November 17th is Jeff Buckley's birthday and there will be a special gig in New York Ciry featuring several special guests including Beth Orton. The show will be at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Centre for the Arts. Amazon.com will be hosting an auction on the same day and proceeds will go to the Road Recovery charity.

Geffen has finally dropped Elastica. They were bought out by Universal and have been dropping artists since, so this comes as no surprise. Elastica have finished recording their second album (after 6 years) and have not issued a statment.

Monday (Nov. 8) night at the Viper Room was host to a benefit jam with the classic rock band War. Things started out normal enough with the current lineup playing original War tunes, plus a few covers but then a few guests came to help out. The extra performers included: Afghan Whigs singer Greg Dulli on guitars, the Propellerheads on keyboards and Natalie Cole came to assist with vocals! A few weeks ago Perry Farrel joined them on stage at another benefit.

Tiny Woods and Andy Peaace from the new defunct Ultrasound are starting up a new band with an old friend, Adam Taylor. They are currently looking for a bassist, a name, and a label. The trio are presently recording demos for their debut.

HAPPY MONDAYS in UK movie trailers? That seems to be the case since they have signed on with the sportswear firm, Admiral, NME reports. They will be in two ads which will be in theaters over the next few months. Who said the baggy scene is dead?

Oasis will release their new album, "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" on February 28, 2000. The full tracklisting is as follows:

Fuckin' in the Bushes
Go Let it Out!
Who Feels Love?
Put Your Money Where Yer Mouth Is
Little James (written by Liam Gallagher)
Gas Panic!
Where Did it all Go Wrong?
Sunday Morning Call
I Can See a Liar
Roll It Over

Oasis will also be doing a radio-station tour in December. Check the Tour page for dates.

NEW ORDER have recorded their first new song since 1993! The material will be used in the soundtrack to The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is created by the same team that brought us TRAINSPOTTING and SHALLOW GRAVE.

The working title of the track is, 'Brutal' and it remains unclear if it will be released as a single. A spokesperson for New Order did confirm that the band has gone back into the studio to record a full album which is due out next year.

Reni (ex-STONE ROSES drummer) is back in the spotlight, NME reports. He's been writing material since he left the band in 1995 and is seeking a record deal. He's on vocals and playing guitar, Lee Mullen (HAPPY MONDAYS) is on drums, and is looking for a bassist and second guitarist.

OASIS will be playing a small US tour for the radio festivals in December. The first date has been announced for the Y100 Christmas festival in Philadelphia on December 3rd. Expect more dates to be added in major cities.

Gem (ex-Heavy Stereo) will be replacing Bonehead on guitar.

THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN have split. Music365 reports that it's finally official and the Reid brothers are now working on solo projects. William Reid will be releasing a mini-LP, 'Taster' on November 8th and brother Jim is working in a new band called T.V.6.9.