AP-AM Prep-Rock

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! ROCK !

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SAVING ABEL SINGER HOSPITALIZED

CORINTH, Miss. (AP) — Saving Abel are cutting their tour short because frontman Jared Weeks is in the hospital. His publicist says Week is suffering from diabetic shock and the flu. He needed medical attention to insert an insulin pump. The Saving Abel concerts through December 8 are canceled. Their next scheduled show is December 18 in Nashville.

SMASHING PUMPKINS SETTLE LAWSUIT WITH VIRGIN RECORDS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Smashing Pumpkins and Virgin Records are settling their dispute. Attorney Josh Glotzer, who represents former band members James Iha (EE'-hah) and D'arcy Wretzky-Brown, says a confidential settlement with Virgin has been reached. He says a separate case against Virgin involving singer Billy Corgan is also settling. The band filed suit last year over the use of their songs in promotions and royalty payments.

POLICE ARREST 43 AT PHISH CONCERT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Forty-three people were busted for drugs at Phish's concert in Portland, Maine, over the weekend. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has charged nine people with selling drugs such as LSD, ecstasy and heroin. State police had boosted patrols on the roads around the Cumberland County Civic Center and arrested 13 concertgoers and charged another 21 with drug violations.

TOM PETTY IS A MOVIE FIEND

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The reason Tom Petty's videos are so good is because he watches movies -- a lot of them. Petty says he sees three or four movies a day. He says when it came time to make videos, "it wasn't hard to make something better than everyone else." In his words, "I was amazed at just how bad MTV was. It was terrible, just terrible." He says he thought it was better to try something different. Petty has released a boxed set of live tracks called "The Live Anthology."

MELISSA ETHERIDGE IS WORKING ON NEW MUSIC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melissa Etheridge is working on a new album called "Fearless Love." She says her working title was "Songs of Love and Fear" because all the songs were about one or the other. Etheridge uses her music to work out issues in her life, and she says one of them is life after 40. She says her life now is not about worrying, because that stresses her out too much, and she looks to create peace in her life. That doesn't mean she's mellowed. As she puts it, "It's a rocking album."

SOUND:

<<CUT …012 (12/01/09)>> 00:15 "really shows that"

Melissa Etheridge, musician

Melissa Etheridge says her next CD will be called "Fearless Love."

<<CUT …013 (12/01/09)>> 00:07 "desire doesn't stop"

Melissa Etheridge, musician

Melissa Etheridge says she's always working through issues in her music, and the new stuff is no exception.

<<CUT …014 (12/01/09)>> 00:08 "choice you make"

Melissa Etheridge, musician

Melissa Etheridge says "Fearless Love" was not her original title for the album.

<<CUT …015 (12/01/09)>> 00:09 "live in grace"

Melissa Etheridge, musician

Melissa Etheridge says she does not use up her energy on worrying any more.

ALLISON IRAHETA PRESENTS HER DEBUT ALBUM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Allison Iraheta's (eye-rah-HEE'-tahz head was spinning by the time her album was finished. She was still on the "American Idols" tour when songs would be offered to her. She wasn't afraid to let people know if she hated their songs, using phrases like, "This is not me. What's wrong with you?" She got enough good ones for her debut CD, "Just Like You," which is out today, but she calls the process "crazy."

CHURCHILL DOWNS WILL HOST MUSIC FESTIVAL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The home of the Kentucky Derby will host a big musical festival next summer. Bon Jovi, The Dave Matthews Band, The Black Crowes and Colbie Caillat (kal-LAY') have signed on to appear at the three-day festival at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The bill also includes the Steve Miller Band, Gladys Knight, The Doobie Brothers, Al Green, Michael McDonald, Steppenwolf, Kansas, The B-52's, .38 Special, Richard Marx and The O'Jays, plus a number of country and bluegrass acts. The festival is called HullabaLOU and is set for July 23rd through the 25th.

SERJ TANKIAN RECORDS SYMPHONIC "ELECT THE DEAD"

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian (TAHN'-kee-uhn) plans to release a symphonic version of his solo album. Tankian performed his "Elect the Dead" album with the Auckland Philarmonia Orchestra in New Zealand in March. The performance was recorded for a CD and DVD that will be released March 9th. Tankian says the arrangements are different than the record.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S "THIS IS IT" COMES OUT ON DVD IN JANUARY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson's "This Is It" film is coming to home video in the new year. The movie will be out on DVD and Blu-ray on January 26. Both versions will have more footage than the theatrical version, plus features on the costumes and the dancers' auditions.

LINKIN PARK OFFER RARITIES COLLECTION TO FAN CLUB MEMBERS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linkin Park are offering an incentive to join their fan club. Members of the Linkin Park Underground will get "LPU9: Demos," a rarities album featuring the demos versions of some of the band's biggest hits. Vocalist Mike Shinoda says songs change constantly and the band thought it would be cool to show the early versions of familiar tracks. The album and membership package can be bought together starting Thursday at www.LPUnderground.com or at select Best Buy stores.

by Margie Szaroleta