The Rough Guide to Jimi Hendrix is a thorough reference book about the life and music of the greatest rock guitarist of all time. It covers all the key events throughout his metamorphosis; from a misfit youngster growing up in poverty to his rise to international stardom, and from his days as a starving backup musician in the early 1960s to his triumphant appearances at the Monterey Pop and Woodstock rock festivals, not to mention his mysterious and sordid death in 1970.

Special chapters are devoted to vivid description and critical evaluation of all his important studio and live albums and best thirty songs, as well as all major live and documentary Hendrix videos; his myriad musical influences from blues, soul, rock, and jazz; Hendrix-related sites and shrines; and his spectacular arsenal of guitar techniques and effects. Also including special features on overlooked aspects of his art ranging from his love of Bob Dylan's music to his relationship with the Black Power movement, The Rough Guide to Jimi Hendrix documents all dimensions of this one-of-a-kind musical genius.

The Rough Guide To Jimi Hendrix is 288 pages (two-color, illustrated throughout) To order your copy CLICK HERE

Incubus' "Monuments and Melodies" started out as "a contractual obligation," according to guitarist Michael Einziger, who tells Billboard.com that he and his bandmates "weren't really excited at first" about putting together a best-of collection. But they eventually changed their tune.

"It was almost like we were trying to come up with an excuse to go on tour for the summer," Einziger explains, "and we started really thinking about the idea of putting out a greatest hits album and having that as the excuse to accompany the tour we were planning. And then as we started planning it, it became really obvious that greatest hits records are really important to the legacy of any band. I was introduced to most of the groups I grew up listening to -- artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley and the Doors -- through their greatest hits records.

"So we began realizing that it's in fact really an honor to be able to put together a greatest hits package, and it started becoming nostalgic, like watching a home movie. It's really cool to take a step back and look at this collection of music we've spent all these years writing and playing. It's humbling."

"Monuments and Melodies" includes one disc of hits from Incubus' six studio albums as well as two new songs, "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim," recorded in Los Angeles during Einziger's last winter break from Harvard University, where he's been "just taking courses for personal enjoyment." The second disc features rarities, including a newly recorded cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." The set is also available on four vinyl LPs, and copies of the album come with a unique code that will allow buyers to access a new section of exclusive music, photos and other material at a special section called The Vault on the ejoyincubus.com web site.

Incubus' tour for "Monuments and Melodies" gets under way July 9 in San Diego. Einziger says he expects getting back on the road will get the band started on writing for its next album -- the follow-up to 2006's "Light Grenades" -- though any firm plans for that remain open-ended. -billboard.com

According to CMT.com, former ALICE IN CHAINS bassist Mike Starr has been selected as a cast member for the new season of the VH1 reality series ":Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew." Hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky, the season will consist of eight episodes that follow the real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detoxification and treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center. Joining Starr are country singer Mindy McCready, actress Makenzie Phillips ("One Day At A Time") former Hollywood Madame Heidi Fleiss, NBA great Dennis Rodman, Lisa D'Amato ("America's Next Top Model"), former Miss United States Teen Kari Ann Peniche and Joey Kovar ("Real World Hollywood).

The new season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" is scheduled to premiere in early 2010.

Starr joined the New York City-based Alice In Chains tribute band FACELIFT on stage on May 9, 2009 at Sullivan Hall in New York City to perform three songs -- "Man In The Box", "Would?" and "Them Bones." According to the members of FACELIFT, Starr "was in great shape and form. [His] performance was flawless and this just about squashes all rumors of his prior poor health condition. The crowd response was amazing as crowd-surfing and high-decibel applause was present."


Back in April 2005, Seattle's KIROTV.com reported that Mike Starr was arrested in Seattle for vandalizing a car.

A man named Phillip told KIROTV.com that he spotted a man pulling the hood ornament off his vehicle.

He said he recognized the man as Michael Christopher Starr and called police. Starr was arrested for "investigation of property destruction and theft."

Starr, 43, a founding member of ALICE IN CHAINS, had been in legal trouble before in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City. His past charges include DUI, reckless driving, and various drug charges.

Back in April 1994, Starr was sentenced to 30 days in the Houston jail for
misdemeanor drug possession. Starr was arrested at Houston's Intercontinental Airport while trying to check in for a flight to Los Angeles with a suitcase he had stolen from the baggage claim area. Authorities searched him and found he was carrying marijuana.

~Blabbermouth.net

Video footage of Starr's May 9, 2009 performance with FACELIFT can be viewed below.

The Beastie Boys have revealed that their new album will be called Hot Sauce Committee. This will be the band's first long-player since The Mix-up, an instrumental collection that was released in 2007.

The news was announced via an email to fans, which read: "Our new record that is coming out that we finished the other day is called HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE."

No release date has been confirmed, but if HSC is complete then surely we won't have to wait too long for it. Fans will most likely be getting a taste of the new material as they play select shows throughout the US including Austin City Limits in October at Zilker Park.

To celebrate the announcement, The Beastie Boys appeared on Monday's 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon', joining house band The Roots for an obscenely funky version of So What'cha Want from 1992's Check Your Head. You can watch the performance below.

GODSMACK has begun work on the material for the band's follow-up to 2006's "IV."

Artisan News Service caught up with GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna to get his thoughts on the direction the new album is taking.

"It's gonna be really heavy," he said. "I mean, it's very aggressive. I'm not really sure; it's very premature right now. Right now we just finished one track for the Crüe Fest this Summer. But as far as the whole record goes, I think it's going to be a lot more in your face. I don't think there's going to be any 'Voodoo's or 'Serenity's on this one. We decided to go balls out!"

GODSMACK is part of the lineup for MÖTLEY CRÜE's Crüe Fest 2 tour, which will also include THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DROWNING POOL, and new act CHARM CITY DEVILS.

In late 2007, the band released a greatest hits collection called "Good Times, Bad Times - Ten Years of Godsmack" and announced that it was going on hiatus. Erna worked on his solo album during this period, while the other three members of the group started a side project called ANOTHER ANIMAL.

Erna recently completed work on his first solo album, although he has yet to reveal a title or release date for the disc.

Watch footage of Sully Erna talking about the next GODSMACK record HERE

Stone Temple Pilots have announced a number of shows in the US this summer, kicking off July 1 in Los Angeles.

The band are currently on a tour of the US, having reunited last year after Scott Weiland quit as singer of Velvet Revolver. They will perform May 23 in Anaheim, CA and May 24 in Ventura, CA.

The summer trek wraps up in Atlantic City, NJ on July 18.

The dates are:

Anaheim, CA House of Blues (May 23)
Ventura, CA Majestic Ventura Theater (24)
Los Angeles, CA House of Blues (July 1)
Lansing, MI Adado Riverfront Park (7)
Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion (8)
Rama, Ontario Casino Rama Entertainment Centre (10)
Sarnia, Ontario Centennial Park (11)
Ottawa, Ontario Lebreton Flats Park (13)
Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena (17)
Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel and Casino (18)

In related news, STP singer Scott Weiland is offering live recordings of gigs on his current solo tour, which wraps up Sunday in Ventura, Calif. Preorders are available HERE

Be on the lookout this summer for a new Judas Priest concert album titled A TOUCH OF EVIL- LIVE. The collection will feature eleven previously unreleased performances recorded at various shows thru 2005 and 2008. According to the Judas Priest official website, A TOUCH OF EVIL- LIVE is set to be issued sometime in July. Meanwhile, fans who preorder items from Rob Halfords new Metal God Apparel line will get a free copy of his solo band Halfords's Metal God Essentials Vol. 1 compilation CD and bonus DVD. To take advantage of the free offer, CLICK HERE

To keep up with all things Judas Priest, visit JUDASPRIEST.COM

Today, Harmonix revealed the 41-song setlist of Rock Band Unplugged, that holds a wide array of songs from the 60's all the way up to the 2000's, sure to please fans looking for a full bodied, handheld musical experience.

Rock Band Unplugged Full Track List :

2000s

* AFI - "Miss Murder"

* All-American Rejects - "Move Along"

* Audioslave - "Gasoline" *

* Black Tide -"Show Me the Way" *

* Freezepop - "Less Talk More Rokk" *

* Jimmy Eat World - "The Middle"

* The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"

* Lacuna Coil - "Our Truth"

* Lamb of God - "Laid to Rest"

* Modest Mouse - "Float On"

* Queens of the Stone Age - "3's and 7's"

* System of a Down - "Chop Suey!"

* Tenacious D - "Rock Your Socks" *

1990s

* 3 Doors Down - "Kryptonite" *

* Alice in Chains - "Would?" *

* Blink 182 - "What's My Age Again" *

* Foo Fighters - "Everlong"

* Judas Priest - "Painkiller"

* Lit - "My Own Worst Enemy"

* Lush - "De-Luxe"

* Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Where'd You Go?"

* Nine Inch Nails - "The Perfect Drug"

* Nirvana - "Drain You"

* The Offspring - "Come Out and Play (Keep 'em Separated)"

* Pearl Jam - "Alive"

* Smashing Pumpkins - "Today"

* Social Distortion - "I Was Wrong"

* Soundgarden - "Spoonman"

* Weezer - "Buddy Holly"

1980s

* Billy Idol - "White Wedding Part 1"

* Bon Jovi - "Livin' on a Prayer"

* Dead Kennedys - "Holiday in Cambodia"

* Motorhead - "Ace of Spades"

* The Police - "Message in a Bottle"

* Siouxsie & the Banshees - "The Killing Jar"

1970s

* Boston - "More Than a Feeling"

* Jackson 5 - "ABC" *

* Jethro Tull - "Aqualung"

* Kansas - "Carry on Wayward Son"

* Rush - "The Trees"

1960s

* The Who - "Pinball Wizard"

* Denotes a track that will be exclusive to Rock Band Unplugged for a limited time.

At launch on June 9, 2009, Rock Band Unplugged will feature 10 downloadable tracks from their music store. In the future, players will be able to purchase new songs and content from the store as it develops.

The first DLC tracks will be:

* 30 Seconds to Mars "The Kill"

* Belly "Feed the Tree"

* Disturbed "Inside the Fire"

* Lynyrd Skynyrd "Gimme Three Steps"

* Muse "Hysteria"

* Mute Math "Typical"

* No Doubt "Just a Girl"

* Oasis "Wonderwall"

* Paramore "Crushcrushcrush"

* Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge"

One can expect the best from this handheld release of Rock Band, as it includes key elements from Rock Band and Rock Band 2, such as overdrive and chords. Players hands will work as the "peripherals" and will have full control over playing lead/bass guitars, drums and vocals. It will also include a character creator, and all the classic functional modes such as World Tour, Band Survival and Warm Up.

Sony plans to release a limited edition Rock Band-branded PSP Entertainment Pack as well, at the launch of http://www.gamepro.com/games/psp/143766/rock-band-unplugged/. The bundle will include the game, a "Piano Black" PSP system, a 4GB Memory Stick Pro duo, and in the U.S. only, a voucher to download Paramount Pictures School of Rock from the Playstation store. The Rock Band Entertainment Pack will be available in North America for US$199.99.

"Rock Band Unplugged will retail for about $39.99 and is set to be released on June 9, 2009.

To read the MTV press release, CLICK HERE

Newly sober, Ozzy has finally reached a point of clarity as he looks back on a lifetime of unresolved issues, unparalleled success, misdiagnosed diseases, severed ties, and a recurring dependency on drugs and alcohol. Due in theaters early 2010, this is a film about reconciling the past and looking toward the future.

"Wreckage Of My Past", which is being directed by Mike Piscitelli, and written and produced by Jordan Tappis, will be the first release from Jacko Productions, a company started by Ozzy's son Jack.

Jack Osbourne is executive-producing "Wreckage Of My Past" along with his mother, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's longtime manager.

Jack and Sharon are financing the film themselves.

"Wreckage Of My Past", filming for which began in January 2008, features interviews with all the principal members of Black Sabbath, the various incarnations of Ozzy's solo band, family and friends. But the trick, Jack says, is getting them to be truthful. "The hard thing is getting people to be honest and not have it be a fluff piece, because that's not what we're trying to do," he told RollingStone.com. "I'm trying to paint a realistic picture of who my father is. I think 'The Osbournes', to a degree, tarnished the public's perception of my dad as a bit of a senile, funny, bumbling guy. Yeah, my dad can be that guy, but it's not him. I think that almost discredited who he is as an artist. My dad's not an idiot -- he's nothing short of a genius, in my opinion. He does have huge flaws, and we're trying to really paint an honest picture of that."

According to Variety, Jack Osbourne has filmed several of his father's concerts, is compiling early archive footage, and working on an interview with Ozzy's first wife. He'll put the footage together with Piscitelli and Tappis before talking to distributors.

"I want people to see John Osbourne as the guy I grew up with, the tormented, complex musician whose personal demons manifest themselves in so many crazy, unique ways," Osbourne said. "He's agreed to it but is putting up his guard, massively afraid of putting his true self out there on display for people to see." - www.blabbermouth.net

Check out the trailer for "Wreckage Of My Past" below.

WRECKAGE OF MY PAST from MIKE PISCITELLI on Vimeo.

Prog-metal veterans TOOL continue to add pieces to their emerging summer tour schedule, with the latest additions including a headlining appearance at Chicago's Lollapalooza.

The band, which has been on something of a hiatus since its 2006-2007 world tour following the group's most recent studio album, "10,000 Days," currently shows five live dates on its calendar, kicking off July 18 in Commerce City, CO, with an appearance at the Mile High Music Festival. Before Tool's headlining appearance at the Aug. 7-9 Lollapalooza, the band will also make stops in Salt Lake City (7/19) and Grand Prairie, TX (7/25), as well as an Aug. 1 slot at New Jersey's All Points West festival.

Released in April of 2006, "10,000 Days" debuted at the top of The Billboard 200 chart after moving about 564,000 copies during its first week in stores, and also earned the band two Grammy nominations, including Best Hard Rock Performance for the song "Vicarious."

In February, frontman Maynard James Keenan told MTV.com that the band would start writing material for its fifth studio album "right away," but didn't offer a timetable for the set.

"The music always comes first," Keenan said. "We all get in a room, shut out all the extra noises from the other people and what goes on outside the room and just focus on the four of us, where we are that day. And then we just start making sounds."- livedaily.com

According to a police report obtained by Rolling Stone thieves attacked and robbed Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament outside an Atlanta recording studio recently. The band had been working on a new album with producer Brendan O'Brien at the studio, Southern Tracks.

Rolling Stone reports that on the afternoon of April 27, Ament and a "band employee" were pulling up outside the studio when three masked men emerged from the nearby woods and threatened them with knives. They broke the windows of Ament's Jeep and demanded money, making off with $3,000 in cash and $4,320 worth of goods. They also knocked Ament to the ground and assaulted him, giving him a head laceration that emergency medical technicians had to treat. Even though security cameras caught everything on tape, no arrests have been made yet.

Read the Rolling Stone article HERE

In other Pearl Jam news, a version of the Rock Band video game focusing on in-concert performances by Pearl Jam is in the works for 2010, and fans of the grunge goliaths are being asked to help select which tunes should be featured in the release. Voters can pick from multiple live renditions of 43 different PJ songs by utilizing the Rhapsody music service. To read the song choices, and to being voting, CLICK HERE

Cracker, who scored a big hit in 1993 with the alt-rock anthem "Low," are gearing up to hit the road to support their just-released album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. The headlining North American trek kicks off this Friday in St. Louis and is plotted out through an Aug. 1 gig in Tampa, Fla. So far there have been no Texas dates announced. Keep checking back for future updates.

To read the tour lineup, CLICK HERE

Below, check out the video for Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey's first single called "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me."

"THE SOUND OF MADNESS," the acclaimed third album from Atlantic recording group Shinedown, has been certified Gold by the RIAA, marking sales exceeding 500,000 units. The news comes as the band's single "Second Chance" has just exploded into the top 10 at CHR/Top 40 outlets nationwide and is quickly shaping up to be the Jacksonville, Florida-based quartet's biggest crossover hit to date.

Currently standing at #15 on Billboard's "Hot 100," "Second Chance" has already topped the airplay charts at Active Rock outlets, while also reaching #2 at Alternative. In addition, the single's companion video is now in "X-Large" rotation at VH1, where it is the #3 clip on the network's "Top 20 Countdown." "Second Chance" is also in "Heavy" rotation at MTV.

As if that weren't enough, Shinedown's latest single, "The Sound of Madness," is blowing up at Active Rock radio outlets across the country. The track's top 10 success marks the band's tenth consecutive top 10 showing at the format.

Shinedown -- who recently performed "Second Chance" on CBS' "The Early Show Saturday Edition" and NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" -- is currently traveling the country as both headliners and as featured artists on a number of radio-sponsored festival concerts (see below itinerary). In June, the band will cross the Atlantic for a hugely anticipated European tour, including performances at such world famous festivals as England's Download Festival, Germany's Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, and the Netherlands' Pinkpop.

Upon their return, Shinedown will team up with fellow Atlantic artists Staind and Halestorm for the much anticipated "Stimulate This!" tour. The four-band bill -- also featuring Chevelle -- is designed to offer hard rock fans maximum value at a minimal price.

Kicking off July 1st at Peoria, Illinois' Peoria Civic Center, the "Stimulate This!" tour will hit more than 40 US markets, including some of the hardest hit by the recession. In a show of solidarity for their fans, the four bands have worked closely with the concert promoters to create a package of exceptional value for ticket buyers. Through their collective efforts, base ticket prices will remain mostly under $40 each -- half the cost of comparable multi-band summer tour packages -- with some venues offering lawn seats for less than $10.

"We've always said that we, as a band, only answer to one boss... and that's everyone in the audience," offers Shinedown's Brent Smith. "It's our job... our privilege to offer our fans an escape. Teaming up with these other great bands, we're doing what we can to help lift everyone's spirits in these tough times... the power of music can do that."

Additionally, each stop on the "Stimulate This!" tour will include special promotions for ticket holders that will vary from market to market, but could include discounts on concessions at the venue during the show, store discounts at local retailers, and online rebates for band merchandise, to name a few.

Inspired by the bands' efforts to craft a cost-efficient tour for their fans during these hard times, Atlantic Records will give away a pair of tickets to five fans in every market who pose the best reason as to why they need a free night of rock. Fans can send their stories and enter the contest through Atlantic Records' www.atlanticrecords.com -- see website for details.

Produced by multiple Grammy award winner Rob Cavallo (Kid Rock, Green Day), "THE SOUND OF MADNESS" debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 upon its release last summer. The album marks the dynamic hard rock band's first foray into the international marketplace, where it has been met with incredible enthusiasm, particularly in the UK: "There's little doubt that Shinedown are among the most exciting new bands around," declared Classic Rock, while Kerrang! praised Smith as "simply a masterful entertainer and frontman, a star."

"THE SOUND OF MADNESS" follows the band's RIAA platinum certified 2003 debut "LEAVE A WHISPER" and its gold certified 2005 follow-up, "US AND THEM." Both albums have yielded a staggering seven consecutive top 5 radio hits, including "Fly From the Inside," "45," and the chart-topping "Save Me."

Shinedown is Brent Smith (vocals), Barry Kerch (drums), Zach Myers (guitars), and Eric Bass (bass).

.

SHINEDOWN - ON TOUR 2008

7/1-8/30: "Stimulate This!" w/Staind, Chevelle, and Halestorm

Additional dates to be announced.

JULY

1 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center

4 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre

7 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Convention Center

9 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

10 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion

12 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga PAC - WHRL Big Day Out Festival

14 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion

16 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre

17 Asbury Park, NJ Asbury Park Convention Hall

21 Pikeville, KY Eastern Kentucky Expo Center

22 Corbin, KY Southeastern KY Agricultural & Expo

24 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium

25 Dubuque, IA Dubuque County Fair

26 Brookings, SD Swiftel Center

28 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena

29 Billings, MT MetraPark Arena

AUGUST

10 Ridgefield, WA The Amphitheatre at Clark County

13 Denver, CO The Fillmore Auditorium

14 Rio Rancho, NM Santa Ana Star Center

15 Lubbock, TX Lonestar Amphitheater

18 Laredo, TX Laredo Entertainment Center

28 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre

30 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier @ Penn's Landing

The show must go on. That's Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell's battle cry after suffering an on stage injury that required a visit to the hospital.

Farrell tore his calf muscle during the first song of the band's set at the Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta but he soldiered on to complete the set and is going against medical advise by continuing with scheduled tour dates, according to an Associated Press report.

Farrell was taken by ambulance to Atlanta Medical Center after Sunday's show and was ordered by doctors to stay off his leg for several days but he reportedly still plans to perform Tuesday night when the tour is schedule to hit Austin, Texas.

Here's a little something to get those of you going tonight pumped for the show. It's Jane's Addiction performing live in Austin during SXSW 3/19/09

Hard rock mavens Staind, Shinedown, Chevelle and Halestorm will be teaming up this summer for the "Stimulate This!" tour, a four-band bill designed to offer fans maximum value at a minimal price.

Making its way across the U.S. beginning July 1 and extending through early September, the "Stimulate This!" tour will hit more than 40 U.S. markets, including some of the hardest hit by the recession. In a show of solidarity for their fans, the four bands have worked closely with the concert promoters to create a package of exceptional value for ticket buyers. Through their collective efforts, they've been able to maintain modest base ticket prices that remain mostly under $40 each - half the cost of comparable multi-band summer tour packages - with some venues offering lawn seats for less than $10. Additionally, each tour stop will include special promotions for ticket holders that will vary from market to market, but could include discounts on concessions at the venue during the show, store discounts at local retailers, and online rebates for band merchandise to name a few.

"Wall Street got its bailout; now it's time for rock fans to get theirs," said Staind frontman Aaron Lewis. "This summer, we want to give our fans one night where they can forget about everything else and experience a great rock show."

"We've always said that we, as a band, only answer to one boss...and that's everyone in the audience," offers Shinedown's Brent Smith. "It's our job...our privilege to offer our fans an escape. Teaming up with these other great bands, we're doing what we can to help lift everyone's spirits in these tough times...the power of music can do that."

To read more, CLICK HERE

In October of last year, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a serious car accident that has left him in a coma. Recently he has experienced a lot of progress in his recovery. Late last month he spoke his first words and according to an online message posted Tuesday, Chi was taken out of ICU over the weekend and is no longer on any life support. His symptoms continue to improve and they ask that the prayers keep coming.

Through the years, Chi has given his unwavering support to many P.E.T.A programs. Now P.E.T.A. Is returning the favor by showing their support for Chi. Beginning now through May 29, P.E.T.A. will donate 20% of all proceeds on the purchase of the Chi Cheng designed "Happy Families Not Happy Meals" t-shirt to the One Love for Chi Foundation.

To donate to the One Love for Chi Foundation or to just stay updated on his recovery, CLICK HERE

A man in Vancouver, Canada is suing Chad Kroegar, the lead singer for Nickelback, for allegedly knocking him out after punching him in the mouth outside a nightclub.

The plaintiff, a furniture salesman named Noah Christian Morse claims that the alleged assault took place around 3 a.m. on May 4, 2007 on the sidewalk outside the Roxy Nightclub in Vancouver.

Morse claims Kroeger intentionally beat him, according to a statement filed in B.C. Supreme Court. "The defendant felt and expressed no remorse, but rather sought to blame the plaintiff, for his wrongful action," says the lawsuit.

Morse also says that as a result of the attack, he has dental injuries, including one deadened front tooth or more, dislodged upper front teeth and permanent discoloration of one or more teeth. He says he suffered lacerations to his face and lips, permanent scarring of the face, sleeplessness, headaches, anxiety, moodiness and loss of concentration.

The lawsuit includes Morse's supposed financial loss, including past loss of income, future loss of income and medical expenses, including cost of medication. He wants general, special, and punitive damages.

No one from Chad Kroeger's camp has filed a statement in defense.

Every rock star has got to settle down one day, and it looks like Trent Reznor has found his match in Mariqueen Maandig, vocalist for the band West Indian Girl.

The couple went public at the Star Trek premiere in Los Angeles last week and officially announced their engagement Saturday on West Indian Girl's website. The post reads "In case you haven't heard the news, Mariqueen got engaged. Everyone in the West Indian Girl camp is super excited and happy for her. Q's an awesome person, friend and bandmate and she couldn't be marrying a cooler guy. Talk about analog and digital love- their kids might all have Moogs for arms."

And for Reznor, it seems like the timing could not be better.

He said in a prior interview with Rock Sound in 2005, "I had neglected [my love life], but I've been paying more attention to it. It feels like I'm more equipped to function in that situation. I can actually be honest with myself and another human being."

"What it had really been was an extension of that 23-year-old kid who said, 'I want to stop everything in my life to do this,' " he told the magazine. "I didn't want a girlfriend or marriage or a kid to get in the way of that opportunity. What that leads to eventually is one day saying, 'Okay, I've sold this many records and played this big place. ... I'm lonely.' Then 'Wow, I'm older than everyone else. How did that happen?' Plus with drugs involved, time just flies off the calendar. So now I'm going to be an old dad instead of a young dad."

To be re-directed to the official West Indian Girl's website and read the announcement, CLICK HERE

Be sure to catch Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction Tuesday May 12^th at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

While working on a three-part, prime-time Fairly OddParents special, creator/executive producer Butch Hartman and head writer Scott Fellows had a big decision to make concerning a plot point involving main character Timmy Turner.

"Timmy was going to find this wand, and we needed a guardian for the wand," Hartman said earlier this week. "And we were thinking, 'Who could guard this wand -- a metal dude? What if it was a rock band, like [the wand] was guitar? That would be kind of cool.'

Hartman and Fellows, both longtime Kiss fans, considered creating a Kiss-like band for this key moment in The Fairly OddParents: Wishology because they initially thought they'd never land the real thing.

"The name of the band we were going to use was called Smooch, and they were going to have heart makeup on their faces," Hartman said.

Nevertheless, they decided to "put the feelers" out to the Kiss camp, just to see if there was any interest in being part of Wishology.

"Not only did they say yes," Hartman said, "but we got to use 'Rock and Roll All Nite,' and Gene Simmons gave us the rights to the makeup designs."

Simmons and fellow Kiss mate Paul Stanley lend their voices and appear as their animated selves in the first and third episodes of Wishology. In the trilogy, Turner is anointed The Chosen One, and he goes on a whirlwind search for a magic wand that will help save the universe. He crosses paths with Simmons and Stanley - the Galactic Guardians of the White Wand - at the Middle-Aged Rock Festival in Las Vegas.

"We did our best to honor them and to make them look good," Hartman said of Simmons and Stanley. "If you look at the designs, they look really super-awesome and muscular. When you think about Kiss, they're kind of like cartoon characters or superheroes in the first place. Even though they're people, they always wear the outfits."

Wishology contains a brief tribute to one of Simmons' most famous attributes.

"We have one bit where Timmy's playing guitar and he uses his tongue to lick the guitar, and Gene says, 'Dude, that's a long tongue.'"

The Fairly OddParents: Wishology will air at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday on Nickelodeon.

-KISSONLINE.com

Check out a clip from Wishology's "The Beginning" and "Bequeath" HERE

After splitting up five years ago, Scott Stapp and the boys of Creed have decided to get back together. Stapp told RollingStone.com that in addition to reuniting, the band will also release a new album and begin a tour later this summer.

"I wouldn't call it a reunion," the lead singer said. "It's a renewing and a rebirth. I missed my boys and wanted to create music with them again. We're all thrilled to have a second chance to make a first impression."

The band initially made steps toward getting back together after Stapp reached out to guitarist Mark Tremonti in December. "I was nervous but also excited, because I knew Mark would bring nothing but positivity," Stapp said. "We exchanged family pictures and within 20 minutes, we were jamming on acoustic guitars and talking about new songs."

Soon after, the duo met up with drummer Scott Phillips and bassist Brian Marshall, who left the band in 2000. "At that meeting we were collectively saying, 'Hey, man, I'm sorry if I hurt you or my choices did anything to cause you any pain. I have nothing but love and forgiveness for you, and I hope you can forgive me,' " Stapp explained. "It's all part of the process of reflection and not looking back at the six months out of 10 years that were trying."

Creed will begin their reunion tour in August in Pittsburgh and the trek will continue through October. Stapp said that he and Tremonti have several demos ready to go for the new album but are looking for the right producer to make it work. The band would ideally like to release the album shortly after their tour.

"We want to put ourselves around the best and have them bring out the best in us and challenge us as artists," he said. "This band is my first love and a first love that's stood the test of time." - MTV.com

TEXAS CREED DATES:

» September 22 - Dallas, TX
» September 24 - San Antonio, TX
» September 25 - Houston, TX

**Tickets for CREED go on sale Saturday May 9th at 10am at all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 1800-745-3000 Ticketmaster.com