Search Results for: thursday

Soul Train mastermind, Don Cornelius, has sent a letter to the Justice Department alleging that MTV is violating antitrust laws, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cornelius is accusing the music network of pressuring performers who appear on MTV shows not to perform on rival shows for a 30-day period. For example, Cornelius says, MTV won’t let artists booked on next month’s Video Music Awards to appear on his upcoming Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. The veteran music-TV exec’s Lady of Soul show tapes next Tuesday and begins airing in syndication on Saturday. MTV’s Video Music Awards are September… Read more »

“You Rock My World,” the first single from Michael Jackson’s new album, Invincible, was unexpectedly released to radio outlets on Friday (August 24). As late as Thursday afternoon, Jackson’s label, Epic Records, said that it had not lined up a radio add date for the single. The Rodney Jerkins-produced track was prematurely leaked to radio last week, as two New York radio stations, WJTM-FM and WKTU-FM, began spinning it last Friday (see “Michael Jackson Rocks Fans’ Worlds (A Little Early)”). The stations, both of which employed longtime Jackson friend Frankie Blue as music director, played “You Rock My World” every… Read more »

Michael Jackson fans got the news they were waiting for Thursday: the “King of Pop’s” first studio album in six years – one that reportedly cost a record-setting $30 million to make – will be released in late October. “Invincible,” released on Sony Music’s Epic Records label, is slated to hit stores internationally on Oct. 29 and in the United States and Canada on Oct. 30, the label said. Sony Music is a unit of Sony Corp. “The release of this new album is a global event,” said Epic Records Group Chairman Dave Glew. “As a singer, composer, producer, arranger… Read more »

Though some fans may not believe it until they see it in stores, Michael Jackson’s first full album of original material in 10 years, Invincible, is slated for an October 30 release. The album will include “You Rock My World,” its first single, and the track “Speechless,” according to a statement released Thursday (August 23) by Epic Records. No other song titles were mentioned. Two New York radio stations leaked the string-heavy, Off the Wall-style “You Rock My World” last week (see “Michael Jackson Rocks Fans’ Worlds (A Little Early)”). Director Paul Hunter (Lenny Kravitz, P. Diddy, LL Cool J)… Read more »

George Michael apparently took the line “imagine no possessions” to heart – at least when it came to the white piano used by John Lennon to write his 1970 hit “Imagine.” The British pop star reportedly returned the instrument to a Liverpool museum after buying it for $2 million last year. The Steinway Model Z upright piano, which had previously been on loan to the Beatles Story museum before its owner put it up for auction in 2000, was back on display there Thursday (August 23), according to the Associated Press. Michael commented that the piano was “not the type… Read more »

*NSYNC will not be performing at the all-star salute to Michael Jackson due to scheduling conflicts, according to the event’s producer David Gest. The pop group was originally scheduled to perform with Jackson on September 7, but Gest released a statement today (August 22) in which he explained: “Michael Jackson and *NSYNC will not have time to rehearse the ‘Dancing Machine’ number with the Jacksons in the way Michael planned to present it. Unfortunately, *NSYNC will be rehearsing their MTV Video Music Awards performance on Wednesday and Thursday while Michael will be rehearsing for his shows at the Garden. The… Read more »

Marilyn Manson has been charged with assaulting a security guard by allegedly rubbing his genital area on the man’s head during a concert in Clarkston, Michigan. The shock rocker is being accused of felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct along with misdemeanor assault and battery. If convicted, he could face more than two years in prison. Manson was performing at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston on July 20 when he allegedly approached 25-year-old security guard Joshua Keasler from behind while rubbing his own genital area, Oakland Country prosecutor David G. Gorcyca said in a statement Thursday (August 16). After… Read more »

Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh has checked into a psychiatric hospital for treatment of an undisclosed ailment, leaving his bandmates to shoot a video without him, according to band assistant Karl Koch. Although they hope that Welsh will recover in time to join them on their upcoming tour, Weezer are holding auditions for a temporary replacement, Koch wrote on the band’s official Web site (www.weezer.com). “We unfortunately still don’t know what’s wrong with [Mikey], and continue to find it very difficult to find out any more from those who might know,” Koch said. “We wish him the very best and we… Read more »

Ozzfest 2001 drew to a close Sunday, leaving many fans wondering what the future holds for their favorite bands. Whether it’s working on a new album, heading back out on the road or prepping their next video, to cop a metal cliché from Ozzy’s 1989 solo album, there seems to be no rest for the wicked. For those who missed out on this summer’s hardest happening, the live album Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium, featuring live cuts from all the Ozzfest offenders, hits stores Tuesday. Black Sabbath are hoping to book more studio time to finish up their new album,… Read more »

A wrist injury sidelined Papa Roach drummer David Buckner on the group’s Raid The Nation tour earlier this year. However, after a little bit of time away and some rehab, Buckner and Papa Roach were able to play OzzFest, which wrapped up Sunday (August 12) in New Jersey. Bass player Tobin Esperance was asked by LAUNCH how Buckner’s wrist is holding up, and if it has affected the band’s performance. “No, no; I mean it’s not so bad now that we’re only doing 35-40 minutes I think. We’ll see when we have to do headlining sets, but right now everything… Read more »