MIKE HARTMAN, who played with DAVID LEE ROTH on his DLR Band disc and issued a solo album called Black Glue (one of our PICKS OF THE WEEK, incidentally) last year, died on July 6 from Cystic Fibrosis. Hartman, who had battled the disease since he was a baby, passed away at his parents' home in Marion, Indiana. Those wishing to make contributions in Hartman's name can send them to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, Maryland 20814.
INJURY REPORT: METALLICA's JAMES HETFIELD hurt his back in a jet skiing mishap and did not perform at the Summer Sanitarium shows on July 7 in Atlanta, Georgia, July 8 in Sparta, Kentucky and July 9 in Dallas, Texas (Metallica went on with members of KORN, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and KID ROCK filling in), and IRON MAIDEN guitarist JANICK GERS was injured in a fall from the stage during a performance in Mannheim, Germany on July 8, forcing the cancellation of the next show in Essen. He was taken to the hospital while the rest of the band finished the set, but it remains to be seen whether subsequent shows will go on as scheduled. Meanwhile, Metallica promised free make-up shows in early August.
KISS recorded its show in E. Rutherford, New Jersey for a Japanese TV program, Live From New York (so that's what those cameras were for...). KISS is also nominated for a Best Artist Site award in the Yahoo Internet Life Online Music Awards, to be given out July 24 at New York's Studio 54.
Several bands will occupy the opening slot on the BEASTIE BOYS/RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE tour, depending on the date and venue, including STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, JURASSIC 5, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, THE ROOTS, NO DOUBT, COMMON, BUSTA RHYMES and AT THE DRIVE IN. For complete itinerary and ticket sales, visit beastieboys.com, RATM.com, MTV.com.
Drummer PHIL ONDICH is out of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, and CRAIG NUNENMACHER from tourmates CROWBAR will fill in on the rest of the tour, and will play on the next BLS album.
