If he's good enough for Hole and Marilyn Manson, then he's sure as hell good enough for the Verve Pipe. Late next month, the quintet will enter a New York recording studio to begin work on its follow-up to the multi-platinum Villains with producer Michael Beinhorn who, in addition to working with artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Soundgarden and Social Distortion, recently produced the forthcoming release from Hole and is currently knob-turning with Manson in Los Angeles.

According to Verve Pipe manager Doug Buttleman, the band has written a total of thirty-five songs for the album, fourteen or fifteen of which will be recorded, with twelve likely making the final cut. Buttleman says the new music is "poppier" and "more melodic than Villains," with a "harder edge." He expects the album to hit shelves in late '98.

In other Pipe-related news, frontman Brian Vander Ark will appear in an indie film called The Space Between Us, to begin shooting later this month in San Francisco.

BLAIR R. FISCHER