A wrongful-death lawsuit brought against Tommy Lee by the parents of a 4-year-old child who drowned while swimming at the ex-Mötley Crüe drummer's Malibu, Calif., home in June 2001. The trial will begin on April2 and the suit seeks unspecified damages. They allege that Lee was negligent and failed to provide proper supervision during a pool party he threw for his son's birthday.

Former Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan has a new band called called Zwan. The band recently kicked off a U.S. tour in Las Vegas.

Living Colour has reunite and have been signed to Sanctuary Records. They are presently working on their latest CD at bassist Doug Wimbish's Nova Sound studios in Connecticut. An early 2003 release is expected.

Camp Freddy, the "jam" band consisting of guitarist Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction), guitarist Billy Morrison (The Cult), drummer Matt Sorum (GN'R, Cult), bassist Scott Ford, and vocalist Donovan Leitch, have announced plans for a free show to be held on Monday, Dec. 16 at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue. According to the bands website there will be about 400 fans attending.

Dokken have cancelled their previously-announced headlining shows in January. They will now be touring the US with Whitesnake and the Scorpions. The tour will kick off in early Jan and run through March.

Bill Leverty (Firehouse) will be finishing up his solo album in late December. Michael Foster plays on the album. It will be available for purchase at: www.leverty.com. The style is southern / blues hard rock. As for Firehouse, the band will start work on their new studio album in early 2003. They hope to have it ready by summer. For more information check out their site at: www.firehousemusic.com.

Pat Benatar hopes to have her new studio album, Girl, our by March but still does not have a label.

Y&T's Y&T Live is due out in Japan January 29, 2003.

Rumor has it that there will be no more studio albums for Motley Crue. It is said that they will do one more tour and then it will all come to an end.

Trouble have reunite and will record their first-ever live album on Jan. 21, 2003 at the House Of Blues.

Despite previous reports to the contrary, Judas Priest are not taking a lengthy break from the writing/recording front and are hoping to release a new studio album before the end of next year, according to Priest Management Co-ordinator Jayne Andrews. "We have been told about an article in a magazine where [Judas Priest guitarist] Glenn [Tipton] is apparently 'quoted' as saying there will be no new Priest album until 2004," Andrews said in a statement. "Glenn did not say this. I have just spoken to him and he doesn't know anything about it!! The guys are just taking a break until they start work again — no one has said anything about nothing until 2004!!!" Judas Priest's double live album, Live In London, is scheduled for release on Jan. 13, 2003 through Germany's SPV/Steamhammer Records.

Styx are scheduled to release a new studio album in February titled Cyclorama.

Twisted Sister will regroup again to make an appearance at Sweden Rock Festival. The band is also expected to join the Poison 2003 Anniversary tour.

Brides Of Destruction is a new band featuring bassist Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), guitarist John Corabi (ex-Motley Crue), and vocalist London LeGrand. Drummer Kris Kohls (Adema) was also in the band but has been replaced by Scot Coogan.

The Metal God - Rob Halford - is making a triumphant return to the stage with two nights of Heavy Metal Thunder. Halford's debut on Sunday, December 29, 2002 at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues in Las Vegas, N.V., and House of Blues in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, January 2, 2003 will be the band's first U.S. dates in more than two years. Heavy Metal fans are gearing up for the loud evenings, which also feature Thrash Metal veterans Testament, Vio-lence and Exhumed. Rob Halford returned to his musical Metal roots with the release of his critically and commercially acclaimed 2000 release Resurrection. Considered to be the best recording Judas Priest never made, Resurrection catapulted Halford onto 100 stages world wide - culminating in their co-headline appearance with Iron Maiden at last year's Rock In Rio Festival in Brazil. The band performed for more than 200,000 fist-pumping fans, and then they disappeared into the studio, completing one of Metal's best live recordings, 2001's "Halford - Live Insurrection," only to turn around and begin 14 months of work on the follow up studio release to "Resurrection." Late this summer, Halford debuted their stunning new studio release, Crucible, to an anxious and very loyal Metal community and then went on hiatus to recover from the past couple years' schedule. Worldwide, The Metal God's devout fans have anointed Crucible as one of Rob's most creative works, absolutely the finest of his post-Priest career. Halford have also confirmed their much anticipated return to Japan, with dates scheduled for February 2003. North America and Canada are finally within the band's sights as well, with another impressive lineup expected to begin work with Halford in March 2003. "I can't wait to get on stage in front of our audience," said Halford. "The band has a punishing set prepared for those willing to step up. By the time they get through the strong lineup of extreme metal bands also on the bill, we'll get on the boards and unleash nearly two dozen hits covering the Priest, Fight and Halford catalogues." www.robhalford.com

Oklahoma City 's Fastlane Records has just inked a deal with Shawn Mars and Mars Needs Women to release the first new music since 1996 from the band titled, Red Means Go and another disc by the summer of 2003! In addition, there will be a solo release from Shawn Mars before the years' end! Fastlane is distributed through Sony and Cargo throughout Europe.

Vandenberg is said to have reformed with a new lineup featuring original guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (ex-Whitesnake) and singer Bert Heerink. No further information is available at this time.

There is a new band in the works that features ex-Guns N' Roses members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass), Matt Sorum (drums), and Izzy Stradlin (guitar). They are currently auditioning vocalists. The group has written more than 40 songs. Izzy is said to be involved in the writing process for the band's upcoming debut, but will not tour with the band. They have recruited guitarist Dave Kushner for all live appearances.

Anthrax have a new album titled We've Come For You All. It will be released in Japan through JVC Records on Feb. 4, 2003 and in Europe through Nuclear Blast Records on Feb. 24. The U.S., Canada, South America and Australia/New Zealand will follow shortly thereafter.

Black Label Society are in the studio working on their new CD which is tentatively titled The Blessed Hellride. It will be released in the spring through Spitfire Records. BLS guitarist/mainman Zakk Wylde is also said to be in discussions with Ozzy Osbourne about a possible new Ozzy record for 2003. Nothing has been confirmed at this time but for more information visit: , www.zakkwylde.com.

Pearl Jam's first world tour in more than two-and-a-half years will kick off Feb. 8 in Brisbane, Australia, according to Australian radio station Triple-J. So far, 10 dates are confirmed in Australia and Japan, with additional shows expected to be added. Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and his new band, The Healers, will open the five Australian show. There is no word yet on an opener for the five engagements in Japan. The band is touring in support of its latest album, Riot Act. A U.S. tour will follow.

Godsmack's new CD is tentatively titled Faceless. It iscurrently being recorded at The Hit Factory/Criteria Studios in Miami for a March release through Republic/Universal.

Sharon Osbourne will soon have her own syndicated daytime talk show. It is expected to hit the air in the fall of 2003.