EMINEM TOPS IN POPS
There's no telling how many copies "The Eminem Show" would have sold if it weren't for the online piracy and bootleg copies getting around, but still Marshall Mathers' latest collection is at the top of the heap in its first week in release.
Interscope put the CD out last Sunday, after moving up the release date a couple of times in response to the illegal copying. By Thursday it had scanned 285,000 copies.
There was anecdotal evidence that some retailers were letting go of "The Eminem Show" as early as last Friday.
At the rate it is selling now, the CD could be up to 1 million sold by the end of its first full week in release. However, as of now it does not look like the new record is a threat to break the first week sales record set by "The Marshall Mathers LP," which sold 1.8 million copies in its first week.
CREED READY TO ROLL
Creed are set to resume their Weathered Tour on July 11 in Virginia Beach, Va.
The band will play 30 shows on the first leg of the tour, including make-up shows in Indianapolis, Fargo, N.D. and Moline, Ill. Those shows were canceled in April when lead singer Scott Stapp was involved in an automobile accident in his hometown of Orlando. Stapp suffered back injuries during the accident, including a torn disk in his lower back and a bulging disc in his neck. Doctors have cleared him to perform again.
The second leg of the tour will start in San Antonio on Sept. 20, and will include make-up shows in Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tacoma, Portland, Spokane and Salt Lake City.
JULIANNA THEORY HIT THE ROAD
The Juliana Theory are hitting the road for a tour of U.S. clubs to promote the upcoming album "Love," due in stores this fall.
The album was produced by former Talking Head Jerry Harrison and co-produced by TJT frontman Brett Detar -- who promises that despite the title of the new set, the band still rocks hard.
"I imagine that some fans are wondering if we have become hippies since the last record," said Detar. "The title has more to do with a broad sense of feeling, and it encompasses most everything involved with this record."
The summer tour is scheduled to open June 9 in Washington, D.C. and continue through July 18 in New York.
WEEZER TOUR DATES
Weezer has announced 23 tour dates this summer for their "Enlightenment" tour -- kicking off July 6 in Salt Lake City and continuing through Aug. 10 in Chula Vista, Calif.
The band has signed up Dashboard Confessional and Sparta for the tour, and plans call for The Strokes to join the line-up at an undetermined point. Weezer will be touring in support of its "Maladroit" album, which debuted last week at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
NO DOUBT' SET FOR 'TONIGHT' APPEARANCE
NBC has announced that No Doubt will kick off a 12-week Lincoln Garage Summer Concert Series this on June 7 on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
The series will be held every Friday this summer on the outdoor Lincoln Garage stage, built specifically for the musical performances next to "The Tonight Show" soundstage at NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif.
NEW PRODIGY SINGLE DUE NEXT WEEK
The first new U.S. single since 1997 by The Prodigy -- "Baby's Got A Temper" -- us due at radio June 4 and in stores July 2.
The single will also be feature on the band's next album, which currently goes by the working title "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned." The Prodigy is scheduled to play a handful of gigs in Europe and Japan during July and August, but has yet to announce any dates in the United States.
ALANIS AND THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE
When Alanis Morissette tapes a show in New York on June 11 for later broadcast on the Oxygen cable TV network, she will be playing from a list developed by her fans.
Morissette is inviting fans to vote online through June 9 (oxygen.com/specials/alanis) for their favorite songs from her playlist. Oxygen will telecast the concert on June 23 and stream it simultaneously on the Internet at oxygen.com.
BJORK INVITES FANS TO CHOOSE 'HITS' PACKAGE
Icelandic singer Björk is inviting fans to decide on the tunes that will be included in her upcoming greatest hits album, due in stores in September.
The invitation is also a contest. A posting on the singer's Web site (bjork.com) said the voter who comes closest to the final tracklisting will win a bag of "Björk goodies" consisting of the 'Greatest Hits' album and the forthcoming Royal Opera House DVD.
The Web vote will run through 12:00 GMT, June 3.
MANSON BASSIST IS GONE
Marilyn Manson has announced that long-time bassist Twiggy Ramirez has left the band and been replaced by Tim Skold.
In a statement posted on his Web site, Manson said his new album -- "The Golden Age of Grotesque" -- will "redefine anyone's idea of what Marilyn Manson is capable of," but he said Ramirez is irreplaceable as a best friend.
"I have spent eight months transforming this band and our new songs into and unstoppable juggernaut, and sadly Twiggy wasn't able to make himself a part of it," Manson said. "Unfortunately, I feel that Marilyn Manson, as a lifestyle, is not where his heart is. So I have decided to let him go his own way, otherwise it wouldn't be fair to us, the music, or especially to the fans.
Manson said the decision was harder for him and for Ramirez that for anyone else.
"There is no good or bad guy in this situation," he said. "the reasons are between Twiggy and the band. Twiggy, you will be missed and I truly hope you find something that brings you happiness. I will always be here for you. I mean that."
NEW PRODIGY SINGLE DUE NEXT WEEK
The first new U.S. single since 1997 by The Prodigy -- "Baby's Got A Temper" -- us due at radio June 4 and in stores July 2.
The single will also be feature on the band's next album, which currently goes by the working title "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned." The Prodigy is scheduled to play a handful of gigs in Europe and Japan during July and August, but has yet to announce any dates in the United States.
