreed, featuring former members of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses, most likely will yield that seat next week to the Beastie Boys, whose To the 5 Boroughs is expected to top the chart with 400,000-plus copies. 

Usher dips to second with 171,000 copies for a three-month total of 4.1 million. Avril Lavigne is third, ahead of Gretchen Wilson, Prince and Hoobastank. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Johnny Ramone Not Dying
Blabbermouth reports: Despite published reports to the contrary, RAMONES guitarist Johnny Ramone is not dying of cancer, his doctor has told MTV News. 

Ramone, who has been living with prostate cancer for the past several years, was recently admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what his physician, Dr. David Agus, told MTV News was a "complication from the cancer. But he got through it, and he's now on a new, experimental therapy. He's fighting courageously, and I think he will be going home in the near term."- Click Here for the Full Story 

Final Candlemass
Blabbermouth reports: CANDLEMASS's final recording � a two-song demo containing the tracks "Witch" and "Born In A Tank" � will be included on a new collection of album reissues, tentatively due this fall.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Blabbermouth also has news on SIX FEET UNDER, VINCE NEIL, OZZFEST 2004: Press Conference Video, JIMI HENDRIX Memorabilia, TAPPING THE VEIN, HEADSPEED, GOLDENPYRE, METALLICA Conquer Swedish Album Chart, MONSTER MAGNET Mainman To Release Solo Album and more click here to check it out

Dr Bob Dylan
AP reports: Call him Dr. Tambourine Man. Scotland's oldest university announced Wednesday it was awarding an honorary doctorate to the laureate of folk-rock, Bob Dylan. 

The University of St. Andrews said Dylan would be made an honorary doctor of music at its June 23 summer graduation ceremony. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Queen To Aid Africa
Ananova reports: Queen and former Eurythmics' guitarist Dave Stewart are to appear at the Aids in Africa fund-raising concert in Spain this August. 

46664 Latino takes place in Benidorm on Saturday, August 21, and follows a successful concert in Cape Town last year. 

The concert is named after the prison number given to former South African president Nelson Mandela. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Silly News: Madonna No More
Ananova reports: Madonna has reportedly changed her name to Esther. 

The singer was inspired to take on a new name by her study of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah. 

Madonna is rarely seen out without Kabbalah's trademark red string bracelet. 

Her husband, Guy Ritchie, is also a follower of Kabbalah. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Pearl Jam Unplugged
liveDaily reports: Though Pearl Jam has frequently given acoustic performances over the course of its career, the band has never offered up a true acoustic album--until now. 

On July 27, the group issues "Live at Benaroya Hall October 22nd 2003," a two-disc set that captures the band's two-plus-hour, sold-out performance at the 2,500-seat Seattle venue. The concert, which was a benefit for YouthCare, marked the group's first live performance of its Golden Globe-nominated song "Man of the Hour," and included acoustic covers of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War," The Ramones' "I Believe in Miracles" and Johnny Cash's "25 Minutes to Go." [see full story for more including info on a limited-edition, vinyl box set] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Coheed and Cambria Reissue
liveDaily reports: Columbia Records will re-issue "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3," the sophomore effort from rockers Coheed and Cambria, on June 29. The set was released independently in 2003, and has sold more than 150,000 copies to date, according to Columbia. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: liveDaily also has news on Velvet Revolver, Johnny Ramone, Billy Joe Shaver, Lucinda Williams firms up summer itinerary, Kittie scratches out summer tour, readies new album, liveDaily Interview: Warped Tour vet Joe Escalante of The Vandals click here to check it out

If Geoff Was Queen
Electric Basement reports: Talking with Electricbasement.com recently, QUEENSRYCHE vocalist GEOFF TATE explained what he'd do if he were president, "I do not believe in any type of fundamentalist religion. People who follow that are immature spirituallly and emotionally. Fundamentalism, if I was president, I'd outlaw it. It's a dangerous thing." [see full story for the full interview]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Dragonforce in Bus Crash
Electric Basement reports: Having just completed a successful 6 weeks on tour in mainland Europe with W.A.S.P., London based extreme power metal sextet DRAGONFORCE will remember their final night on the road with slightly less affection. 

Upon leaving Paris to return to the UK for two extra shows that complete the tour, their tour bus was involved in an accident that left drummer Dave Mackintosh with a broken elbow that will see him out of action for at least 6 weeks. 

However, the show must go on and their shows with W.A.S.P. at the Waterfront in NORWICH tonight (16/6) and the Bierkeller in BRISTOL tomorrow will see the band play with a drum machine. We can only hope it can play as fast as Dave. [see full story for more] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Give Up The Ghost Give Up The Band
IAYM reports: Give Up The Ghost have made the decision to disband, which means of course that their previously announced European tour will not now be going ahead. Here's their official statement on the move: "After four years and eight months of ups and downs...give up the ghost is done. Due to health and personal reasons...we thought that it was time to call it a day. [see full story for the full statement]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Social D Tracks
IAYM reports: The track titles set to appear on Social Distortion's upcoming new record (which is currently being mixed in Los Angeles) have surfaced online and are as follows: 'Reach For The Sky', 'Shake Ass', 'Don't Take Me For Granted', 'Footprints On My Ceiling', 'Nickel's And Dimes', 'I Wasn't Born To Follow', 'Winners And Losers', 'Faithless', 'Live Before You Die', 'Angels Wings' It should arrive in stores later this year.- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: IAYM also has news on Staind update , Soulfly/Ill Nino/Crisis: more additions , Byzantine tour dates , Papa Roach/Instruction/Dead Poetic tour dates, Clutch: tour extends further , Coal Chamber 'best of' track listing , Static-X: "The Family Picnic Tour" and more click here to check it out

Modest Mouse Reunion
NMC reports: Fourteen months ago, Modest Mouse's longtime drummer Jeremiah Green left the band due to conflicts in the studio. Now Green has returned and will tour with Modest Mouse this summer. Frontman Isaac Brock and bassist Eric Judy formed the band with Green in 1993. - Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: NMC also has news on Britney Spears Cancels Tour, Alicia Keys Helps Launch iTunes Abroad, Maroon 5 Today and Tonight, Los Lonely Boys at Wakarusa Festival, Sparta to Open for Incubus and more click here to check it out

Sonic Youth Down Under
Pitchfork reports: Sonic Youth are busier than ever in their autumn years! As you may have noticed, they've just released their 19th album, Sonic Nurse, to rave reviews, as well as a DVD video collection featuring live footage, interviews, and other crazy crap, entitled Corporate Ghost. And of course, to celebrate the new releases, Sonic Youth will be taking it to the streets with an ambitious summer tour. 

You may have already heard that the band are making their second appearance at this year's Lollapalooza extravaganza (and you heard correctly), but that wasn't enough-- they've recently announced a number of individual appearances between the festival gigs. Well, hell, they have one of every two days off, so why not keep busy? Idle hands are the devil's something something. [see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Source: Pitchfork also has news on Johnny Ramone battling prostate cancer, Xiu Xiu announce 39-date summer tour, All Night Radio call it quits, Pixies release first new song in 13 years, The Faint ready new album for fall and more click here to check it out

Hot Hot Heat Follow-up
Absolute Punk reports: Hot Hot Heat will be heading down to Los Angeles at the end of the month to start pre-production for their new record. The guys have been writing and recording at home in Victoria, B.C. since January, and they now have roughly 25 songs that are ready to go. [more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

McCartney's 3000th
Press release reports: The Paul McCartney live experience that rolls out across Europe through May-June with the 04 Summer Tour is a show honed from experience of the richest tapestry in rock. 

And the 14-date 04 Summer tour will take Paul McCartney to a new benchmark - by the end of the tour Macca will have marked up his 3,000th show. 

As close as can be ascertained, Paul McCartney's 3,000th performance will be on the night of June 20th, when he plays his first-ever concert in St. Petersburg, to 100,00 people in The Palace Square." - Click Here for the Full Story 

No animals were harmed during the posting of this story. But a hamburger was consumed an hour before.
 
 

My Chemical Romance Hot Debut
press release reports: My Chemical Romance, one of today's most exciting and incendiary young bands, has scored a major music coup with their debut Reprise Records release, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. 

Featuring all-original material penned by the New Jersey-based quintet and produced by Howard Benson of Hoobastank, POD and Motorhead renown, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge has debut at number 1 on Billboard Magazine's influential Heatseeker's chart, which tracks sales new groups. 

The news follows hard on the heels of a flurry of media attention for My Chemical Romance, including a review in The New York Times, as well as upcoming stories in Alternative Press, Spin and a key "Next Big Thing" spot in Blender. [see full story for more info including upcoming Warped Tour dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Tipping The Roots
Press Release reports: Philadelphia's Roots, popularly regarded as among today's most innovative, adventurous and influential bands, have just completed 'The Tipping Point,' their new album for release July 13, 2004 by Geffen. 'The Tipping Point,' says Roots founding member and drummer Ahmir Thompson, is the "sum of our 6 records and our 12 years as a band. Most of our album titles are chosen to reflect on the mood of where the group is and we feel as though this album is our biggest step. " 

'The Tipping Point' (the title refers to Malcolm Gladwell's book on the critical moments that touch off social phenomena) is the Roots' follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album 'Phrenology.' On that lauded album, the Roots created a "blueprint for twenty-first-century pop music," (Rolling Stone). - Click Here for the Full Story 

Dokken Still Rokken
press release reports: If the group Dokken ever heard the famous quote by Andy Warhol that everybody gets 15 minutes of fame, it seems someone forgot to tell them. After 20 years the group continues to have a major recording contract as well as a loyal fan base allowing them to "still follow their bliss and make a living at it" as singer and founder of the group Don Dokken puts it. The group is slated for a July 13, 2004, release for their latest recording 'Hell to Pay' on Sanctuary Records. 

"I used to think if you had talent that's all you needed to survive the music business. After all these years I've come to realize you need an equal amount of luck!" says Don. [see full story for more details and dates for their world tour]- Click Here for the Full Story 

Stan Ridgway Snakebite
Press Release reports: Echoing swamps, talking beer cans. Midnight mystery trains and singing tumbleweeds. Lonely soldiers and voodoo chain gang ghosts. Must be a new album from Stan Ridgway. Well in fact, it is. Snakebite: Blacktop Ballads and Fugitive Songs, the forthcoming album from the Wall Of Voodoo mastermind, finds Stan offering 16 brand new songs in three acts. Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride. 

Stan Ridgway is an American music original. From his early days with L.A. art-punkers Wall Of Voodoo to his even more intriguing solo career, Ridgway has created a considerable body of work. 

In Snakebite, what begins as a collection of hard, two-fisted tales for a desert road trip riding shotgun with characters populated from America's far away fringes, slowly turns autobiographical as Ridgway takes a personal inventory -- marking the trail with slashes of slide guitar, brass, exotic percussion and his inimitable vocals and detailed lyrics. 

The album, distributed by Bayside Distribution, is scheduled to hit the streets on August 20. It is also available via pre-order at http://www.stanridgway.com - Click Here for the Full Story 

Something About Jonathan Richman
Press Release reports: You may remember Jonathan Richman as the guy with the guitar performing musical interludes in "There's Something About Mary." Or you may know him as the songwriter of Sesame Street classics "I'm A Little Airplane" and "Ice Cream Man." Or you may know him as the most frequent musical guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Most of Richman's die-hard fans know him from his long musical history as an alternative pop hero. He formed the legendary and hugely influential band The Modern Lovers in 1972 (Keyboard player Jerry Harrison went on to join Talking Heads and drummer David Robinson went on to become a member of The Cars). Richman went on to become one of the most legendary singer songwriters of our time, building a loyal fanbase through touring and his razor-sharp sense of humor. 

Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love is Jonathan Richman's first release for Sanctuary but his 21st album release in all. It is musically eclectic and humorous as always. Tracks are in English, Spanish, and French and cover a variety of topics - from the lighthearted to the deeply political ("Abu Jamal"). [The album hits stores next Tuesday (June 22)] - Click Here for the Full Story 

Thursday Media
We know you've been screaming for some metal, so today's multimedia pick comes from Beyond the Embrace, a band that our very own Hobo highly recommends for those that aren't "tards". 

 click the full story link to get more current selections from our Mandatory Media section! - Click Here for the Full Story