Rock News: Music's high and low notes

TOMMY LEE

Tommy Lee is being sued by the family of a four-year-old boy who drowned at the rocker's home last summer.

Allstar.com reports the lawsuit was filed Feb. 15 in Los Angeles Superior Court by Ursula Karven and James Veres, the parents of Daniel Karven-Veres. The boy died of asphyxia by drowning in the pool at Lee's Malibu, Calif., house on June 16, 2001, while attending a birthday party for Lee's 5-year-old son, Brandon.

The suit claims that "no adult, hired professional, lifeguard, or otherwise, was designated to ensure the safety of the young children swimming in the pool, and to be responsible in the event life-saving procedures were necessary."

Shortly after the incident, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department had declared the drowning an accident, and no charges were pressed against Lee, who was said to be "devastated" by the accident.

GLORIA ESTEFAN

Miami police have arrested a Venezuelan actor accused of stalking Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio.

Juan Carlos Diaz, 33, was arrested last Thursday, E! Online reports. A warrant had been issued by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's office for his arrest after he allegedly snuck onto the grounds of the celebrity couple's estate last month.

The arrest is the latest in a long-running feud between Diaz and the Estefans, who claim the man has been terrorizing them for two years.

The trouble began when Estefan was shooting the video for "Nadie Como Tu," on which Diaz was an extra. After that, they said, he began following them and invaded their home twice -- the second time on Jan. 7, when he was caught on a security camera.

A week later, Diaz called a news conference to announce he was petitioning for a restraining order against Emilio Estefan, claiming the Grammy-winning producer and his bodyguard threatened to beat Diaz up. The Estefans struck back and requested a restraining order of their own. The judge sided with them -- barring Diaz from going near the couple, their family or their residence.

On Jan. 31, the Estefans also filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Diaz. They also turned over to authorities the videotape of Diaz's attempt to sneak onto their property -- leading to the warrant.

Diaz faces misdemeanor trespassing charges, which could land him behind bars for a year if convicted.

LINKIN PARK

Before Linkin Park releases a follow-up to the band's debut CD "Lybrid Theory," it's planning an album of remixes.

"It's basically reinterpreting all of the songs from the 'Hybrid Theory' record," guitarist Brad Delson told RollingStone.com, "collaborating with a number of different people in the hip-hop, dance and rock worlds, and really creating all new songs for pretty much our hard-core fan base that wants new music."

The remix album is due this summer, and, although the lineup is still tentative, among those helping Link Park retool their tracks are Marilyn Manson, Alchemist, Jay Gordon of Orgy, Evidence of Dilated Peoples and Canada's Humble Brothers. Delson said the band also hopes to recruit Pharoahe Monch, the Crystal Method and Prince Paul.

USHER

In the early 1990s, a Chattanooga, Tenn., quintet known as NuBeginning released its debut album, available only regionally. It featured a young singer named Usher Raymond IV, now simply known as Usher. Now Usher fans can hear the first recordings of the R&B/ pop singer on "NuBeginnings Featuring Usher Raymond IV" (on Hip-O Records). It hits stores April 16.

JOHNNY GILL

A new album, "Johnny Gill" Ultimate Collection" (on Hip-O Records) covers the career of former New Edition member Johnny Gill.

The CD, which is being released March 26, spans 1983 to 1996 and features nine Top 10 R&B hits, including four No.1 singles. Drawn from Motown, MCA, Cotillion/Atlantic and Epic, the 17 selections comprise Gill's solo hits as well as key tracks with New Edition, Stacy Lattisaw, Shanice, Shabba Ranks, and Zapp's Roger Troutman.