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Janet Turns Twenty All Over Again
In a nod to the two-decade anniversary since JANET JACKSON's groundbreaking, genre-crossing album Control the singer's ninth studio effort, due in late September, will be dubbed 20 Years Old. Co-produced by longtime Jackson collaborator (and boyfriend) JERMAINE DUPRI, the album -- the singer's first since 2004's post-Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" release, Damita Jo -- features a cameo by rapper NELLY on the lead single, "Call on Me," set to hit radio June 19th. Expect tour info to follow in coming weeks.
El-P Gets a Hand From Reznor, Mars Volta
Indie rapper EL-P is getting some help from NINE INCH NAILS frontman TRENT REZNOR and the MARS VOLTA on his new album. According to his MySpace page, El-P is about four songs away from completing the new album, which includes the Reznor collaboration "Flyentology" and an as-yet untitled Volta track. El-P last worked with Reznor on a remix for the NIN track "Only," off the Every Day Is Exactly the Same EP.
Lil Eazy-E Poses for a Mugshot
LIL EAZY-E -- firstborn son of the late N.W.A founder EAZY-E -- was arrested for gun possession on June 10th in Compton. After being stopped for a traffic violation, the twenty-two-year-old rapper (born Eric Wright Jr.) and his two passengers were arrested, one for possession and the other for a probation violation. Lil Eazy-E's debut album, Prince of Compton, was released earlier this year.
Paul McCartney Actually Is Sixty-Four
The BEATLES classic "When I'm 64" -- which appeared on the band's epic 1968 album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band -- caught up to its songwriter this past Sunday when PAUL McCARTNEY finally turned precisely that age. The song's lyrics -- "Will you still need me, will you still feed me/ When I'm sixty-four?" -- may not be sitting well with Sir Paul, however, as he's in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills . . . In other birthday news, the father of electric guitar, LES PAUL, celebrated his ninety-first birthday on June 9th.
Cher Roots for the Troops
Following in the footsteps of her late ex-husband, SONNY BONO, singer CHER is heading to Capitol Hill. Her cause celebre: more protective helmets for American soldiers. The pop icon will appear in front of the U.S. House's Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces on June 15th to support Operation Helmet, an organization that provides free helmet upgrades to troops serving in the Middle East. Cher recently publicly voiced her concern for troops' safety in an early morning phone call to C-Span's The Washington Journal and is slated to appear on C-Span on June 14th.
Seger, Slayer, Starsailor Among Coming Releases
BOB SEGER's first album of new material in over a decade, Face the Promise, is slated for release September 12th. The album's first single, "Wait for Me," is expected to hit radio next month, and a duet with fellow Detroit artist KID ROCK will likely make the album as well. Tour specifics have yet to be announced . . . Veteran metal men SLAYER will drop their latest album, Christ Illusion, on August 8th. Originally slated for a 6/6/6 release, the group's follow-up to 2001's God Hates Us All features the first material by the band's original lineup since 1990. Slayer will also headline this summer's Unholy Alliance Tour, also featuring fellow metal acts LAMB OF GOD, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MASTODON and THINE EYES BLEED. The trek kicks off June 15th in Camden, New Jersey, and wraps July 26th in Denver . . . British indie-rockers STARSAILOR will release their third album, On the Outside, to U.S. fans on August 22nd. A nineteen-city North American tour will follow. Appearances at England's V Festival and Hyde Park Calling, with ROGER WATERS, have been confirmed . . . Due June 20th is WILLIE NELSON's The Complete Atlantic Sessions, a three-disc box set that includes expanded and remastered versions of the country man's two Atlantic studio albums -- 1973's Shotgun Willie and 1974's Phases and Stages -- as well as an expanded version of his 1974 performance, Live at the Texas Opry House.
Zappa Son Takes Dad's Tunes on the Road
DWEEZIL ZAPPA is taking his father's legacy on the road this summer with the Zappa Plays Zappa tour, which kicks off its North American run Monday night in New York. The tour, just off a European stint, includes original FRANK ZAPPA collaborators guitarist STEVE VAI, drummer TERRY BOZZIO and singer-saxophonist NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK. Zappa Plays Zappa will make stops in Boston, Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles, among other cities, before closing June 24th in San Francisco.
Korn Play Download Festival, Then Cancel Tour
KORN have cut short their European tour following singer JONATHAN DAVIS' admission to a London hospital June 10th due to an unspecified "blood ailment." The thirty-five-year-old frontman's condition is unknown, but according to a spokesperson, he has been advised by doctors to refrain from performing for the next few weeks. The band appeared, sans DAVIS, at the Download Festival in Donington Park, England, on June 17th with guest vocalists standing in for Davis -- including SLIPKNOT's COREY TAYLOR and AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. SHADOWS. For now, Korn is still slated to headline this summer's Family Values tour, kicking off July 27th in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Snow Patrol Now Rescheduling Entire U.S. Tour
British five-piece SNOW PATROL have been forced to postpone their tour yet again due to singer GARY LIGHTBODY's throat problems. Doctors instructed Lightbody not to sing until mid-July, causing the group to bump the dates for their entire U.S. run to September 6th through 30th. All cities will remain the same for the run, with possible venue changes and added stops in San Diego and Las Vegas. The new dates for the tour, which will honor all past tickets, will be announced in the coming days.
Marley Sons Join Bunny Wailer for Tour
ZIGGY and STEPHEN MARLEY will hit the road this summer as co-headliners of the BOB MARLEY Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival -- which draws its name from the Bob Marley song of the same name -- alongside founding WAILERS member BUNNY WAILER, marking the first time the brothers have ever performed with their father's former bandmate and longtime friend. The tour will visit seventeen North American cities during August and will also include sets by Grammy-winning Latin rockers OZOMATLI and singer-songwriter JON NICHOLSON. Ziggy will perform songs from his upcoming album, Love Is My Religion, due July 2nd, while Stephen will preview material from his solo debut, Mind Control, set for release this fall.