If you care, during a private party to celebrate the premiere of Alex Steyermark's movie Prey for Rock & Roll on Monday, the film's star Gina Gershon performed live on the small stage of Cisero's, backed up by none other than Guns n' Roses vets Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. The "group" played a set that included covers of the Nancy Sinatra hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog," during which McKagan duetted with Gershon. Waylon Jennings' son Shooter, a friend of Prey co-star Drea de Matteo and frontman for L.A. hard rock band Stargunn, took over lead duties for Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love," as well as Gn'R's "It's So Easy" and the riveting set-closer "Paradise City." This should teach Axl a lesson, eh?

The penultimate jigga Jay-Z is going to quit the music business as of his next record, The Black Album be his last. In an exclusive NME interview, Z said he wants to follow in the footsteps of Eminem and act in a feature film. But what about Beyonce?

Jack Black, actor and sword-bearer of Tenacious D will be featured in an episode of "Clone High" on MTV- episode 8 to be specific. Check it.

Brit-irritants Oasis have decided that since there's no success for them other than in the writers of NME's eyes, they'd better re-record their most popular song ever, "Wonderwall", which originally came out in 1995. Why are they doing this really, you may ask, as you doubt my love of Oasis? (Wise you are.) They were inspired by Ryan Adam's cover version. Expect it to be floating around on an MP3 share-er near you soon.

Special message from Kill Rock Stars: "In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Kill Rock Stars will donate 100% of gross receipts from mailorder sales on January 22, 2003 to pro-choice organizations who are working to preserve reproductive rights for women. So shop then." Here are those latest goods... no excuses for putting off that e-commerce action anymore (I'm not stating my opinion on this often touchy issue.. I'm just telling you what's going down).

Fischerspooner will release their debut album, entitled #1, in the US on February 25th. The CD will include bonus remixes and videos, as well as a full-length DVD, also cleverly titled DVD #1, featuring the group’s self-produced film work, music videos, live footage, documentary, projections and other surprises.

Yeah, I know lots of you out there are Eminem fans. Even if you aren't, I bet you dug his feature film debut in 8 Mile. If I'm right here, you might want to check out the 8 Mile DVD, due March 18th. Just-announced specs include an interview with Em, a tour of the real 8 Mile Road in Detroit, more "rap battles", an Eminem music video (hmm, wonder which one it'll be) and a feature on the music of 8 Mile. All of this will set you back something like $26.95.

Rancid have begun work on their follow-up to 2000's Rancid. Presently, the new material is being created with producer Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion) and should be ready for a release in June 2003.

According to his official website, Tool drummer Danny Carey is currently working on a new project with Adrian Belew (King Crimson) and Les Claypool (Primus). No word on a name for the project or any sort of release details, but we'll keep you posted.

You thought you'd see Hot Hot Heat on this years Sno-Core tour but the Canadians jumped ship and have now teamed up with The Walkmen for a handful of west coast dates. Neither band wants to hog the spotlight too much, so they'll be alternating nights with who is headlining. Check the all-seeing-all-knowing [more] for... well...

The tracklisting for the new Stephen Malkmus album Pig Lib, due out March 18th, has been revealed. As previously reported, Malkamus received help from members of the Jicks for the album, his second solo effort. For the tracklisting...

Turntablist Kid Koala has announced his next release and... it's a comic book. Completely written and illustrated by Mr. Koala (née Eric San), Nufonia Must Fall is the story of a lonely office girl who falls in love with an out-of-work robot. The comic will be accompanied by a 10-track soundtrack CD which, surprisingly enough, readers are encouraged to listen to while they read the book. Check out the trailer at kidkoala.com and look for the book in March.

If you'd like to preview the new Zwan album, Mary Star of the Sea, you're in luck. Head over and check out the Zwan Player, featuring clips of the songs "Lyric", "Honestly", "Settle Down" and "Declarations Of Peace", as well as video clips. According the band: "It's a new age, an age of pounding drums and singing guitars and singing people pounding listeners with ageless sounds. It's an age of broken rainbows and sold out shows and massive greatness and unbelievable songs." So, watch out that Billy's vocals don't pound you and beware the massive greatness that is Zwan!

Since Wilco just left for New Zealand/Australia for some shows, the band made sure to leave a couple records for the US fans to pick up between now and the end of February. First, as promised, the new Jim O'Rourke and Jeff Tweedy project, Loose Fur, will drop on January 28th. You can head over Drag City and download an MP3 of the track "You Were Wrong". Secondly, the Minus 5/Wilco project that's been in the works for some time, Down With Wilco, will finally see a release via Yep Roc on February 25th. Head over to Yep's website to download the songs "Groove Supply" and "Retrieval Of You". Then, sometime after Wilco step back onto US soil, they will begin (mostly college) tour in April. And, finally, don't forget the upcoming EP. Ok, we all set now? Good.

A while back, the sullen girl, Fiona Apple, debuted a new song, "A New Version Of Me". That was the first taste of the follow-up to 1999's When The Pawn..., but now it seems it's time for actual new album talk to begin. Recently, drummer extraordinaire and cohort, Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos, David Bowie), posted on his website that he had just returned from a recording session with Ms. Apple. This recent meeting followed up on a brief session that began in late October last year. According to Chamberlain, the new music is "amazing" and "very challenging to play". If you'd like more information and photographs from a recent performance, head over to Fiona Has Wings (who we'd like to thank for the heads up).

Blink 182 have updated their webpage with some videos and a live webcam of their studio recording sessions. Their new album will be out in the summer of 2003.

The formerly relevant Metallica put on a surprise performance in the parking lot outside the Oakland Raiders-Tennessee Titans AFC Championship football game Sunday. Producer Bob Rock performed bass duties, as the band's yet to find a replacement for the departed Jason Newsted. Click "more" for the setlist. Oh, and the Raiders won the game.

The one and only Melvins will be releasing a series of 7" singles in the coming weeks. Each single will include a track from their recent album Hostile Ambient Takeover on the A side and a cover track on the B side. Check out the "more" link for a list of tracks and release dates. In addition, the Melvins will put on a short little Californian tour at the end of this month and the beginning of this month -- you can find those dates behind the "more" link as well.

Those wacky kids The White Stripes have set a release date for their new album. It's called Elephant and it'll be out April 15th. Yeah.

Ladytron have enlisted the oft-hailed, blonde-dreded Josh Wink to remix their upcoming single, "Blue Jeans". Mr. Wink will release Profound Sounds Volume 2, his first mix CD in three years, on April 27th.