SPECTRUM have cancelled all remaining dates of their U.S. tour after a virtual disintegration of the band following a drug bust in North Carolina. Details of the bust are sketchy, but several members of the band, including Spectrum frontman Pete "Sonic Boom" Kember, were arrested for narcotics. This isn't much of a surprise given Kember's pro-drug history with Spectrum and his former band, Spacemen 3. What IS a surprise is the following post, sent from Spectrum touring drummer Cliff, to the Brian Jonestown Massacre mailing list. Now, please keep in mind that what you're about to read is one guy's side to this story, and we're not claiming that it's the truth. But it's certainly one of the most venomous posts we've seen in a long time, and could shed light onto the real reasons behind the tour's cancellation. Click MORE to see Cliff's rather interesting e-mail.

hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
hare krishna hare krishna
krishna krishna hare hare

shankaracharya shankaracharya
shankaracharya pahiman
bhagvatpada bhagvatpada
bhagvatpada rakshaman

sadgurudeva sadgurudeva
sadgurudeva pahiman
shivananda shivananda
shivananda rakshaman

sadgurudeva sadgurudeva
sadgurudeva namaha Om
shivananda shivananda
shivananda sharana Om

Om tat sat Om tat sat Om tat sat Om
Om shanti Om shanti Om shanti Om
Om rama rama rama rama rama

Just about everwhere you go you'll fina a link about how Lollapalooza will probably return next year.

Dotmusic has the story about Fatboy Slim's new live CD. The details are slim but it was recorded at last summer's Brighton Beach gig and will be released on January 28. I've been living on bootlegs for so long, it's great to finally have an official DJ set.

Sigur Ros have won the inaugural Shortlist Music Prize. The Shortlist differs from other award shows in that the nominees can't sell more than 500,000 copies of their album before they are nominated. Sigur Ros beat out Nikka Costa, Dandy Warhols, Talib Kweli, Ryan Adams, Air, Bilal, PJ Harvey, Gorillaz and Jay Dee.

Stu sent in a reminder that Spiritualized will be appearing on the Tonight Show on Monday, November 5th. I checked the Late Night TV Page and found out that the Beta Band is playing the Craig Kilborn show on Wednesday, November 7th. And don't forget that Ravi Shankar will be on Conan O'Brian on Thursday, November 15.

Due to recent increased national security concerns, the Trembling Blue Stars are unable to get to the United States in time for the first half of their upcoming US tour. Unfortunately, they will miss any shows scheduled before the Chicago date on November 10th. Having seen photos of the band and heard their records, we can completely understand the need for reining in their transnational movements - they are, without a doubt a menacing, shifty lot.

And one by one, the mighty are indeed falling this year, as an official announcement on the band's website is today confirming that JAMES are splitting with vocalist Tim Booth at the conclusion of their forthcoming holiday tour. In the same message, Booth lays out his plans to go solo as both a singer AND actor, and briefly mentions a screenplay that's in the works. It's as yet unclear what will become of the rest of the band, though Booth's posting hints that the band might soldier on without him.

As of today, FuturePopShop has put tickets online to an "unannounced" NYC gig at Fez on November 7.  Please go to the shop, under tickets, and find tickets for the show. They would like if the people who were slighted by the 'cancellation' (the show from last March that was "downgraded" because of Bobby's bout with laryngitis) could be the first to know. You'll have the weekend to purchase tickets.
News courtesy of Skippy

That's right - we're NOT kidding, though it IS just a one-off reunion. NME is reporting today that all 4 original members of RIDE are reforming to perform ONE track for a BBC Channel 4 television programme. The new series, "Pioneers," is a fifteen minute programme spotlighting seminal bands - Ride will be featured on an episode devoted to Sonic Youth, and will likely air sometime in December. Though no sort of permanent reunion is remotely in the offing, it's still bloody brilliant to hear they're doing at least one song together.