NEWS YOU CAN USE—FOR INSOMNIA

Outspoken Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has signed a deal with Danny Goldberg's Artemis Records for his latest project, the hard rock act Confrontation Camp, which features P.E. member Professor Griff. "Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear," originally slated for release on Chuck D's Slam Jamz label, will be released Aug. 8. Online music proponent Chuck D said, "With Griff involved, we need as many listeners as possible. Online distribution just wouldn't cut it."… The Meat Puppets have signed to Hootie & the Blowfish's Atlantic-distributed imprint Breaking Records. Max Burgos, the new GM/VP of the label, worked with the band at London Records, who released 1995's "No Joke!" "It's ‘no joke,' man, we signed with them," said the Puppets. "Now, that's a band that has truly shown they ain't no one-hit wonders. We just wish we knew which one was Hootie."… In Seattle, Microsoft co-founder and mega-kagillionaire Paul Allen's Experience Music Project opened today (6/23). And there was much rejoicing… Disclaimer: The following story is only linked with music in that virtually every college-age band that shares a house or apartment could beat out any of the entrants in this contest. Ace Hardware chose Blake and Cindy Miller of Southlake, TX, from nearly 3,300 entries, as owners of America's Messiest Room. For the grand prize, the Millers received $5,000 in Ace supplies and services and a $5,000 gift certificate good at any Ace Hardware store. Reacting to the prize package, Blake Miller said, "That's great, just what we need. More crap around our house."… According to his own Web site, former Third Eye Blind guitarist Kevin Cadogan is suing the band, singer/songwriter Stephan Jenkins, the band's manager, the band's lawyer and Elektra. But as Launch.com reports, the suit alleging fraud and breach of contract, plus violations of the Lanham Act (a serious lunch meat offense, our lawyers tell us), could not be located on San Francisco Superior Court computers. Cadogan, co-writer of 16 songs on his former band's multi-Platinum albums, has a new band called Bully. Though that band also has a Web site (which, when accessed from the Ultimate Band List refused to load even with our kickass DSL), many people expressed doubt of its existence as well… R.E.M. vocalist—and Soy Bomb body double—Michael Stipe has struck a three-year first-look deal with United Artists Films for his Self Timer Inc. production company. Self Timer is the parent company of Single Cell Pictures (which produced "Being John Malkovich") and C-Hundred Film Corp. (which co-produced the documentary "American Movie"). Naturally, what Stipe has always wanted to do was direct… Marilyn Manson defaced an autograph of President Bill Clinton that appears on the wall at trendy restaurant Caf Des Artistes in Los Angeles. Manson allegedly drew a picture of a sperm pointing at the signature on its wall of celebrity autographs, and then wrote the word "Commie" in big letters next to it. "If a politician were to assert himself and say, 'Look, I'm a phony, I'm going to take your money, I'm going to have sex behind my wife's back, but I'll try my best to get what needs to be done done,' that would be the person I'd vote for," Manson said trying to explain the reason behind his graffiti. Manson denied accusations that he has made a career out of "being a phony, taking money and having sex behind his girlfriend's back."