Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'AMERICAN BANDSTAND'

"American Bandstand" turns 50 this year and to celebrate, ABC-TV on May 3 will air a tribute to the music show that was hosted for so many years by perennial teenager Dick Clark.

Billboard.com reports "American Bandstand's 50th ... A Celebration!" will be taped over the course of three days, according to a spokesman for dick clark productions, who added that the two-hour special will include performances by at least 10 artists -- Michael Jackson, Cher, Alanis Morissette, Kiss and Stevie Wonder among them -- as well as clips from the series. Clark will host.

"Bandstand" began in 1952 as a local Philadelphia TV show. Clark took over as host in the year before it broke nationally on Aug. 5, 1957. During its time, the series received five Emmys and presented more than 10,000 musical performances in more than 6,000 hours of airtime.

OZZFEST 2002

The organizers of Ozzfest 2002 are giving fans a say in deciding who'll replace Chris Cornell's band in the main stage slot.

MTV News reports a ballot has been posted on the Ozzfest Web site (ozzfest.com) asking for suggestions to fill the void, which opened when Cornell quit the new, unnamed group that also included Rage Against the Machine members guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk.The choices include such Ozzfest vets as Slayer, Soulfly, Sevendust and Static-X as well as bands who've yet to make the annual metal trek -- such as Foo Fighters, Nickelback and Tenacious D.

Not all the bands are available to tour with Ozzy Osbourne this summer, an Ozzfest spokesman said, and other replacements are being considered. Voting is expected to continue through next week.

DRUMMER RANDY CASTILLO DIES

Drummer Randy Castillo -- who played with Ozzy Osbourne for more than a decade -- died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, RollingStone.com reports. He was 51.

Castillo joined up with Osbourne in 1986 and played on the studio albums "The Ultimate Sin" (1986), "No Rest for the Wicked" (1989), "No More Tears" (1991) as well as the live album "Just Say Ozzy" (1990). He left the band in 1997.

In 1999, Castillo joined Motley Crue, replacing Tommy Lee, who'd left to form Methods of Mayhem. He drummed on the Crue's 1999 CD "New Tattoo" and had planned to tour with the band, but illness forced him to back out.

OASIS

BBC Radio reports police are investigating Liam Gallagher about a disturbance outside a London bar last week.

The Oasis singer had been drinking at the Met Bar with his girlfriend, Nicole Appleton, and was pictured in the tabloids leaving the place. Police are looking into allegations he assaulted someone. They wouldn't say who filed the complaint.

Oasis's first single in nearly two years, "The Hindu Times," is due out next month.

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A NO.1 ALBUM

"Now That's What I Call Music! 9" -- the latest in the mega-hits collection series -- debuted atop the Billboard Top-200 album chart this week. The Jay Z-R Kelly collaboration "The Best of Both Worlds" couldn't overcome its sales and bowed in second place, according to E! Online.

The "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack came in third.

R&B newcomer Glenn Lewis opened at No.4 with his "World Outside My Window" album. In fifth was Jimmy Buffett's latest, "Far Side of the World."

Rounding out the top 10 were "Drive," Alan Jackson; "Hybrid Theory," Linkin Park; "Under Rug Swept," Alanis Morissette; "Word of Mouf," Ludacris; "Missundazstood," Pink.

ALANIS MORISSETTE

More dates have been announced for the upcoming Alanis Morissette tour, which features Ryan Adams as the opening act, Allstar News reports.

Tour dates:

May 1, San Diego, Cox Arena

May 3-4, Los Angeles, Universal Amphitheater

May 5, San Jose, Calif., Compaq Center

May 7, Phoenix, Ariz., Dodge Theater

May 9, Las Vegas, The Joint

May 10, West Valley City, Utah, E Center

May 11, Denver, Magnuss Arena

May 13, Kansas City, Mo., Starlight Theatre

May 14, St. Louis, Mo., Fox Theatre

May 16, Grand Prairie, Texas, Next Stage at Grand Prairie

May 17, Austin, Texas, the Backyard

May 18, The Woodlands, Texas, C.W. Mitchell Pavilion

May 20, Daytona Beach, Fla., Ocean Center

May 21, Tampa, Fla., Ice Palace

May 22, West Palm Beach, Fla., Mars Music Amphitheatre

May 24, Pelham, Ala., Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

May 25, Atlanta, Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre

DAVID BOWIE

David Bowie has signed a multi-album deal with Columbia Records. Jam Music News reports the first release under the new deal will be "Heathen," which reunites Bowie with producer Tony Visconti, who played an integral role in the artist's remarkable 1970s run of "Diamond Dogs", "Young Americans", and "Heroes."

The album hits stores June 11.

Bowie loudly parted ways with Virgin Music last December, announcing that his future recordings would be released on his own label, ISO Records. The deal with Columbia is, in fact, with ISO.

"I can't think of a better home for the music that will be made for ISO than Columbia," Bowie said in a statement Wednesday. "After my first couple of meetings with the people at Columbia, it was apparent that their enthusiasm for what Tony and I are doing right now borders on boundless."

Bowie is expected to play a series of European and American festival dates this summer.

GRAMMY AWARDS

According to a report in the New York Daily News, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences is planning to bring the Grammy Awards back to New York after four years in Los Angeles.

The newspaper said Recording Academy President Michael Greene promised that a "major announcement" about the Grammys would be made on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Citing sources, the paper reported that Greene is to announce that the 45th annual awards show will take place next February at Madison Square Garden.

The Grammy Awards were moved to Los Angeles in 1998 after Greene and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani engaged in a highly publicized feud -- apparently because Greene chewed out one of Giuliani's aides.

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)