The Chemical Brothers are three quarters of the way finished with their fourth album, which is tentatively titled "Chemical IV." It features guest vocals by Richard Ashcroft and Beth Orton, and the first single, "It Began in Afrika," is due September 11th . . . Jay-Z has pushed the release of his new album, The Blueprint, up two weeks to September 11th . . . At their request, Gorillaz have been removed from the shortlist for the U.K.'s Mercury Prize . . . A new scholarship fund has been established at the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts in honor of Aaliyah, an alumnus of the school . . . Former Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has been added to the lineup for Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Mexican Meltdown in San Lucas, Mexico on October 13th . . . Musiq Soulchild won four awards and R. Kelly won three at the 2001 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in New York City on August 30th . . . Midnight Oil will kick off a U.S. tour on October 8th in Anaheim, California.
Snoop Dogg has extended his Tha Last Meal Tour nine additional dates, starting September 14th in Phoenix . . . NARAS President and CEO Michael Greene and recording artist Patti Austin will join Don Henley and Courtney Love, who will testify before the California State Senate about artist rights and contract issues . . . Electronic ensemble Tangerine Dream will kick off a twenty-three date tour on October 13th . . . Arlo Guthrie and Martina McBride have joined the lineup for Farm Aid, which is set for September 29th in Nobelsville, Indiana . . . Spiritualized will give fans the opportunity to hear their new album, Let It Come Down, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (EST) today at www.spiritualized.com . . . Billy Joe Shaver is expected to return to the stage at the end of the month, following two weeks of recovery from successful angioplasty surgery last week.
(September 4, 2001)
