Apr 24, 2006 6:05 PM

Black Eyed Peas, the Doors, Nelly and More

Grammy-winning hip-hop artists the BLACK EYED PEAS will perform in Johannesburg, South Africa, May 28th to raise awareness for the Peapod Foundation, the group's humanitarian organization which benefits underprivileged children worldwide. Local artists and dancers will also appear alongside the Peas. Tickets are being distributed for free through local townships and newspapers, and a limited number will also be available through a text-messaging campaign. Beginning Wednesday, fans can text their name to 38450 for a chance to receive tickets. All participants will be charged, with proceeds going to the Peapod Foundation.

The Doors Unleash Unreleased Live Recordings

The surviving members of the DOORS will make more than a dozen live performances available for download through the band's Web site, including an intimate 1967 show at San Francisco's Matrix club just months after their debut album hit stores. The majority of the material, however, will come from shows recorded in 1970 for an album, Absolutely Live, which was never released. All the material will be remixed and remastered, and fans will be able to download individual songs. The move is a part of the Doors' fortieth anniversary celebration, also commemorated with the release of a twelve-disc box set -- featuring all six studio albums along with six DVDs -- this fall. A vinyl box set is also expected to be released sometime this year.

Nelly Settles Photog Assault Suit

St. Louis party-rapper NELLY will has agreed to pay photographer Jerry Livingston $20,000 to settle a claim that his bodyguards beat the photographer at an April 12th performance last year. Livingston, who was taking pictures as Nelly performed, alleged that he was dragged to the side of the stage and beaten repeatedly because bodyguards suspected he was videotaping the show.

Snoop Pens Debut Novel, for the Ladies

SNOOP DOGG is set to enter the world of publishing with the release of his first novel, Love Don't Live Here No More. The story, inspired in part by Snoop's own life, will chronicle a young man's struggle to become a rapper while living on the streets of Southern California. Atria Books claims the novel will allow the rapper snag more of a female audience.

Docs on Velvet Underground, Beefheart to Hit

The VELVET UNDERGROUND and CAPTIAN BEEFHART will be the subject of two upcoming documentaries due April 25th as part of the Under Review: An Independent Critical Analysis series, which has already featured QUEEN, the WHO and former PINK FLOYD frontman SYD BARRETT. The Velvet Underground DVD will include interviews with founding band members LOU REED, JOHN CALE, STERLING MORRISON and MAUREEN TUCKER, as well as legendary pop artist ANDY WARHOL. The Beefheart release will chronicle the influential musician's history with vintage footage, live performances and interviews with most of the MAGIC BAND musicians.

Email Print