****** Life of Agony Epic Deal ******

siNs metal news reports: LIFE OF AGONY have reportedly signed a deal with Epic Records. The band is getting ready to head into the studio to record the follow up to “Soul Searching Sun”.

Full Story – http://www.smnnews.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1094835911&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&;

****** Headbangers Ball Tour ******

siNs metal news reports: Tonight on Headbangers Ball it was announced that the 3rd Edition of the tour will be CRADLE OF FILTH headlining with support from ARCH ENEMY, BLEEDING THROUGH, and HIMSA.

Full Story – http://www.smnnews.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1094977277&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&;

****** Mushroomhead Drop Tour, Vocalist & Label ******

siNs metal news reports: Although not fully confirmed by MUSHROOMHEAD, its apparant that vocalist J-Mann has left the band, and that the group will no longer be taking part in the upcoming ICP tour.

The first floating rumor of a replacement is that Waylon from North Carolina based 3 QUARTERS DEAD will be filling the shoes of J-Mann. 3 QUARTERS DEAD have opened for MUSHROOMHEAD on a mini Northern state tour, as well as on various off shows. [see full story for more]

Full Story – http://www.smnnews.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1095034258&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&;

****** Punk X-mas ******

MTV reports: New Found Glory, Something Corporate and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are among the bands banging out Christmas-themed tunes for A Santa Cause: Its a Punk Rock Christmas. A portion of the proceeds from the compilation, due November 2, go to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Full Story – http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490912/20040910/blink_182.jhtml?headlines=true

****** Jackass of Hazzard ******

MTV reports: Move over, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson: Two young film stars are reprising the roles of another legendary small-screen duo. Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott are slated to play Luke and Bo Duke, respectively, in the film version of the 1980s TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Jessica Simpson has screen-tested for the role of Luke and Bos cousin Daisy, and comedy troupe Broken Lizard (“Super Troopers”) will write the film. While plans are in motion, the studio has not yet officially green-lighted the film …[see full story for film news from MTV]

Full Story – http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1490887/09102004/story.jhtml

****** De La Rocha MP3 ******

IAYM reports: A rough quality mp3 of former Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack De La Rochas new track We Want It All has been posted online over at fansite www.zdlr.net. The track looks to have been produced by nine inch nails Trent Reznor. [see full story for more]

Full Story – http://www.iateyourmicrophone.com/

****** Pixies In No Hurry To Record ******

Xfm reports: After the furore surrounding the internet-only release of their first new material in thirteen years, Bam Thwok, Pixies frontman Frank Black hasnt ruled out the idea of writing more new songs.

Speaking in a new interview, Black has reiterated his claims that while hes in no hurry to record an album of new Pixies material (and his loathing of record companies remains) the idea cant be ruled out.

“I think were aware of the fact that the material would have to be creme de la crème.” he explained to Rolling Stone, “But were not really in a rush to go there yet for a few different reasons: were in the middle of doing a tour, weve got to write some good songs, and the record business being what it is right now its not like we can sell millions and millions of records. [see full story for more]

Full Story – http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=39257

****** Ernie Ball RIP ******

AP reports: Ernie Ball, a pioneer maker of rock n roll guitar strings used by legions of artists from the Rolling Stones to Merle Travis, has died. He was 74.

Ball died at his home Thursday after an ongoing illness, the mortuary handling services announced.

His strings and instruments were used by music stars over the past four decades, from B.B. King to Metallica. Beginning with a small music shop in the San Fernando Valley, Ball built a business with annual sales of $40 million and a worldwide reputation. Along the way, he bucked traditional thinking in the music business.

“He changed the way people thought of guitar accessories, and how they sold and marketed them, and to this day the Ernie Ball way is the industry standard,” his son, Sterling Ball, said in a statement.

Full Story – http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=495&ncid=495&e=13&u=/ap/20040910/ap_en_mu/obit_ball

****** Perfect Circles New Album Tracks ******

IAYM reports: Details regarding the contents of A Perfect Circles upcoming new studio outing “eMOTIVe” have been unfurled, according to a recent article at billboard.com. The effort looks to consist of ten cover versions and two new songs, with the track listing shaping up as follows:
01. “Annihilation” (Crucifix cover) – 02. “Imagine” (John Lennon cover) – 03. “(Whats So Funny Bout) Peace And Understanding” (Nick Lowe cover) – 04. “Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of The War Drums” – 05. “Whats Goin On” (Marvin Gaye cover) – 06. “When The Levee Breaks” (Memphis Minnie cover) – 07. “Freedom Of Choice” (Devo cover) – 08. “People Are People” (Depeche Mode cover) – 09. “Passive” – 10. “Gimme Gimme Gimme” (Black Flag cover) – 11. “Lets Have A War” (Fear cover) – 12. “Fiddle And The Drum” (Joni Mitchell cover) –

“eMOTIVe” is slated to land in stores on November 02nd through Virgin. The band will follow-up the work on November 16th with a double-disc DVD/CD package consisting of both a live DVD and a remix album, grouped together under the title “aMOTION”

Full Story – http://www.iateyourmicrophone.com/

****** Lennon Unplugged ******

liveDaily reports: Capitol Records will issue the new album “John Lennon Acoustic” and a remixed, remastered version of Lennons 1975 set, “Rock n Roll,” on Nov. 2.

Seven of the 17 tracks on “Acoustic” are previously unreleased.

Full Story – http://www.livedaily.com/news/7055.html

****** Morbid Curiosity ******

press release reports: Top 20 Rock Deaths is a two hour documentary, hosted by Cradle Of Filth, and featuring the stories behind the lives and tragic demise of some of rocks legends, including Randy Rhoades, Layne Staley, Cliff Burton, Bon Scott, Bradley Nowell, Jimi Hendrix, Sid Vicious, Joey Ramone, Joes Strummer and Kurt Cobain. Features interviews with a selection of UK rock pundits, plus Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Incubus, The Offspring, Lostprophets, Good Charlotte and more.

The show airs on Scuzz in the UK (Sky Digital channel 471, ntl:home 934) on September 14, 16 and 18 at 10pm. [check out the full story link for more info]

Full Story – http://www.scuzz.tv/promos/1094641139.html

****** Limp Circle? ******

IAYM reports: According to a posting at Limp Bizkit guitar player Wes Borlands official website, Josh Freese of A Perfect Circle fame recently joined Borland in the studio to lay down some drum parts for his upcoming solo CD. [more]

Full Story – http://www.iateyourmicrophone.com/

****** Next Deftones Kind of Rush Like ******

Blabbermouth reports: DEFTONES singer Chino Moreno has spoken to MTV.com about the groups decision to embark on a month-long club tour prior to entering the studio to record their fifth studio album.

With regards to the musical direction of the new material, Moreno said, “The songs are kind of brainy. Theyre more RUSH than TOOL in a way,” he continued. “On our last record, we got kind of lazy by writing as few riffs as possible. This one were writing way more riffs. We have formats where we have to write the songs down and go over them and over them again.” [see full story for more]

Full Story – http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=26694

****** Battle of the Ozzfest Bands ******

siNs metal news reports: Texas based A DOZEN FURIES have been the first band to publicly announce their involvement in the forthcoming MTV reality series Battle for Ozzfest, the band had this to say:

“We are more than pleased to announce that ADF has been selected to compete in MTVs “Battle for Ozzfest” reality series. Unfortunatly, thats just about all of the information we have at this point….

Full Story Here.

****** Shizzle My Bizzle ******

PR Newswire reports: Documents filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on Thursday September 2, 2004, indicate that the members of the Group 213, including Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg, as well as, the record Label TeeVee Toons (TVT Records) have been sued for copyright infringement, in connection with the recently released album “213 The Hard Way.”

In the suit filed by MZZ, LLC, the company states that three tracks on the album infringe copyrights for works written by well known producer DJ Battlecat, whose work includes hits recorded by artists including Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Lucy Pearl, Brian McKnight, Xhibit, WC and Faith Evans.

Full Schizzle.

****** Surely, They Would Never Misled Us ******

E! reports: [Not music related but its a slow news day because of the holiday and this might interest some of you.]Sony Pictures is finally settling the score with moviegoers duped into watching duds on the advice of fake film critic David Manning.

E! Online has learned that the studio has agreed to put $1.5 million into a fund to settle a class-action suit brought by film patrons who claimed they went to see A Knights Tale after reading the fictitious Mannings glowing review that hailed Heath Ledger as that years “hottest new star!”

Omar Rezec of Los Angeles and Ann Belknap of Sierra Madre, California, filed the suit in June 2001 after it was revealed that two Sony Pictures execs had invented Manning in the hopes of injecting flopping films with a little box office magic.

Eonline has more.

****** Get Some Cash ******

New York Daily News reports: You can own a piece of the Man in Black. On Sept. 13, 2004, the one-year anniversary of the death of Johnny Cash, his estate will auction a few hundred of the items he left behind. The sale will also include items from the estate of Cashs wife, June Carter Cash.

Full Scoop.

****** Dope is Dope ******

press release reports: Dope is scheduled to embark on the two-month “American Apathy” tour starting Oct. 11th 2004 right in Denver, CO alongside Adema, Motograter and Twisted Method

DOPE is putting the finishing touches on their new album American Apathy, scheduled for release in February 2005. The band will be hitting the road through the end of the year and playing many of the new songs live. A sample of a new Dope song, “No Way Out” is available online in an E-card promoting the bands upcoming tour with ADEMA, MOTOGRATER, AND TWISTED METHOD.

Check the Dope Army Website for more.

****** Korns Greatest Hits And Then Some ******

IAYM reports: A limited edition version of KoRns upcoming “Greatest Hits Vol. 1” collection will see a release along with the standard disc on October 05th, when it hits stores through Immortal/Epic Records. This will feature a bonus DVD containing seven live songs captured at a concert held in New York Citys CBGBs venue earlier this year.

See full story for the tracklist.

******* Weiland Still An Asshole ******

Rockdirt reports: The People reports that Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland freaked out while at a CD signing at the Piccadilly Virgin Megastore on Friday (September 3) in London after seeing a sticker on the bands CD which said, “Featuring members of Guns N Roses,” but no mention of Weilands old band, Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland demanded the sticker be peeled off all stock

Get More Dirt.

****** Pulp Fiction 2 ******

I know this is not music news, but it was cool.

Herald Sun reports: QUENTIN Tarantino may make another episode of 1994s Pulp Fiction, according to John Travolta, who played hitman Vincent Vega.

“Every six months he calls me to talk about a project on the story of the Vega brothers — a type of prequel to Pulp Fiction. Then it all remains in his mind,” Travolta said.

As reported by the Herald Sun.

****** Maggots Rejoice! ******

Blabbermouth reports: SLIPKNOT will be releasing their third DVD sometime next year, a representative for Roadrunner Records has confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. “The exact timing and content [of the DVD] has yet to be determined,” the representative said.

Blabbermouth

******* Anger United ******

The PRP reports: System Of A Downs Serj Tankian, former Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha and Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta are among those who collaborated on Saul Williams upcoming self-titled effort which will arrive in stores on September 21st.

Full Story Here.

****** More Talent In Sabbath, Than Just Ozzy ******

press release reports: When monumental musical talents collide, the result is magic. Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes offer proof in the form of the album The 1996 DEP Sessions set for release by Sanctuary Records on September 28, 2004. The album is being released under the banner Iommi With Glenn Hughes.

The 1996 DEP Sessions features eight electrifying songs recorded by these two legends. Iommi is the lead guitarist in Black Sabbath, the groundbreaking originators of pure heavy metal; he has led every lineup of the band. Iommi is one of the most influential and widely recognized guitarists in the history of rock music. Hughes was a member of Trapeze before achieving worldwide superstardom as the co-lead vocalist and bass guitarist in Deep Purple in the mid-1970s. He has enjoyed a prolific and diverse solo career.

Iommi.com has more.

****** Remember Crues Other Singer? ******

Yesterday we printed a Blabbermouth story about the new band featuring members of Sevendust, Stereomud, Stuck Mojo and Tommy Lee. We were informed by an inside source that this line-up (minus the vocals) are also playing with former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi on his new solo album. (Kick Ass! I actually met Corabi back in his Crue days. He was really cool and IMHO, a better singer than Vince. Im looking forward to his new album.)

****** From the… Its more fun to pick on Canada Category ******

MuchMusic reports: Canadian rock might have more than its share of duds, but have you ever considered what the absolute worst Canadian songs of all time might be? Chart Magazine has done just that and come up with a list of twenty-five tracks of debatable levels of stinkiness. Rounding out the top five are Loverboy, with “Lovin Every Minute Of It”, Barenaked Ladies “One Week”, The Crash Test Dummies “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”, Alannah Myles “Black Velvet”, and at number one – that dated slice of alterna-funk, “Everyones A Winner” by Bootsauce.

Get the full scoop at the only cool Video Music station left after MTV cancelled MTV-X, MuchMusic website.

****** All the cool stoner kids are doing it ******

MTV reports: Slash is about to become a McFarlane figure. The Velvet Revolver/ former Guns N Roses guitarist will be featured with his top hat and leather jacket while playing guitar. “Its extremely flattering and humbling to be immortalized in plastic,” Slash said in a statement Wednesday (September 1). The Slash figure will be available at mass retailers in July.

****** Seven Crue? ******

Blabbermouth reports: Ex-VIRGOS MERLOT/VIRGOS guitarist/vocalist Brett Hestla has joined the as-yet-unnamed new band featuring former and current members of SEVENDUST, SKRAPE, Tommy Lees (MÖTLEY CRÜE) solo band and STEREOMUD. The groups lineup is as follows:

Brett Hestla: Vocals – Will Hunt (SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE): Drums – Corey Lowery (ex-STEREOMUD, STUCK MOJO): Bass – Troy McLawhorn (ex-DOUBLE DRIVE): Guitar – Clint Lowery (SEVENDUST): Guitar

Blabbermouth has more.

****** Mushroomheadless ******

Blabbermouth reports: MUSHROOMHEAD vocalist Jason Mann has left the band, a source close to the group has informed PITRIFF.com.

MUSHROOMHEAD recently toured with INSANE CLOWN POSSE following a split with their record company, Universal Records (which issued the bands “XX” and “XIII” albums). Manns own record label, dubbed Fractured Transmitter Records, has just released the latest EP from MESHUGGAH, entitled “I”.

More Blabbermouth.

****** Classical Music Punk Style ******

Punkbands reports: In June 2002, an ad on the online bulletin board Craigslist asking for classical musicians interested in playing classic punk rock covers yielded a flood of responses. This was the birth of the world`s only Punk Rock Orchestra, 50+ classical musicians using bassoons, cellos, timpanis and more to play the classics of punk.

In early 2004, the Punk Rock Orchestra went to George Lucas Skywalker Sound to record their album under the guidance of Grammy-Award winning engineer/mixer Leslie Ann Jones. The result is Punk Rock Orchestra`s debut album, available to the public for the first time at the Swedish American Hall Oct. 1st and 2nd.

Punkbands.com has the full scoop.

****** Perfect Releases ******

The PRP reports: According to www.aperfectcircle.net, A Perfect Circle have set “aMOTION” as the title to their upcoming live DVD release which will be backed by a CD of remix material. The set is due out through Virgin on November 16th, and is not to be confused with the groups other new forthcoming release, “eMOTIVe”, which will see a release through Virgin on November 02nd.

Read the rest.

****** McFarlane Does Motley Crue ******

Blabbermouth reports: McFarlane Toys will be releasing a MÖTLEY CRÃœE action-figure “Deluxe Boxed Set” in November 2004. [see full story for more including a link to photos. Looks like the figures are based on the “Shout at the Devil” era Crue, so no toy spandex will be needed.]

See the pics here.

****** Ozzys Note From Mom ******

siNs metal news reports: Rioters seeking some recourse for the lack of BLACK SABBATH frontman OZZY OSBOURNE playing in Camden, New Jersey last week, can now find solace in the wonderful words of Sharon Osbourne, who issued an official apology via Ozzfest.com:

“To those who attended the Ozzfest show in Camden on August 26, I would like to address the few complaints that have arisen from Black Sabbaths performance with Rob Halford in Camden last Thursday, August 26th. The situation quite clearly was that Ozzy was suffering from bronchitis. He was hoping from the morning of the show until the afternoon that he would have some sort of voice so that he could perform that evening. Unfortunately by late afternoon he was advised by doctors that that just wouldnt be possible…