Adam Ant Faces the Music

Eighties new waver Adam Ant (aka Stuart Goddard), who became famous for songs such as “Goody Two Shoes” and “Stand and Deliver,” was detained in a London psychiatric center this past January. Ant allegedly pulled out a fake gun and threatened patrons after getting involved in a bar fight. He was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm (or imitation firearm) with intent to cause fear of violence. He was also charged with criminal damage and committing actual bodily harm to a man. Ant was released and allowed to return to his North London home. The next day, however, his family members called the police, fearing that Ant — who suffers from manic depression — would do harm to himself or to others. The police tracked him down in the Camden Town area of North London. Ant was sentenced under England's Mental Health Act to 28 days of hospitalization and was taken to London's Royal Free Hospital, where he received treatment for the next month. Despite the strange occurrence, Ant still plans to tour Europe in the spring. If all goes well, he'll likely continue in America this summer.

Van Halen and Warner Brothers Part Ways

Appearing at this past January's NAMM show, Eddie Van Halen gave every indication that he's recovering from his recent bout with cancer. Van Halen the group, on the other hand, doesn't look so healthy. Van Halen split with Warner Brothers in December of 2001 (both band and label insist the decision was mutual), and at this writing the band is without a lead singer. Former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone left in 1999, and although there have been persistent rumors that original front man David Lee Roth would rejoin the band, nothing has transpired. There's also been talk of Sammy Hagar coming back, but that seems even less likely. The only certainty is that Eddie and Alex Van Halen haven't give up. The two continue to work on new material and have already amassed more than three albums' worth of new songs. When we'll get to hear them is anyone's guess.

Two Scoops of Dave

Along with Phish and the Grateful Dead, the Dave Matthews Band now belongs to an exclusive club: rock bands that have inspired the name of an ice cream flavor. Ben & Jerry's has dubbed its newest concoction One Sweet World, after a cut on Matthews's 1993 album, Remember Two Things. One Sweet World combines swirls of marshmallow and caramel with coffee ice cream and should compete with Cherry Garcia and Phish Food for headlining status in Qwik-E-Marts all over the country. The flavor is already available in Ben & Jerry's stores and will soon be on the shelf of your favorite grocer. Meanwhile, the band is currently working on the follow-up to its 2001 album, Everyday. The record is being produced by the group's longtime-engineer Steve Harris; no release date has been set.

Something on the Side for Blink's DeLonge and Barker

Now that he's taken off his pants and jacket all over the world, Blink-182 singer-guitarist Tom DeLonge is embarking on a somewhat less impish side project. DeLonge and Blink drummer Travis Barker spent the band's recent downtime in the studio with guitarist Dave Kennedy of Over My Dead Body, recording tunes under the name Boxcar Racer. With Boxcar, DeLonge aims to record songs in the styles of bands that influenced him. According to the guitarist, the band's debut album (scheduled for a May release) sounds like a cross between Fugazi, Refused, and the Descendents. While Boxcar may sound like other bands, however, it's really DeLonge's baby; he wrote all of the songs, played guitar and bass, and sang almost everything on the record (Blink bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus makes a cameo vocal appearance on one track). Boxcar Racer began recording the album last December at Signature Sound Studio in San Diego, and finished in short order. The group plans to tour this spring before Blink-182 does the Pop Disaster tour with Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. Neither Kennedy nor Hoppus will tour with Boxcar; no word yet on who will play bass for upcoming shows.

Toyota Tour has Fuel Burning

Platinum rock band Fuel took on Toyota for alleged trademark infringement this past February. The group hit the automobile giant with a cease and desist order to prevent the company from using the name Fuel the Music for a summer tour sponsored by the Toyota Matrix. If Toyota didn't comply, the band threatened further action. Fuel argued that the tour's name could lead consumers to believe that the band is somehow involved. It isn't, and therein lies the confusion, Fuel asserts. Of course, we can understand Toyota's hesitance to comply; calling the tour Gas the Music just wouldn't have the same punch. Whatever it's called, the tour is scheduled to feature Sum 41, American Hi-Fi, Andrew WK, and Hoobastank. “(We) just feel this is an unfortunate oversight by the organizers of this tour,” said Fuel songwriter and guitarist Carl Bell. “We wish the tour well, but we've fought long and hard to make a name for ourselves and don't want to mislead music fans in any way. Music and touring are what we do, so we have to protect our name.” Toyota did not return phone calls, and the issue had yet to be resolved as of this writing.