NAPSTER SPONSORING SIMULTANEOUS ROCK TOURS

While waiting for the court to rule on its future existence, Napster is throwing its energies into concert promotion. The controversial file-swapping service has teamed up with Vagrant Records to sponsor a pair of tours with Face To Face and the Get Up Kids.

Napster recently presented a quiet, peaceful, little-noticed free tour with Limp Bizkit and Cypress Hill.

Face To Face kicks off its tour 8/23 in San Diego, while the Get Up Kids starts its road stint in Lawrence, KS on 9/1. The tours will not be free.

Vagrant released Face To Face's "Live" CD in 1998 on the Lady Luck imprint, while the Get Up Kids' "Something To Write Home About" came out on the Heroes and Villians label in 1999.

"Napster is kind of like the last bastion of punk-rock," said Rich Egan, manager of both bands and Vagrant co-owner. "It has nothing to do with sales. Napster is another way to get the music out there."

"We have two separate tours moving counterclockwise across the U.S.," said Egan of the logistics. "Anyone can move clockwise. Moving against the grain is so punk rock." Egan then tried to download Pat Boone's cover of the Descendant's "Bikeage" off Napster.

Face To Face frontman Trever Keith said: "Napster enables fans to trade music with other fans. Despite what everyone is saying, it has nothing to do with the music business. As a recording artist, I've worked with several record labels and I know what it's like to be ripped off. Napster does not ‘rip off' artists." Keith then attempted to download Boxcar Willie's cover of Channel 3's "You Make Me Feel Cheap" off Napster.

In fact, Face To Face has championed the new technology. The band teamed with MP3.com to allow fans to select tracks for its latest album, "Reactionary," which came out June 20 on Beyond Music. Nearly two million fans voted during the six-week promotion. Almost 3.7 million voted for Keith to pose in nothing but a wallet chain and a smile for Playgirl.