Six months after not one, not two, not three, but fourteen pit bulls were confiscated as part of DMX's weapons charge arrest, he is now under fire from the Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS issued a press release criticizing the rapper for his "What's My Name" video, which features footage of pit bulls snapping at each other in a ring. "It is surprising that an artist who is said to love his dogs has irresponsibly decided to promote this depiction to the public that perpetuates the pit bull image at its worst," HSUS vice-president Martha Armstrong said in the statement . . .

KID ROCK, FRED DURST, METHOD MAN and SUGAR RAY will turn up on the new RUN-DMC album, Crown Royal -- their first since 1993's Down With the King. Plus, BEASTIE BOY AD-ROCK contributed a song for the Queens, N.Y., posse's comeback effort. No release date has been set . . .

WHITNEY HOUSTON is about to breathe life into her career by moving back to the silver screen. Houston has signed on with WILL SMITH's Overbook Entertainment to play the leading lady in a remake of the stylish cult French thriller Diva, which portrays an African-American opera singer who refused to allow her voice to be recorded. This isn't the only big-screen project on Houston's plate. She'll also be in Universal Pictures' Anything For You later this year . . .

Wedding bells will sound again for ELVIS PRESLEY's only child, LISA MARIE PRESLEY. The singing Scientologist -- who is currently finishing up her first CD for Glenn Ballard's Java Records -- bailed on her marriage to MICHAEL JACKSON over four years ago, amidst much speculation that she would remarry musician Danny Keough, who is the father of her two children. But last May, Presley made the acquaintance of Interscope recording artist JOHN OSZAJCA and the rest, as they say, is history. Oszajca, who is six years younger than Presley, will release his debut album, From There to Here, in April . . .

Swedish pop legends ABBA have turned down one billion dollars to reunite. "It's a hell of a lot of money to say no to, but we decided it wasn't for us," member Benny Anderson told Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet on Feb. 2. The whopping offer originated from an American-Brit organization who wanted the pop group, which broke up seventeen years ago, to get back together for a 100-date tour. The group claimed the reason for their renewed success has everything to do with the fact that they haven't attempted to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. "We have never made a comeback. Almost everyone else has. I think there is a message in that," asserted Bjorn Ulvaeus, who, with Anderson, has made a lucrative life since the break-up by penning musicals and producing other artists...

Don't hold your breath waiting for a WINGS reunion, either, but a nice little retropsective may not be out of the question. A rep for PAUL McCARTNEY confirms reports that the former Beatle is assembling a video and audio anthology entitled Wingspan, though further details, such as a release date and track listing, have yet to be announced . . .

Contrary to recent reports, PEARL JAM guitarist STONE GOSSARD's Loosegroove Records has not folded. The label, home to such artists as CRITTERS BUGGIN, MALFUNKSHUN and former URGE OVERKILL frontman, NASH KATO, has merged with another Seattle independent, Will Records. Gossard's involvement will downshift to the role of consultant and A&R man. Meanwhile, Loosegroove's catalog will come under Will Records, though it's not yet known which current artists off the roster will make the cut to Will. The status of Nash Kato's new record remains unchanged; Debutante will be released on April 18 . . .

JERRY LEE LEWIS was hospitalized late Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction to medical treatment he received for a self-inflicted wound. The sixty-four-year-old rockabilly pioneer was apparently playing with a recent Christmas present, a new knife, at his northern Mississippi home, when he accidentally cut his hand. After the lidocaine administered at an unidentified Memphis Hospital set off Lewis' allergy, he was moved to Methodist Central Hospital and held overnight for observation . . .

TOM WAITS will get the tribute album treatment this summer. Manifesto Records has scheduled New Coat of Paint: The Songs of Tom Waits for a May 30 release. The fourteen-song tribute will feature Waits tracks covered by the likes of LYDIA LUNCH, SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS, former Stray Cat LEE ROCKER and FLOYD DIXON . . .

The twelve-carat diamond engagement ring on the finger of TLC's TIONNE "T-BOZ" WATKINS officially takes her off the market. T-Boz is now betrothed to rapper MACK 10. The two plan on tying the knot in August in an intimate ceremony . . .

MELISSA ETHERIDGE, GARTH BROOKS, k.d. lang and the PET SHOP BOYS are among the artists who will perform at the "Equality Rocks" concert on April 29 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an educational, non-profit branch of the Human Rights Campaign, the concert falls on the eve of the Millennium March on Washington for Equality -- the fourth national march of its kind for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights. Etheridge is also expected to perform at the march's ensuing rally, to take place at the National Mall. Actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche will also be on-hand ...

Let the battle for most smoochable begin! From Feb. 1 through Valentine's Day, visitors to the americangreetings.com site can cast a ballot for "most smoochable" celebrity. The good news is that hotties like JEWEL and DAISY FUENTES are included among the ten participating celebs; the bad news is they're the only reasonably kissable options. Each of the celebrities -- who include AL ROKER, BILLY RAY CYRUS and LEEZA GIBBONS --have chosen a charity to play for, with the winner's cause receiving $25,000 . . .

Well, maybe 'N SYNC was a bit hasty when they named their upcoming album No Strings Attached, because it looks as though their name will land them 'n court yet again. The Associated Press reports that the boy band's former manager LOUIS PEARLMAN licensed the 'N Sync name from two New Jersey recording executives, Richard Ford and Jason Summers, four years ago. The two execs claim a clause allows them to deep six the contract if Pearlman no longer serves as the band's manager. Adding insult to injury, Ford and Summers also filed a $100 million suit against the five 'N Sync members ...

Before you feel too sorry for 'N Sync, the Recording Industry Association of America has just certified the boys diamond, as their self-titled 1998 debut album has sold ten million copies, putting them in the ranks with fellow teen titans BRITNEY SPEARS and the BACKSTREET BOYS. Also reaching the ten-million plateau is the late NOTORIOUS B.I.G.'s Life After Death. The double CD, released in 1997, is the first hardcore rap album to go diamond . . .

Considering his measly .045 batting average from last season was the baseball equivalent of his CHRIS GAINES flop, you'd think GARTH BROOKS wouldn't be invited back to spring training anytime soon. But the New York Mets are giving the switch-hitting superstar another shot, sending him down to Florida as a non-roster player. "We reached a verbal agreement over the weekend," a spokesperson for the Mets said. "He will be a position player and will report between Feb. 19 and 21." Brooks' appearance isn't his first in a major-league baseball uniform, as he has played with the San Diego Padres the previous two springs. In addition to living out his baseball dreams, the thirty-seven-year-old Brooks is using the opportunity to raise money and awareness for his "Touch 'em All" children's charity ...

Still riding high on the success of last year's Significant Other, LIMP BIZKIT are already deep into working on their next funk-metal platter. The band headed into a Los Angeles studio late last week, accompanied by bearded production guru RICK RUBIN, who twisted the knobs for records like the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Blood Sugar Sex Magik and the BEASTIE BOYS' Licensed to Ill. The Bizkit album is tentatively scheduled for summer release ...

After performing at Australia's Big Day Out festival last Sunday, FOO FIGHTERS leader DAVE GROHL had his big day in court Monday, Jan. 24, when he reportedly was charged with driving his moped while under the influence. According to wire service reports, Grohl's attorney told the judge that the rocker had downed four Buds and didn't realize his blood alcohol level was high enough to be a problem. Grohl was reportedly fined $250 and prohibited from driving in Australia for the next three months ...

ANDREW DANSBY, JENNY ELISCU, CHRISTINA SARACENO, JAAN UHELSZKI
(February 2, 2000)