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Toward the end of Ben Folds’ tour last fall in support of his Epic solo debut, “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” the jumpy piano player decided to take the stage solo for a few dates at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. As the artist tells Billboard.com, what transpired on stage was magical, which made the decision to go on the road for his first ever solo tour that much easier. “All of my old songs and everything I’ve ever written, I’m just playing them at the piano and realizing that they’re giving me the same chill that caused them to be written in… Read more »

When a “supergroup” finds success, it often leads to rumblings about whether the bandmembers are going to leave their bread-and-butter outfits to focus on their new baby. Especially when the musicians start griping. For example, during recent interviews about their side project Down, Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown have been questioning the longevity of Pantera and confirming that the band is on shore leave. “With the last record, we were kind of like, ‘That’s the best we can f–in’ get it. What are we gonna do now?’ ” Brown said, relaxing in a deluxe hotel suite in… Read more »

Alanis Morissette returns tomorrow (February 26) with Under Rug Swept, her fifth album and her first since 1998’s Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. The collection features first single, “Hands Clean,” and guest appearances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo, former Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery, and renowned bassist Me’Shell Ndegeocello. Morissette said that the effort explores a tried and true theme, if in her own unique way. “This album is a snapshot of my delving into relationships, particularly romantic ones, in a way that I haven’t before. My priorities have always been sort of… Read more »

The parents of the boy who drowned at Tommy Lee’s home last summer are suing the rocker for wrongful death and negligence. Actress Ursula Karven and television producer James Veres filed a lawsuit on February 15 in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing Lee of failing to provide proper supervision of their 4-year-old son, Daniel, who died at Lee’s Malibu mansion on June 16. The lawsuit claims Daniel, who had no swimming experience, and other children were left unsupervised in a swimming pool at Lee’s home. The children were attending a birthday party for Brandon Lee, the 5-year-old son of Lee… Read more »

When No Doubt writes a song, it’s for the band, not the fans. Writing a song with the fans in mind would “be the biggest sellout hoax thing that we could do,” singer Gwen Stefani told Associated Press Television News. “First of all, we’re not talented enough to do that. We don’t have the skills to write a calculated song. “But second of all, I think that would just be like backwards. We’re in the band for ourselves, we’re really selfish. We do it for us, then we share it with you.” Stefani, 32, said No Doubt, which has a… Read more »

Lance Bass could be going from ‘N Sync to in space. The boy band member is negotiating to travel on a Russian rocket for a mission in November, according to MirCorp, the Amsterdam-based space travel company. Bass said in a statement Wednesday that he was “completely overwhelmed.” “I’m looking forward to completing this lifelong dream,” he said. The plan still requires the approval of the Russian space agency, Rosaviakosmos, according to MirCorp, which also plans to build the first private space station. The partners in the international space station program – the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe –… Read more »

Sting has signed a deal with the Bantam Dell Publishing Group to write his first work of narrative nonfiction, the publisher announced. The hardcover book is expected to be published in 2004. “From the very first pages Sting let me read, I was so impressed by his prose, which is as provocative, memorable and beautifully written as his lyrics,” said Susan Kamil, vice president, editorial director of The Dial Press, who will edit the book. “His book will fascinate his longtime fans as well as a broad readership,” Kamil said in a statement released last week. Sting is among the… Read more »

Steve Macklam and Sam Feldman are pleased to announce the signing of singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright to Macklam Management and S.L. Feldman & Associates‚ management roster. “We‚ve been watching his growth for quite some time. It’s rare to see an artist emerge with such a wonderful combination of talent, character and originality,” agree Macklam and Feldman. “We’re thrilled to represent him.” Wainwright, who was just nominated for two Juno Awards (Canada’s “Grammy”) for Best Songwriter and Best Alternative Album, launched his first headlining theatre and club tour Feb. 8 in Boston in support of his sophomore effort Poses (DreamWorks), which debuted… Read more »

When they first came on the scene, Southern California quintet Phantom Planet were best, if incorrectly, known as the side project of Jonathan Schwartzman, the teen actor who played smug genius Max Fischer in 1998’s “Rushmore.” But Schwartzman formed Phantom Planet with his buddies in 1994, four years before the group released their debut, Phantom Planet Is Missing. So chronologically, Schwartzman has really been moonlighting as an actor for the past several years. Still, because of the band’s movie star drummer and the debut album’s penchant for juvenile lovelorn anthems, Phantom Planet were often given the same knee-jerk dismissal bestowed… Read more »

Oasis is releasing its first single in nearly two years in April, the British pop band announced Tuesday. The group first performed the track, titled “The Hindu Times,” at a series of gigs late last year celebrating its 10th anniversary. It’s the first song from the band’s as yet untitled fifth studio album, scheduled for release in July. Oasis has released no new singles since “Sunday Morning Call” in July 2000. The group is finalizing plans for a world tour and is to headline the Coachella Festival in Palm Springs, Calif., in April. “The Hindu Times,” with its Eastern-influenced guitar… Read more »