Rock News Two: The week in pop music

R. KELLY

R. Kelly performed at Friday's opening of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but in his hometown of Chicago, police are investigating a 26 1/2 minute videotape that allegedly shows him having sex with an underage girl.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the tape was sent to the newspaper anonymously. The girl in the tape reportedly was 14 at the time. Illinois law makes it a felony for adult men to engage in sexual activity with girls under 17.

Attorney John M. Touhy, who is representing Kelly, called the tape a forgery and questioned the motives of the people who sent the paper the tape. However, the Sun-Times quoted a professional video maker saying the odds of faking a video for that long are "slim to none."

Robert S. Kelly, 35, has been dogged by rumors of engaging in sexual relations with teenage girls for several years. He was a mentor to Aaliyah, the up-and-coming R&B singer killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas last year, and illegally married her in 1994 when she was 15 -- shortly after producing her debut album "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number." Aaliyah's family had the marriage annulled.

JANET JACKSON

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on Long Island for allegedly breaking into the dressing room of Janet Jackson. The incident reportedly happened while the pop diva was onstage performing at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Published reports say Mario Backman, of Manhattan, has been charged with burglary. He reportedly took some stuffed animals, a cap with an FDNY insignia and some personal papers. Backman was released on his own recognizance and has a future court date set for next week.

Jackson, 35, is in the final days of what has been a long national tour to promote her latest album, "All of You."

(Thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)

BRITNEY SPEARS

Oops...he did it again. Los Angeles police say a man who has previously shown up uninvited at Britney Spears' Hollywood Hills home was caught camping in her carport.

E! Online reports the man was spotted Tuesday morning by the pop diva's private security detail, which called police. However, the guards declined to press charges.

A police spokesman said the man had been caught trespassing at the Spears abode at least once before and will be evaluated at a local hospital. His identity was not released because he wasn't charged with a crime.

No comment from Spears' publicist. The singer was in New York at the time of the incident.

INSANE CLOWN POSSE

Insane Clown Posse's Violent J has been sentenced to 12 months unsupervised probation in connection with a fight that broke out in a St. Louis parking lot last February.

The musician, whose real name is Joseph Bruce, pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault and was sentenced Wednesday, his lawyer, John Rogers, told MTV News. Bruce was also ordered not to have any contact with the victims -- security guard Ron Culli and Michael Cook, a local radio DJ who broadcasts under the name Cooksie.

Members of ICP and employees of St. Louis radio station KPNT-FM scuffled after the posse claimed Cooksie made disparaging remarks about the group on the air. While Bruce wasn't arrested at the time, he was later charged in a warrant and arrested following a concert in Columbia, Mo., in June.

Cook and the others involved in the fight have sued Bruce. The case is still pending.

GRAMMY AWARDS

Dave Matthews Band and rapper Nelly are among the latest acts confirmed to perform during the 44th annual Grammy Awards ceremonies later this month. They join previously announced performers U2, Alicia Keys and 'N Sync.

In addition, Billboard.com reports there will be a tribute to the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack by Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch, and the Soggy Bottom Boys.

Meanwhile, officials said Gloria Estefan and No Doubt's Gwen Stefani have joined the list of presenters, which already includes Janet Jackson, Diana Krall and Britney Spears.

The Grammys will be presented Feb. 27 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and air live on CBS-TV. "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart will host the ceremonies for a second year in a row.

U2 leads the field with eight nominations, including album of the year for "All That You Can't Leave Behind" (Interscope) and song of the year for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of." Keys has six nominations, including one for best new artist.

NME AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Strokes lead the list of nominees for this year's NME Awards That's according to BBC.com, which reports the band is up for five awards, including Best Group. Gorillaz and Radiohead garnered four nods apiece while U2 has three.

The awards will be presented Feb. 25 in London. Some of the nominees:

BEST NEW ACT -- Gorillaz, Linkin Park, Starsailor, The Strokes, The White Stripes

BEST FILM -- American Pie 2, Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, Moulin Rouge, Shrek

BEST METAL ACT -- Andrew WK, Linkin Park, The Lostprophets, Slipknot, System Of A Down

ALBUM OF THE YEAR -- The Charlatans, "Wonderland"; Muse, "Origins Of Symmetry"; Radiohead, "Amnesiac"; Slipknot, "Iowa"; The Strokes, "Is This It"

BEST LIVE ACT -- Ash, Linkin Park, Muse, Radiohead

BEST HIP-HOP/RAP ACT -- Bubba Sparxx, Eminem / D12, Missy Elliott, Outkast, Roots Manuva

BEST SOLO ARTIST -- Ryan Adams, Ian Brown, PJ Harvey, Kylie, Andrew WK

BEST MUSIC VIDEO -- U2, "Elevation"; Basement Jaxx, "Where Is Your Head At"; Fat Boy Slim, "Weapon Of Choice"; Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"; Radiohead, "Pyramid Song"

SINGLE OF THE YEAR -- Ash, "Burn Baby Burn"; Dandy Warhols, "Bohemian Like You"; Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"; Kylie, "Can't Get You Out Of My Head"; The Strokes, "Hard To Explain"

BEST R&B/SOUL ACT -- Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, Craig David, Destiny's Child, So Solid Crew

BEST DANCE ACT -- The Avalanches, Aphex Twin, Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, Fat Boy Slim

BEST POP ACT -- Britney Spears, Kylie, Madonna, S Club 7, Robbie Williams

BAND OF THE YEAR -- The Charlatans, Radiohead, The Strokes, U2, The White Stripes

TALKING HEADS

The original four members of the Talking Heads -- frontman David Byrne, guitarist Jerry Harrison, drummer Tina Weymouth and bassist Chris Frantz -- will perform together for the first time in more than a decade at next month's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Billboard.com reports. The ceremony will be held March 18 at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel and aired two days later on VH1.

The Talking Heads' final album was "Naked," released in 1988, but the band didn't officially break up until 1991.

News of the reunion comes as a surprise -- considering Byrne's 1996 legal action against his former bandmates, in which he sued to prevent them from touring as the Heads. An out-of-court settlement was subsequently reached.

CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG

Graham Nash said he never thought his group -- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young -- would decide to tour again so soon after their wildly successful 2000 reunion.

"I thought that possibly we might go out in the fall of this year, and even that was soon to me because, remember, the last time we went out it had been 26 years previously," the 60-year-old musician told the Toronto Sun. "So I was actually quite shocked when Neil called."

That would be Neil Young, who joined CSNY in 1969, a year after Nash formed a trio with David Crosby and Stephen Stills in California.

Nash said they really had no choice but to perform, given the events of Sept. 11. "I believe when Neil called and gathered the group together here (in Los Angeles), I think that he believed, and quite rightly because we all agreed, that it was time to go out. That it was time to play music because, of course, music is quite healing in its way and can take you out of your troubles and transport you to another place for a few hours. I think that might be very valuable."

The 2002 Tour Of America kicked off Wednesday night in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Mich., and wraps April 25 in Chicago.

WORLDSONG 2002

Joan Osborne and Shawn Colvin, with special guests Matthew Andrae and Deep Blue Something, will perform at WorldSong 2002 -- The Next Country Over.

The concert promoting world peace and harmony will take place Feb. 21 at the McKay Event Center on the Utah Valley State College campus in Orem, Utah.

WorldSong 2002 -- The Next Country Over is part of the WorldSong 2002 initiative, which consists of live music events and grass roots music education campaigns.

"The overall objective of the WorldSong initiative is to promote peace around the world by using music as a driving force to raise a greater awareness and appreciation of diverse world cultures" said Todd Young, CEO of WorldSong Entertainment.

"In light of recent events," added Andrae, "this initiative is now more critical than ever to help in reaching a higher understanding among all people of the world. We believe that protecting, educating and securing the future of our children is the best way to achieve this goal."

(Web site: worldsong.net)

GEORGE HARRISON TRIBUTE

Tickets have gone on sale for a George Harrison tribute concert later this month in his hometown of Liverpool, England. Organizers promise "a host of big names" at the event at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on Feb. 24, which would have been Harrison's 59th birthday.

The Liverpool City Council, The Cavern Club, the local newspaper and local BBC Radio station are helping to organize the event in honor of the late musician, who died of cancer last

November.

Meanwhile, the City Council in Liverpool, England, has blocked demolition of the stage where John Lennon first met Paul McCartney.

The stage -- at St. Peters Church in Liverpool -- was set to be demolished as part of a renovation. Lennon, who was playing with the Quarrymen at the time, was introduced to McCartney for the first time at a festival held at the church on July 6, 1957.

The city says it will store the wooden structure until a permanent home can be found.

Former Quarrymen member Colin Hanton says the decision is "fantastic news."

"I remember the day well and can still see John talking to this lad who I later found out to be Paul," Hanton said.

(Thanks to UPI's Mike Cooper in Atlanta)

BOYZ II MEN

Boyz II Men returns to its native Philadelphia Saturday to perform at the NBA's "All-Star Saturday Night" (airing live beginning at 8 p.m. EST on TNT). The group will perform as part of a musical tribute to the City of Brotherly Love with a performance of their debut single, "MotownPhilly."

Also on the bill -- Daryl Hall & John Oates, McFadden & Whitehead, Musiq Soulchild and City High.

Meanwhile, Boyz II Men is wrapping up work on its 6th album -- and Arista label debut -- that's expected to be released this summer.

(Web site: arista.com)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Bruce Springsteen has reunited with old friends to record some new tracks. The Atlanta Journal Constitution quotes E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren telling ESPN Radio: "Last week in Atlanta we got together. It was supposed to be a big secret, but it's all over every Web site there is. There were spies in the (recording studio) parking lot when we were down there, from Italy."

Lofgren added that the Atlanta recording dates are "the first step of what would have to be many" before a new album would be completed.

It's not yet certain whether Springsteen has indeed gotten the entire E Street Band together. The last studio album of all new material by Springsteen and the E Street Band came out 18 years ago, "Born In The U.S.A." Springsteen's last solo album of all new material was 1995's "The Ghost of Tom Joad."

MORE NEW ALBUM NEWS

-- Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam are the latest artists to sign on to an upcoming Johnny Cash tribute album being produced by Cash's former sideman and son-in-law Marty Stuart. The as-yet untitled project -- in honor of the music legend's upcoming 70th birthday -- will be released May 28 through Sony Nashville, a publicist for the label tells Billboard.com. Other artists on the album include Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Steve Earle, Keb' Mo' and Little Richard.

-- Train, India.Arie, Five For Fighting, Jars of Clay and duets by Jamie O'Neal and Michael McDonald, and Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews are among the tracks on the soundtrack album from the upcoming Mel Gibson movie "We Were Soldiers." The CD -- "Music From and Inspired By 'We Were Soldiers'" -- hits stores Feb. 26. The film opens nationwide March 1.

-- An expanded edition of Golden Earring's hit 1974 album "Moontan" hits stores March 5. It restores the tracks cut for the album's U.S. release and also includes some b-sides. The Dutch band is considered a one-hit wonder in the United States -- "Radar Love" peaked at No.13 on the Billboard Hot-100 pop singles chart. But the group remains one of Europe's most popular and is still recording and touring today.

-- A new album from Destiny's Child is in the pipeline. Sony Music says the remix disc "This Is A Remix" will hit stores March 12. It features a mix of ballads and uptempo dance tracks from all three of the group's albums, "Destiny's Child" (1998), "The Writing's On The Wall" (1999) and "Survivor" (2001).

-- The ever-feuding Scott Stapp of Creed and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst are getting together -- kind of. MTV News reports that tracks contributed by each of the bands will co-exist on the next WWF album, "WWF Forced Entry," which is being released March 26. Other artists on the album include Rob Zombie, Cypress Hill, Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Monster Magnet, Our Lady Peace and Marilyn Manson.

-- Celine Dion is scheduled to release her first new album in two years in late March. "A New Day Has Come" is her first studio album since "Let's Talk About Love," which was released in 1997 and sold 28 million copies worldwide. The title track to the new album has just been released to radio stations. It also includes Dion covers of Etta James' "At Last" and Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy."

-- Eminem's third full-length album is due to hit stores in April. "The Eminem Show" is the follow-up to 2000's "The Marshall Mathers LP" and was co-produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre, according to RollingStone.com. Part of one new song from the album, "Cleaning Out My Closet," is featured in trailers for "8 Mile," the rapper's quasi-biopic film debut. The soundtrack to the movie, scheduled for a summer release, will also feature new Eminem material.

BRANDY

Is she or isn't she? She is -- married, that is. MTV News reports that after months of speculation, Brandy disclosed Tuesday that she has been secretly married since last summer.

The singer and actress said she tied the knot with producer/songwriter Robert Smith. "I've fallen in love with a very warm, gentle, understanding and focused person," Brandy said in a statement. "This summer we married quietly. A new experience, a new day for me."

The announcement comes as Brandy prepares to release "Full Moon," her first album in four years, on March 5.