May 17, 2006 5:27 PM

Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, John Mayer and More

PAUL McCARTNEY and his second wife, Heather Mills, announced that they would be separating after nearly four years of marriage, blaming intrusion from the media and insisting their split is amicable. McCartney, 63, and animal-rights activist Mills, 38, were married in June 2002 and welcomed their only child together, daughter Beatrice, in October 2003. As recently as last month, the couple flew to Canada to protest the country's annual seal-slaughter harvest. In a statement the couple said, "Having tried exceptionally hard to make our relationship work given the daily pressures surrounding us, it is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways. Our parting is amicable and both of us still care about each other very much." McCartney -- who is worth around $1 billion -- reportedly does not have a prenuptial agreement with Mills . . . In more upbeat nuptial news, Australian country star KEITH URBAN and Oscar-winning actress NICOLE KIDMAN have officially announced their engagement. Speculation that the two were dating began after they were first spotted together in 2005. Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001.

Foo Fighters Unplug, Hit the Road

FOO FIGHTERS have made their much anticipated summer acoustic tour official. The trek will launch on July 11th in Seattle, with seven dates total confirmed thus far, with more expected to be announced soon. The band will be touring behind Disc Two of their platinum-selling 2005 release, In Your Honor. Joining the band will be WALLFLOWERS keyboardist RAMI JAFFEE, violinist PETRA HADEN, percussionist DREW HESTER and former Foo Fighters guitarist PAT SMEAR (ex-GERMS). Tickets for the confirmed dates go on sale this Friday.

John Mayer, Tom Petty Hit the Festivals

JOHN MAYER, VAN MORRISON, the SHINS, MASSIVE ATTACK and WEEN will join previously announced acts the FLAMING LIPS, BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, WILLIE NELSON and TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS for the 2006 edition of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, set for September 15th to 17th at the city's Zilker Park. Other acts include the KINGS OF LEON, LOS LONELY BOYS, WOLF PARADE, GNARLS BARKLEY, the RACONTEURS, CAT POWER, the NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, SON VOLT, AIMEE MANN, NADA SURF, IRON AND WINE, TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS, KT TUNSTALL, SECRET MACHINES, MATISYAHU and GOMEZ. Tickets are currently on sale at aclfest.com . . . In other festival news, Petty and the Heartbreakers, the BLACK CROWES and NICKELBACK will join KEITH URBAN, BIG AND RICH, JOE COCKER, SAMMY HAGAR and CHEAP TRICK at the inaugural five-day Rock'n the Rally music festival. The fest, set for August 6th through 10th at the Glencoe Camp Resort in Sturgis, South Dakota, will coincide with the 68th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Isacc Hayes, Ex-Chef, Has New Baby

ISACC HAYES, 63, best known for his 1971 hit "Theme From Shaft," has announced that the soul singer and his wife, Adjowa, have had their first child together, a baby boy. Nana Kwadjo Hayes, which means "King boy born on Monday" in the Ghanaian language, was born April 10th. Hayes has been an honorary king of Ghana since 1992 for his humanitarian work there. The singer was recently the subject of controversy when he left his longtime role as the voice of South Park's Chef because of what he viewed as the show's insensitivity to religious belief's, especially its treatment of Scientology, which Hayes follows.

Hip-Hop, R&B Royalty Ready for BET Awards

MARY J. BLIGE, MISSY ELLIOTT, JAMIE FOXX and BUSTA RHYMES received four nominations each for the 2006 BET Awards, set for Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on June 27th. Other nominees include KANYE WEST, LIL KIM, MARIAH CAREY, ANTHONY HAMILTON, PRINCE, KEYSHIA COLE and NE-YO. Oscar-winners THREE SIX MAFIA have another chance for a trophy, this time in the Best Group category, where they are up against the BLACK EYED PEAS, DESTINY'S CHILD, FLOETRY and MARY MARY. The event will air live on the network.

Daft Punk Takes Robotic Vision to Big Screen

French electronica two-piece DAFT PUNK have taken a break from beat making and are focusing their energies and vision into a film, entitled Daft Punk's Electroma, which chronicles two robots' journey to become human. The film will begin screening this week as a part of Director's Fortnight, an unofficial addition to the Cannes Film Festival, which begins May 18th. This is not the first time the pair have had a hand in filmmaking. In 2003, the DJs worked with Japanese director Leiji Matsumoto on his animated film Interstella 5555. Last year, the group released Human After All, which reached Number One on the Electronic Albums Chart. This month, the duo performed at the Coachella Festival, their first U.S. appearance in nearly a decade.

Perry Farrell Has a Satellite Party

Lollapalooza founder and former JANE'S ADDICTION and PORNO FOR PYROS frontman PERRY FARRELL hopes to release the debut album from his new band, SATELLITE PARTY, sometime late this summer. The self-titled effort, which includes former EXTREME guitarist NUNO BETTENCOURT, will feature guest appearances from RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist FLEA and guitarist JOHN FRUSCIANTE, along with BLACK EYED PEAS singer FERGIE, NEW ORDER bassist PETER HOOK and Farrell's wife, Etty. The group's first public appearance was at last year's Lollapalooza festival, and, according to Farrell, the band hopes to make a second appearance this year. Satellite Party's first single, "Dogstar," is slated for release this summer. In the meantime, Rhino is preparing a Jane's Addiction box set and plans are in the works to release two of Farrell's films -- 1989's Soul Kiss and 1993's Gift -- on DVD.

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