The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines has filmed her feature film debut in Grand Champion, which stars Bruce Willis; a release date for the movie has not yet been set . . . A reunited Toad the Wet Sprocket, who split nearly five years ago, will begin a twenty-four-date tour on February 4th in Anaheim, California . . . CUTTING CREW guitarist KEVIN MacMICHAEL died of complications from lung cancer on December 31st; he was fifty-one . . . The International Noise Conspiracy will release a new EP, Bigger Cages, Longer Chains, on January 21st . . . The Iguanas will release Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart on February 25th . . .
Keb' Mo' and Maura O'Connell make guest appearances on Minton Sparks' second album, This Dress, due February 25th . . . David Kilgour's former band, the Clean, will be anthologized on the aptly-titled two-CD Anthology, due January 20th . . . Portland, Oregon's the Thermals will release their debut album, More Parts Per Million, on March 4th . . . Styx will release Cyclorama, their first studio album in four years, on February 18th . . . Mekons frontman Jon Langford has collaborated with the Sadies on Mayors of the Moon, a new album due February 4th . . . Zero 7 will release a collection of remixes of songs from their album, Simple Things, on January 21st . . .
Bonnaroo 2003 will be held from June 13th through June 15th in Manchester, Tennessee. The original festival, held last summer, included performances by Trey Anastasio, Norah Jones, Jurassic 5 and others . . . DMX was forced to cancel shows in Calgary and Saskatoon after the rapper was refused entry into Canada on December 29th . . . Pink's pre-fame years will be the subject of a new episode of Driven, set to debut January 5th on VH1 . . . Gas Food Lodging and Green on Red, two albums by Paisley Underground scenesters Green on Red, will be reissued by Restless/Ryko on a single CD on January 21st . . . Diana Ross was arrested on December 30th near Tucson, Arizona, on suspicion of drunk driving; the former Supremes diva reportedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.2 percent, more than double the legal limit. A court date is set for January 13th . . .
Joe Strummer was cremated in a private ceremony in west London on December 30th; the former Clash singer/guitarist died of a heart attack on December 22nd . . . Members of the Damned will join Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister in the studio early this year for an album due in 2004 . . . The Jayhawks will begin a ten-date tour on January 23rd in Milwaukee . . . Nelly will begin a six-date U.K. tour on March 21st in London . . .
Papa Roach have recorded "Don't Look Back" with the Neptunes; the song will be included on the soundtrack to the upcoming film, Biker Boyz . . . Dolly Parton will host the Kidz FunFest, a children's festival, at Dollywood from June 20th through August 10th . . . The Black Ensemble Theater Company in Chicago will launch "The Jackie Wilson Story," a new theater production, on January 21st . . . John Wesley Harding will play a six-date U.K. tour starting January 13th in Brighton . . . Perpetual Groove will release their next album, Sweet Oblivious Antidote on January 21st . . .
Aretha Franklin sang the national anthem January 1st at the inaugural celebration of Michigan Governor-elect Jennifer Granholm in Lansing . . . Twisted Sister have lined up two European festival shows in June; the performances will be the band's first in fifteen years . . . A California judge ordered Master P to pay $105,000 in damages to an eighty-year-old woman whose voice was recorded on a telephone call and used in "No Limit," a single by Magic that Master P produced.
(January 2, 2003)