Rock News Two: The week in pop music

DEFENDING COMMERCIALISM

Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz is defending the band's appearance in a Coca-Cola commercial, performing "American Girls" with Sheryl Crow singing harmony.

The ad shows the band with a couple of teenagers at the beach, while the song plays in the background. Duritz told Rolling Stone the band expects the commercial will be useful in helping promote the record.

"At a time when radio is playing so few songs, and MTV plays so few songs, you can't count on them to promote you," he said. "I think the record companies are really looking for a way to get you on TV for free."

He said the band didn't make much money on the ad, but the commercial is a "huge promotion" for the record. Besides that, he sees nothing wrong with pitching Coke.

"I like Coke," said Duritz. "It's everywhere. It's harmless."

Duritz posted a message on the band's official Web site in response to accusations by some fans that Counting Crows sold out.

"I'm truly sorry if it upset some of you, but that's the breaks," he wrote. "Sometimes I think people are too quick to make use of this term 'selling out' without really thinking about what that actually means. As long as we make music the same way we always have and as long as business concerns never affect the way we make our art, then I think you are truly rude to accuse us of selling out just because we made a commercial for a product we actually like."

HONORS FOR EW&F

Earth, Wind & Fire will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award on June 17 at the 15th Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Celebration.

Ashanti and DJ Quik will host the festivities in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Stevie Wonder will present the award.

The evening will include a musical tribute to the band's hits by artists including Chante Moore, Rashsaan Pattersson, City High and Mary Mary.

NEW JAMES TAYLOR

James Taylor will release his first new album since the Grammy-winning "Hourglass" when "October Road" hits stores on Aug. 13.

The lead single, "On the 4th of July," is scheduled to premiere Friday on AOL's First Listen.

OZZFEST GOES DARK IN EUROPE

The remaining seven shows of the European portion of OzzFest have been called off, but organizers did not immediately give a reason why.

There were unconfirmed reports that guitarist Zakk Wylde -- who is playing in Ozzy Osbourne's band and with his own band, the Black Label Society -- is ill. The cancellation affected shows in Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

Producers expect the North American OzzFest tour will begin as scheduled on July 6 in Bristow, Va.

EMINEM ON TOP

"The Eminem Show" was No.1 again this week on the Billboard 200 albums chart after selling more than 1.3 million copies in its first full week in stores.

The album was released on May 26, a Sunday, in response to its wide availability online and in bootleg. It sold more than 284,000 copies and made No. 1 after three days in release.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' "P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records Present ... We Invented the Remix" was No. 2 this week, followed by Ashanti's self-titled debut album, which rose two spots to No. 3. Cam'ron's "Come Home with Me" is No. 4, followed by Celine Dion's "A New Day Has Come."

The rest of the Top 10: Marc Anthony's "Mended"; Sheryl Crow's "C'mon C'mon"; Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems"; "Now That's What I Call Music! Volume 9" and Musiq's "Juslisen."

DEREK TRUCKS BAND IS ROAD-READY

The Derek Trucks Band plans to hit the road June 23 for the summer leg of their Joyful Noise Tour -- a series of dates that will include festivals, concerts, free outdoor shows and gigs opening for The Allman Brothers Band, as well as with Columbia label mates Phil Lesh & Friends and Jorma Kaukonen.

"Joyful Noise" -- due in stores Aug. 27 -- was produced by Craig Street (Chris Whitley, Cassandra Wilson), except for two tracks that were produced by legendary session drummer Russ Kunkel. It's a genre-bending affair, featuring jazz, rock, blues, Latin, Eastern Indian and other world music styles.

U2 IN REARVIEW MIRROR?

Steve Lillywhite hears some U2 in the new band Rearview Mirror.

Of course, Lillywhite might be a little biased, since he produced their debut album "All Lights Off" -- due in stores Tuesday.

At the same time, Lillywhite has a pretty good idea what U2 sounds like, since he has produced for them as well -- not to mention Dave Matthews Band and the Rolling Stones. He won Grammys as engineer/mixer on 2000 and 2001 records of the year "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On."

He said Rearview Mirror has "what U2 had in the early days."

BOYZ II MEN RETURNING TO NYC

J&R Music and Computer World has announced that R&B legends Boyz II Men will perform at the 1st Annual J&R SummerFest, June 13-15, after a two-year absence from performing in New York City.

The appearance is in support of the group's upcoming release of their CD "Full Circle," due in stories in July 23.

Ashford & Simpson, Mike Phillips, Ruff Endz, Alison Williams, Woody Rock, Hezekiah Walker, Regina Belle and the Boys Choir of Harlem are also on the bill for the SummerFest concert series.

The company said it is presenting the series "to thank the city for all their support" since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and to encourage New Yorkers "to keep returning to downtown Manhattan."

HIP-HOP RALLY FOR SCHOOLS

Organizers claimed more than 100,000 parents, teachers, students, hip-hop artists and others gathered at New York City Hall Tuesday to send a message to Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- that they will not quietly accept proposed cuts in city spending for public education.

The United Federation of Teachers, the Alliance for Quality Education and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) organized the demonstration, which featured appearances by LL Cool J, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon, recording artist Alicia Keys and Russell Simmons, hip-hop mogul and HSAN chairman.

"I think many of us have been asleep for too long and I feel this march was a wake up for some," said Simmons. "This is the beginning of a long sustained effort on the part of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network for prioritizing education in our cities."

RZA from the Wu Tang Clan -- who has been providing computers to schools in urban communities -- said the turnout at the rally was a challenge to the mayor.

"Mayor Bloomberg can say no one cares," said the rapper, "but 100,000 people showed up today."

PHARCYDE ALUM READIES NEW PROJECT

Tre' Hardson -- better known as Slimkid Tre' when he was with the jazz-flavored, hip-hop, soundscape project The Pharcyde -- is almost ready to release his first solo album since leaving the group.

"Liberation" is set for release on Sept. 10.

The CD has 17 songs, recorded mostly in Los Angeles, and partially produced by Tre'. Guest artists include Saul Williams, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, MC Lyte, and N'Dea Davenport, formerly of the Brand New Heavies.