CHICKEN SOUP MUSIC NEWS FOR THE SOUL
Late yesterday, Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh checked into an undisclosed psychiatric hospital, but there is still no word on what is troubling him. The band filmed their second video for "Island in the Sun" without Welsh, after he failed to make his flight to L.A. for the shoot, and told no one where he was. Earlier in the week, Welsh had skipped band rehearsals due to a "private medical problem," which detained him in his hometown of Boston, according to Weezer.com. The remaining members of Weezer are currently searching for a bassist to fill in for Welsh, should he be unable to attend the band’s upcoming commitments.
RUM SHOWER? ANYTHING LIKE A BODY SHOT?
Fabrice Morvan, one half of former multi-Platinum pop duo Milli Vanilli, is making his comeback with shower power. Morvan has become the Malibu Rum Showerpalooza spokesyncer, oops, singer, traveling throughout the Midwest in a karoake booth outfitted like a shower stall. "We asked ourselves, who in the music community sings but is almost in a position to make fun of themselves?" said Malibu Rum spokesperson Stuart Kirby. Though HITS’ shower crooner Ricky Leigh Mensh came immediately to mind, Kirby soon found out that Mensh was allergic to showers, so Morvan got the gig. Morvan’s tour hits Cleveland today, then Detroit tomorrow, with Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis up next week. Participants can choose from over 500 songs, perform in the shower stall and receive a DVD recording of their performance. One winner will get to join Morvan in a duet. The pop star is currently recording his debut solo album, with longtime manager Kim Marlowe sifting through label offers.
EW&F CONCERT A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW
Reminiscent of plans for the Luther Vandross U.S. Tour sponsored by Slim Fast, Viagra has been named the official tour sponsor for Earth Wind & Fire’s 30th Anniversary Cool Blue September Tour, with Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. The arousal drug and the legendary R&B band partnered in part to "launch a health-care initiative primarily geared towards men," according to a statement from Viagra manufacturer Pfizer. EW&F also hooked up with the drug co. to score a life’s supply of free samples. Viagra booths will be set up at each concert venue, along with vendors selling Spanish Fly and Saltpeter.
MOTOWN MUSEUM FOR MOTOR TOWN MUSIC MASTERS
A group of developers and entertainment executives have submitted a $28 million plan to build a Motown museum in Detroit. The museum, to be called the Motown Center, will be built on the site of the original Motown Records headquarters and will honor the sound and music icons that exploded from the Motor City in the 1960s, including Motown founder Berry Gordy and legendary acts like the Temptations, the Supremes and the Jackson 5. Construction on the museum, which will be the newest edition to the city’s growing entertainment district, is expected to take about two years. Backing for the project has come from Gordy, Motown parent company Vivendi Universal, and private donors, in addition to funds from the city’s Economic Development Corp. Concurrent plans for the Mark "Bird" Fydrich Planetarium have now been put on hold.
