February 1 - February 4, 2001

FEBRUARY 1, 2001

KISS
Just one month before farewell concert dates in Japan and Australia, Kiss drummer Peter Criss has left the band for the second time. The remaining members Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley will instead play in front of tub-thumper Eric Singer who toured with the legendary group from 1991-1996 during Criss' first exit from the lineup. The group has issued a statement which makes no reference to their longtime colleague, but enthuses about Singer: "Eric has been a member of our family, and his drumming and singing have been the cornerstone of past KISS tours. We are stoked that we can bring our ultimate spectacle to Kiss fans worldwide." Criss' last gig with the band - which is midway through what it claims will be its final tour - was on the final night of Kiss' 129-date North American tour on October 7, 2000 in Charleston, S.C..

GARBAGE
Still recording its new album in Wisconsin, rock quartet Garbage has brought a law suit against its record label, Almo Sounds. The group claims that under its original contract they were allowed to leave the company if the chairman ever left: label head Jerry Moss retired from Almo Sounds when it was sold to the Universal Music Group, so Garbage wants out.

JENNIFER LOPEZ
Singer and actress du jour Jennifer Lopez has become the first artist to hit No. 1 with both a film and a non-soundtrack album simultaneously: her second album, J. Lo has debuted in pole position on the Billboard Top 200 Albums list for week ending January 28 (dislodging the Beatles' 1 no less), while her latest movie, "The Wedding Planner" leads the box office chart having raked in a three-day weekend gross of $13.5 million. (Giant entertainment corporation Sony own both projects: Sony Pictures distributes the romantic comedy film, while Lopez is also signed to its record imprint, Epic Records .)

ELTON JOHN
Giving no indication as to when he would render his decision, a justice on London's High Court reserved judgment today after 43 days of hearings in a case brought by Sir Elton John against accounting/investments firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Seeking $30 million, John has alleged negligence in the managing of his estate, charges also brought against his former affairs manager, Andrew Haydon. Both defendants deny the allegations. While he awaits for the decision, John continues his co-headlining Face to Face tour with Billy Joel, performing tomorrow in Oakland, California.

JOHN JARRARD
Having battled with diabetes and losing his eyesight, both of his legs and kidneys to the disease, Country music songwriter John Jarrard died earlier today in a Nashville, TN hospital, age 47. His death was caused by respiratory failure brought on by a drug reaction and not complications from the disease that plagued him for most of his life. A talented lyricist, Jarrard penned songs for dozens of Nashville's finest including "Blue Clear Sky" for George Strait, "Sure Can Smell the Rain" for BlackHawk, and "Mirror, Mirror" for Diamond Rio.

COURTNEY LOVE
In an interview in today's Irish newspaper, The Star, Courtney Love states that she wants to play the part of the late English celebrity Paula Yates in a film project, "even if I have to write the script myself". She clearly feels that they have much in common: both fathered children to dead rock stars (Love to Kurt Cobain, Yates to INXS front man Michael Hutchence, following her long marriage to Bob Geldof), and both peroxide blonde women battled alcohol and drug abuse. "We exchanged phone numbers and made plans to hang out" Love says, "but I believe I met her for a reason, and now I'll bring her true story to the world."

FEBRUARY 2, 2001

SEAN "PUFFYc COMBS
On day four of the Sean "Puffy" Combs trial, a witness testified today that she saw a gun in the hands of the rap mogul, making her the first witness to substantiate the gun possession charges against the rap mogul. Tarnisha Smith, a twenty-four-year-old nursing student from the Bronx, claimed that she saw the argument between Combs, Barrow and another patron of Club New York and testifying that she had seen Barrow fire a gun. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos asked Smith, "Did you see any other gun?". She replied, "The gun Puffy was running out of the club with." She described the gun being held in Combs' right hand, low at his side. Regarding Barrow - a Combs recording protege - she described seeing his gun having a "spark" coming out of it. Rashane Dellballe, another clubgoing witness on the night of the incident also testified today, detailing the fight between Combs, Barrow and another patron, who allegedly threw money at the rapper. He also stated that as Barrow began shooting, someone tried to grab his arm. "All hell broke loose," he testified. The case is scheduled to continue on Monday.

DESTINY'S CHILD, COLDPLAY, SONIQUE
Organizers for the forthcoming BRIT Awards have confirmed that Destiny's Child, Coldplay, and Sonique have been added to the bill of live performers at the 2001 event, set to be staged on February 26 at London's Earl's Court. They will join previously announced artists Craig David, Westlife, Robbie Williams, and U2, who will close the show with a live performance after accepting the Outstanding Contribution To Music award.

SPICE GIRLS
Spice Girl singer Mel B's ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar has been found guilty of assaulting her younger sister, actress Danielle Brown. The former Spice Boy dancer was convicted of assault at Highbury Magistrates Court in north London today, but reportedly showed little emotion when the verdict was handed down by district judge Ian Baker. He was fined £400 ($600), ordered to pay £40 ($60) compensation to Brown and £200 ($300) in court costs. During a trial in the same court in December, Danielle accused the former Spice Girl spouse of lifting her off the ground by her throat and spitting in her face during an incident in August when she had gone to Gulzar's Hampstead, London home to collect his daughter and her niece, Phoenix Chi, who was 18 months old at the time.

LIMP BIZKIT
The parents of Jessica Michalik - the teenage girl who died after being crushed in a mosh-pit during Limp Bizkit's set at the Big Day Out festival in Sydney, Australia on January 26th - have accused the event's organizers of not doing enough to avoid the tragedy. Appearing on the Channel 9 television station earlier today, George and Barbara Michalik spoke about the death of their 15-year old daughter who passed away in hospital on Wednesday. Mr. Michalik said that his daughter did not like 'mosh-pits' and would not have been "sucked into it by choice". He also suggested security personnel should have taken control of the size of the swell at the front of the stage. "The indication (is that) the organizers had not done everything they could", said Mr Michalik, adding "I'm sure her death won't go unnoticed and(be) for nothing".

FEBRUARY 3, 2001

ROD STEWART
Today's The Sun newspaper in Britain reports that veteran British rocker Rod Stewart feared he had permanently lost his trademark rasping voice following surgery to remove a cancerous lump from his throat. The 56-year old singer told the tabloid that he was unable to sing for nine months after having the lump removed in Los Angeles last April. "It was scary and it could have been very nasty. When you have a scare like that it puts things into perspective," Stewart was quoted as saying. "As far as my voice is concerned, it is really weird. It is not as strong right now but it will be because I just keep on singing and singing and singing," he told the Sun.

METALLICA
According to MTV news, Metallica members guitarist Kirk Hammett, singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and recently departed bass player Jason Newsted have all been immortalized as plastic action toys in the US by McFarlane Toys. Defending his decision to include Newsted in the lineup, company president Todd McFarlane says: "(Music is) like sports now, where somebody phones and you just finished painting someone, and they go, 'Oh, he's just been traded. We made the Beatles ... John Lennon isn't alive, and the Beatles are no longer together. So, Jason was with them for a long time, so it became not necessarily the true Metallica. It becomes the classic Metallica."

BURT BACHARACH
Songwriter/arranger/producer Burt Bacharach, Robert Moog (designer of the famous Moog synthesizer), and composer Karlheinz Stockhausen have been announced as recipients of the prestigious 2001 Polar Music Prize, bestowed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music for exceptional and lifetime achievements. The three honorees -- one more than usual to mark the 10th anniversary of the award -- will receive the prizes - which include one million Swedish Crown - on May 14 from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The prize, which was founded by Abba producer Stig Anderson in 1989 and been awarded since 1992, has been won by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Ravi Shankar, among others.

TED NUGENT
Originally scheduled to be honored today at an annual outdoor event, outspoken axeman Ted Nugent will not be getting a key to the city of Omaha, NE after all. The ``Motor City Madman'' Mayor Hal Daub has changed his mind after harsh criticism of Nugent began circulating some weeks ago. Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, had sent Daub a letter asking the mayor to reconsider his plans. "With violence in our society more out of control than ever, what on earth are you doing giving a key to the city to Ted Nugent, one of today's most visible symbols of bigotry, hatred and destruction?'' Newkirk wrote. Daub said the decision was not, however, personal." The decision was clearly made when I was informed Thursday that this was going to be potentially divisive," he said. As for Nugent? "I have no negative feelings whatsoever. He's got to do what he's got to do and I've got to do what I've got to do." Friday from his Michigan ranch.

FEBRUARY 4, 2001

EMINEM/ELTON JOHN
British newspaper News Of The World reports today that controversial rapper and pop veteran Sir Elton John are to perform an unlikely duet together at the upcoming Grammy Awards. The newspaper claims that the two artists have a "mutual admiration" for each other. A 'pal' is quoted as saying, "It will blow everyone away... both Elton and Eminem are really excited about it." However, Eminem has yet to confirm whether he will appear at the event after protests from gay rights activists and a group against family violence. The rapper has been nominated for four awards at the ceremony, which is scheduled for in Los Angeles on February 21st at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA. Meanwhile, Sheffield University's Student Union (England) have banned Eminem's music from being played and his merchandise being sold within the Union. His music can also not be played on the campus radio station or reviewed in the student newspaper. According to the Union, his music "intimidated" the university's gay community.

AL JARREAU
The Hollywood Walk of Fame committee today announced that veteran jazz/pop singer Al Jarreau will be the latest musical recipient to have a star dedicated to his name on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The dedication ceremony will take place March 6 in Hollywood.

YANNIS XENAKIS
Romanian-born French composer, architect and mathematician Yannis Xenakis, who invented a new genre of music composed with the aid of computers, died today aged 78. "France loses one of its most brilliant artists today," French President Jacques Chirac said in a statement of condolence. Xenakis, born in Romania to a wealthy family of Greek origin, moved to Greece in 1932 and subsequently fought with the Greek resistance during World War Two, losing an eye in battle. Expelled by Greece in 1947 because of his political beliefs, Xenakis moved to Paris where he closely collaborated with modernist architect Le Corbusier for the next 12 years. Xenakis subsequently developed a new composing technique using computers and based on the mathematical probability of the recurrence of notes and rhymes. This yielded some of his breakthrough works, Metastasis in 1955 and Achorripsis in 1958. "By breaking free from the constraints of the classical norm, by taking the path of random music and by using the inputs of science, he contributed to the definition of a new area of freedom for musical art," Chirac said.

OZZY OSBOURNE/BLACK SABBATH
Despite having played what were billed as final farewell gigs more than a year ago, the original Black Sabbath lineup — singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward — will headline this year's Ozzfest tour (Osbourne's wildly successful annual metal fest). It will be Sabbath's third time in the headlining slot since they regrouped in 1997. Their popular involvement on the trek in 1999 plays a large part in the recent Ozzfest tour documentary "We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. This year's lineup - set to kick off its US dates on June 8th at Chicago's World Theater - will be completed by Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Disturbed and Linkin Park.