Latest News: Michael Jackson, Dave Matthews, Foxy Brown and More

MICHAEL JACKSON will travel to Tokyo this Saturday to accept the "Legend Award" from MTV Japan, according to a spokesman for the singer. The King of Pop has not appeared in public since last June, when he was cleared of child-molestation allegations in California. After Saturday's event, Jackson -- who has since been living in Bahrain -- will embark on an Asian tour which will include stops in Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The singer is currently at work on a new album with a tentative 2007 release date.

DMB, Allmans Rock the Midterm Vote

This summer DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, O.A.R., UMPHREY'S McGEE, MOE., DISCO BISCUITS, TREY ANASTASIO, MIKE GORDON, GOV'T MULE, RATDOG and PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS will participate in the Headcount "Midterms Matter" campaign, which aims to register voters and incite concertgoers to participate in the upcoming midterm elections. Headcount, an all-volunteer operation, will appear at more than thirty concert events nationwide -- including Summer Camp, Wakarusa Festival, Bonnaroo, All Good Festival, 10,000 Lakes Festival and Randall's Island Festival. Artists will encourage fans to register from the stage and even register voters themselves.

Foxy Faces Manicure-Related Charge

Rapper FOXY BROWN appeared in court today and was ordered back July 17th to face misdemeanor charges over a 2004 incident in which the Brooklyn native allegedly kicked one nail salon worker and hit another in the face during a payment dispute. Brown was in court last December to make a plea, but the hearing resulted in a dispute between the rapper and the judge over Brown's "attitude." During the same appearance, Brown was handcuffed and allegedly shouted at and punched the court officer placing her in restraints. She later apologized to the court after being threatened with jail time.

The Roots Head to Camp Bisco

Experimental jam-band the DISCO BISCUITS will stage Camp Bisco V -- featuring performances by artists including the ROOTS, THIEVERY CORPORATION, BRAZILIAN GIRLS and the JUAN MCLEAN -- August 25th and 26th at the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort and Lodge in upstate New York. More than fifteen artists will perform on two stages, with the Biscuits appearing for two sets each evening. On-site camping and indoor accommodations will each be available, as well as activities including hiking and golf. More info can be found at campbiscov.com.

Former Police, R.E.M. Manager Copeland Dead at 57

IAN COPELAND, a rock & roll booking agent and brother of former POLICE drummer STEWART COPELAND, died May 23rd in Los Angeles of melanoma. He was fifty-seven years old. In the Seventies, Copeland worked with acts like the CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and LYNYRD SKYNYRD booking tours, but he made a name for himself representing acts including the POLICE, the GO-GO'S, R.E.M., the SMITHS, the BANGLES and the CURE in the late Seventies and early Eighties.

M. Ward Leads Indie Releases

Smokey-voiced folk singer and guitar prodigy M. WARD -- who has toured with artists including the WHITE STRIPES and BRIGHT EYES, and lent vocals to the new NORAH JONES album -- releases his latest effort, Post-War, August 22nd. The album includes guest appearances by NEKO CASE, ADAM SELZER and JIM JAMES (of MY MORNING JACKET), along with production work from MIKE MOGIS (BRIGHT EYES, RILO KILEY). This is Ward's first attempt at recording with a full band . . . Singer-songwriter GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS will release nineteeneightees, the follow-up to 2004's Virginia Creeper, on June 27th. The record features covers of songs from the 1980s that inspired the California native -- including tracks by the PIXIES, NEW ORDER, JOY DIVISION, ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, R.E.M., the CURE and the SMITHS . . . PF SLOAN, author of the 1960s hit "Eve of Destruction," will release his first album in thirty years, Sailover, on August 22nd. The effort features collaborations with LUCINDA WILLIAMS and FRANK BLACK.