Rock News Two: The week in pop music

LISA 'LEFT EYE' LOPES

Funeral arrangements are pending for Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the Grammy-winning hip-hop trio TLC.

Lopes, 30, was killed in a car accident while on vacation in Honduras. She often visited the Central American nation.

In a statement, the other members of TLC -- Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas -- said they had "truly lost our sister."

TLC won a total of four Grammys. In 1995, "Creep" won for best R&B performance by duo or group with vocal and "CrazySexyCool' was named best R&B album. And the group was awarded two Grammys in 1999 when "Fanmail" was voted best R&B album and "No Scrubs" took the honors for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal.

Lopes recently launched her solo career with the release of the album "Supernova" earlier this year.

Lopes also made news away from the recording studio. In 1994, she was arrested for setting fire to the $1.3 million Atlanta-area house of her then-boyfriend, NFL wide receiver Andre Rison. As a result of charges filed in that case, Lopes was fined, placed on five years' probation and entered a program to address a drinking problem.

Last year, Lopes and Rison announced plans to marry but the wedding was called off at the last minute.

TLC had been working on a new album in an Atlanta studio for release later this year.

ALICE IN CHAINS

The surviving members of Alice In Chains -- guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney -- said they were "heartbroken" over the death of the band's lead singer, Layne Staley.

In a statement Monday, the rockers called Staley "a sweet man with a keen sense of humor and a deep sense of humanity. He was an amazing musician, an inspiration, and comfort to so many. He made great music and gifted it to the world. We are proud to have known him, to be his friend, and to create music with him."

"For the past decade, Layne struggled greatly -- we can only hope that he has at last found some peace."

Staley, 34, was found dead April 19 at his Seattle home. The cause of death has not been determined but reportedly drug paraphernalia was found by the body. The musician had struggled with heroin addiction.

Staley's family has requested that contributions may be made in Layne's name to: Eastside Recovery Center, 1412 140th Place NE, Bellevue, WA 98007

JEWEL

Jewel has been injured in a horse-bucking accident on a Texas ranch. The Dallas Morning News reports the 27-year-old singer and actress broke her collarbone and several ribs in an accident on a ranch about 90 miles from Dallas.

The ranch is owned by Jewel's longtime boyfriend, rodeo star Ty Murray. She was there resting up prior to embarking on a now-canceled promotional tour to tout her latest CD "This Way."

The accident was completely unexpected. Jewel is an accomplished horsewoman and the incident is considered to be a fluke.

MTV News reports doctors have prohibited Jewel from playing guitar or performing for at least a month. Travel is also not advised. Jewel's spokesman said the restrictions will prevent her from performing Saturday at Fan Nation in Irvine, Calif., alongside Sheryl Crow, Ryan Adams and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Her recovery will also affect at least the first several dates of a European tour, scheduled to being May 10 in Italy.

(With additional reporting by UPI's Dennis Daily)

ROB ZOMBIE

Rob Zombie's lawsuit against Mazda for using his music without his permission in a truck commercial is scheduled to go to trial in mid-July.

It was two years ago that Zombie learned from fans that music from his triple platinum 1998 album "Hellbilly Deluxe" had been used without his permission for a Mazda Truck TV commercial. The rocker initially believed they were mistaken but after viewing the TV spot himself, he realized it was true.

Among the issues to be resolved before a judge are whether Doner willfully stole the music from the original recording, whether Mazda was complicit in that theft and/or whether the original music was used by mistake on the part of the ad agency.

But copyright infringement is only part of the issue. For Zombie, it's a case of corporate infringement on principles that he holds dear.

"Someone like Britney Spears doesn't have any integrity to maintain so it doesn't matter -- she's a corporate puppet from the get-go," Zombie said. "But for people who AREN'T, it's different. I don't want to play that song live and see the kids go, 'Hey! It's the truck song!' Corporate America doesn't understand that some people actually have values about things. Everything isn't for sale."

MORE LEGAL NOTES

-- A judge in Seattle ruled Wednesday that Courtney Love would not have to undergo a psychiatric exam. The surviving members of Nirvana -- Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic -- had asked the court to force Love to undergo the exam by June 1 to determine if she is mentally capable of handling her Nirvana-related responsibilities under the Nirvana LLC partnership. Love -- the widow of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain -- is battling with Grohl and Novoselic over the rights to Nirvana's music, the release of the long-planned Nirvana box set, and of previously unreleased songs written by her late husband.

-- Nickelback has filed a countersuit in British Columbia Supreme Court against its former management company to stop it from selling a master copy of the band's first album to a third party. The legal action -- in response to a lawsuit recently filed against the band for breach of contract -- claims Amar II Canada Productions and one of its principals, Clyde Hill, are illegally holding the master copies of the group's first full-length album, "Curb," with the intention of hocking it to third party for distribution and sale. "Curb" was originally released independently in 1996.

-- Prince and his Paisley Park Enterprises are being sued by a former girlfriend over some gifts she received while they were dating, which she later tried to sell. Charlene Friend's lawsuit, filed last Friday in Los Angeles, is for defamation, tortious interference with an existing contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. According to the suit, when Friend and Prince were dating in 1991, she received several gifts from him -- including a jacket he wore during a 1991 concert, an audiocassette, a Christmas card, a comic book and the video "Get Off." She later tried to sell these items on Aug. 15, 2001 through Fine Arts Brokerage Service because "they no longer had any sentimental value to her," states the suit. When Prince got word of it, his attorneys sent Fine Arts a letter saying those items were acquired by fraud and/or theft and demanded they be removed from the auction site and threatened legal action. The items were pulled from the auction. Friend said because of this, she "has been branded a thief, and has lost the ability to sell items that are her sole and legal property."

-- Weezer said the lawsuit filed against the band by former bassist Matt Sharp over several songs is "completely without merit." Sharp filed the suit in Los Angeles on April 18 and is seeking to be recognized as the co-author and co-owner of several songs, including "Undone (The Sweater Song)" and all of those on the "Pinkerton" album, among others. Weezer's next album, "Maladroit," is due in stores May 14.

(From Allstar News)

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy Buffett, Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt are among the headliners at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which has taken over the Big Easy now through May 5.

Downbeat.com reports that now in its 32nd year, the Soul Daddy of all jazz festivals features not only jazz, but blues, gospel, zydeco and American roots music of nearly every description -- particularly if it's native to the South. It's being held at the 35-acre New Orleans Fairgrounds. Twelve tent stages will present acts simultaneously, with more than 600 bands appearing throughout the week.

Also on the bill -- Counting Crows, India.Arie, Blues Traveler, Better Than Ezra and Gov't Mule.

(Web site: nojazzfest.com)

ALANIS MORISSETTE

Looking for great seats for Alanis Morissette's upcoming tour? Check out eBay, reports Virginmega.com, where an auction is taking place for five pairs of front row tickets -- with all the proceeds going directly to the Equality Now organization, which works for the human rights of women around the world.

Tour dates:

5/1 San Diego, CA, Cox Arena

5/3 Los Angeles, CA, Universal Amphitheatre

5/4 Los Angeles, CA, Universal Amphitheatre

5/5 San Jose, CA, Compaq Center

5/7 Phoenix, AX, Dodge Theatre

5/9 Las Vegas, NV, The Joint

5/10 Salt Lake City, UT, E Center

5/11 Denver, CO, Magness Arena

5/13 Kansas City, MO, Starlight Theatre

5/14 St. Louis, MO, Fox Theatre

5/16 Dallas, TX, Nextstage at Grand Prairie

5/17 Austin, TX, The Backyard

5/18 Houston, TX, Woodlands

5/30 Philadelphia, PA, Tweeter Center

6/1 Boston, MA, Tweeter Center Radio Show WXKS

6/2 New York, NY, Giant Stadium Radio Show Z100

6/4 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre

6/5 Boston, MA, Tweeter Center

6/7 Columbia, MD, Merriweather Post Pavilion

6/8 Holmdel, NJ, PNC

6/9 Wantaugh, NY, Jones Beach

6/15 Los Angeles, CA, Rose Bowl Radio Show KIIS

Morissette is touring in support of her latest album, "Under Rug Swept," which has sold 3 million copies worldwide. Ryan Adams will open for her on the first 13 days of the road trip.

GOO GOO DOLLS

The Goo Goo Dolls have added more dates to their summer North American tour, which kicks off May 23 in Houston, Billboard.com reports. The road trip is in support of the band's latest CD, "Gutterflower," which debuted at No.4 on the Billboard Top-200 Albums chart last week.

Tour dates:

April 27: Irvine, Calif. (Fan Nation)

May 3: London (Astoria)

May 23: Houston (Verizon Wireless Theater)

May 24: Dallas (Bronco Bowl)

May 25: Tulsa, Okla. (Brady Theatre)

May 27: Louisville, Ky. (Palace Theatre)

May 28: Detroit (State Theatre)

May 29: Chicago (Riviera Theatre)

May 31: Philadelphia (venue TBA)

June 1: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center / WXKS concert)

June 2: East Rutherford, N.J. (Giants Stadium / Z100 Zootopia)

June 4: Mississauga, Ontario (Hershey Centre)

June 5: Albany, N.Y. (Palace Theatre)

June 7: Atlantic City, N.J. (Trump Taj Mahal)

June 8: Mashantucket, Conn. (Foxwood Casino)

June 11: Atlanta (Tabernacle)

June 12: New Orleans (UNO Lakefront Arena)

June 14: Orlando, Fla. (Hard Rock Live)

June 15: Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay PAC)

June 16: Charleston, S.C. (WAVF radio show)

June 18: Pensacola, Fla. (Bayfront Auditorium)

June 19: Memphis, Tenn. (Orpheum Theatre)

June 21: Minneapolis (Northrop Auditorium)

June 22: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Winnipeg Arena)

June 24: Edmonton, Alberta (Jubilee Auditorium)

June 25: Calgary, Alberta (Jubilee Auditorium)

June 26: Kelowna, British Columbia (Skyreach Place)

June 28: Vancouver (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

June 29: Spokane, Wash. (Opera House)

July 1: Portland, Ore. (Schnitzer Hall)

July 2: Seattle (Paramount Theatre)

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

Queens of the Stone Age are hitting the highway, and they're taking Dave Grohl along for the ride.

The tour will kick off May 27 in Atlanta in support of the band's third album, "Songs for the Deaf," due in stores in August. MTV News reports Dave Grohl -- who has put off finishing the fourth Foo Fighters CD to tour with Queens -- rounds out a lineup that also includes singer Josh Homme, bassist Nick Oliveri and guitarist Mark Lanegan, according to an Interscope spokesperson.

Tour dates:

5/27 Cotton Club Atlanta, GA

5/29 TLA Philadelphia, PA

5/30 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY

6/1 Paradise Club Boston, MA

6/2 9:30 Club Washington, DC

6/4 Lee's Palace Toronto, ON

6/5 Shelter Detroit, MI

6/6 Metro Chicago, IL

6/7 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN

6/9 Bluebird Denver, CO

6/12 Richards on Richards Vancouver, BC

6/13 Graceland Seattle, WA

6/14 Berbatis Pan Portland, OR

6/16 Slim's San Francisco, CA

(Web site: qotsa.com)

EMINEM, PAPA ROACH

MTV News reports the Anger Management Tour will return this summer with three of its original performers.

Eminem, Papa Roach and Xzibit will be joined by Ludacris and veteran DJs the X-ecutioners on the road trip, according to a spokesperson for Eminem. The dates haven't been finalized but Interscope Records, Eminem's label, said the tour would begin July 24.

Limp Bizkit was the headliner when the Anger Management Tour debuted in the fall of 2000. The other three acts from that bill -- Eminem, Papa Roach and Xzibit -- will be using this year's second run to promote new albums. They include "The Eminem Show," due out June 4; "Lovehatetragedy," Papa Roach's second major-label album, in stores June 18; and Xzibit's "Man Vs. Machine," also being released this summer. Ludacris, who recently finished a headlining club trek, will be supporting last year's "Word of Mouf."

EVERY VOTE COUNTS

Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Tony Bennett and other celebrities joined former President Bill Clinton and members of the Democratic National Committee at Harlem's Apollo Theatre in New York Wednesday night for a concert fundraiser, MTV News reports.

Tucker and actress Cicely Tyson co-hosted the event, which raised money for the party's Every Vote Counts voter registration effort. Ruben Blades, k.d. lang and Tony Bennett performed, as did Jackson. M.J. sang a medley of songs that included "Black or White" and "Smooth Criminal," and was joined by Jane's Addiction guitarist and former Red Hot Chili Pepper Dave Navarro for a portion of his set.

Democratic party officials said the bash brought in $2.5 million.

SINGING FOR SAILORS

Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson and country acts Clint Black and Lonestar will perform in concert May 2 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Billboard.com reports the show -- which will kick off National Military Appreciation Month -- will be taped by CBS for airing May 25.

The show comes during a busy time for Dion, whose latest Epic album, "A New Day Has Come," debuted last month atop the Billboard Top 200 album chart. She'll performs May 9 during the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami Beach, Fla., and May 23 at the "VH! Divas" concert in Las Vegas.

GODSMACK

Godsmack has added another No.1 song to its long list of chart-topping hits.

"I Stand Alone" -- the first single from "Music From and Inspired by The Motion Picture 'The Scorpion King'" -- topped the Active Rock radio chart this week. It's Godsmack's seventh consecutive Top 5 charting track. The soundtrack album has remained in the Top 10 of Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart since its release March 26.

Recently, Godsmack won two Boston Music Awards. It was named Outstanding Rock Band, Major Label and lead singer Sully Erna won for Outstanding Male Vocalist, Major Label. Earlier this month, Godsmack released a home video DVD titled "Smack This!," a collection of back stage footage and live performances.

The band is currently writing and recording new music for its next album.

NELLY

"Hot In Herre" -- the lead single from Nelly's upcoming album, "Nellyville" -- is the No.1 most added song at crossover and Top 40 radio stations, the rapper's label, Universal Records, announced Wednesday.

In addition, the rapper set records when AOL Music exclusively premiered "Hot In Herre" on a recent AOL "First Listen" campaign. The new single was listened to more than 760,000 times in one day -- setting a new record for the AOL series.

Nelly describes the song as a "party anthem." "Hot In Herre" was produced by the Neptunes, longtime friends of Nelly. "I've known them for a long time, before I even had a deal," Nelly said, "back when their beats were real, real cheap. We just put it together and it's been nothing but love."

"Nellyville" is the follow-up to Nelly's 2000 Grammy-nominated debut "Country Grammar."

(Web site: nelly.net)

SYSTEM OF A DOWN

A special limited edition of "Toxicity" -- the multi-platinum album by System Of A Down -- is now in stores. It includes all 14 original tracks plus the band's very first DVD, which includes the "Toxicity" music video plus live underground guerilla footage of performances of "Chop Suey!," "Prison Song," and "Bounce," filmed live during the Pledge of Allegiance Tour 2001.

Originally released Sept. 4, 2001, "Toxicity" debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

System Of A Down will be one of the headlining bands on this summer's Ozzfest, taking the main stage slot right before Ozzy's set.

2002 MTV MOVIE AWARDS

Aaliyah, Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and rapper DMX are among the artists whose star-turns in motion pictures have garnered them a 2002 MTV Movie Award nomination.

Rapper-turned-actor Will Smith also is up for a best actor award for his role in "Ali."

The late Aaliyah was nominated for the best villain award for her role as the ancient vampire Akesha in "The Queen of the Damned." Spears and Moore are up for the breakthrough female award -- Spears for "Crossroads" and Moore for "A Walk to Remember."

DMX is among the nominees for breakthrough male for his role in "Exit Wounds."

The awards will be presented June 1 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in ceremonies that'll air June 6 on MTV.

DOVE AWARDS

Michael W. Smith, Third Day and Toby McKeehan were the big winners Thursday at the Gospel Music Association's 33rd annual Dove Awards. In ceremonies held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Smith won six Doves -- including artist of the year, praise and worship album of the year for his Reunion album "Worship," and the instrumental album honor for "Freedom," Billboard.com reports.

Georgia rock act Third Day picked up five Doves -- including a second consecutive group of the year award. The band's current project, "Come Together," was named rock album of the year and the title track won for rock recorded song of the year. Third Day lead vocalist Mac Powell was named male vocalist of the year.

McKeehan -- a member of dc Talk -- took home five Doves, including his first win in the producer of the year category. Each member of the dc Talk trio released a solo album last year. McKeehan's "Momentum" won a Dove in the rap/hip-hop/dance album category and the single "Somebody's Watching Me" was named best rap/hip-hop/dance recorded song.

First-time Dove nominee MercyMe's "I Can Only Imagine" -- written by group member Bart Millard -- won song of the year and pop/contemporary recorded song honors, while Millard was named songwriter of the year.

Steven Curtis Chapman won the pop/contemporary album accolade for "Declaration."

The show -- hosted by St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner and Elektra artist Yolanda Adams -- aired live on PAX-TV.

(Web site: doveawards.com)

CAROLE KING

Hal David -- chairman/chief executive officer of the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame -- has announced that Carole King will be this year's recipient of the organization's Johnny Mercer Award.

King will pick up the award at ceremonies June 13 in New York, when the academy will also induct Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Randy Newman and Sting into its hall of fame.

The academy will also present its Hitmaker Award to Garth Brooks and its Lifetime Achievement Award to Stevie Wonder. George M. Cohan's "You're a Grand Old Flag" will be honored with the academy's Towering Song Award.

"Carole King has been a tour de force in our industry ever since I can remember," said David. "She is a gifted songwriter and performer, who epitomized a wonderful era of music."

King was still a teenager in the late 1950s when she began her songwriting career in the cubicles of the legendary Brill Building in New York. She was 17 when she and Gerry Goffin collaborated on "Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow," which became a Top 10 hit for the Shirelles.

King's "Tapestry" album is still a best-seller 31 years after it was released. It won four Grammys -- record of the year ("It's Too Late"), album of the year, song of the year ("You've Got a Friend") and pop vocal performance, female -- the first "grand slam" for a female artist.

King has acted in the TV drama "Gilmore Girls," for which she also wrote and performed the theme song. She was nominated for an Emmy in 2000 for "Song of Freedom," which she wrote for the TNT original movie "Freedom Song."

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)