An overly enthusiastic Bon Jovi fan demonstrated a new kind of stage diving during a recent free acoustic concert in Sydney, Australia. While the band played on a barge in Darling Harbor, two women and a man dove into the water and began swimming toward the rockers. The two women gave up and got out of the water, but the determined 32-year-old man ignored security personnel and continued to the edge of the stage. Touched by the fan's devotion, frontman Jon Bon Jovi leaned down and pulled him out of the water. The soaked music lover was all smiles until nabbed by police. The cops were not amused; they announced that the man would be charged and fined for his lawless antics. However, the singer, who once referred to himself as a “cowboy on a steel horse,” came to the fan's defense. Bon Jovi declared at a press conference that “We're gonna pay his fines. We'll deal with it for him.”

Moby must have thought he was reliving his worst high school nightmare; the bald and bespectacled electronic musician was signing autographs after a recent Boston show when three men jumped him from behind, maced him, and punched him in the face. Moby was bruised and bloodied by the unprovoked attack but suffered no serious injuries. On his Web site the next day, the forgiving pop star wrote, “I'm not angry. I don't feel vindictive. Not to sound weird or wimpy, but I'm a pacifist and I believe in forgiveness. I just hope that at some point in these guys' lives they come to realize that hurting other people is wrong.” In a perfect world such valor would be rewarded, but alas, Moby's travails would continue. Two days later he was harassed by heavy metal fans; two days after that, he decided to check out of a Los Angeles hotel upon discovering that his archnemesis, Eminem, was shooting a video in the building. “I really don't want to encounter 20 drunk Eminem friends/well-wishers at 2 in the morning as I'm heading out for a stroll around the neighborhood. Call me paranoid, call me a woosie, but I'd rather err on the side of non-confrontationalism,” he wrote.

Britpop pioneers Blur's first new single in two years, “Don't Bomb When You Are the Bomb,” blew up — literally — when British police performed a controlled explosion on the initial shipment. It seems that the records were packed in a cardboard box labeled “bomb” and accidentally left on a Brighton train platform. Fearing an act of terrorism, the cops took the box at its word and blew it up, said singer Damon Albarn on BBC Radio 1. The song was originally scheduled for release in September, but the “explosive” situation caused delays, and it didn't hit the stores until months later. Previous singles were noisily marketed by the band's label; this time Blur chose to release the track anonymously as a white-vinyl single featuring nothing but Arabic writing. “Don't Bomb When You Are the Bomb” was produced by Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim), but won't appear on Blur's next album. The as-yet-untitled disc is almost finished and is scheduled for release in May, according to the band's publicist.

After months of declaring that he would rejoin Metallica if asked, Jason Newsted is now a card-carrying member of experimental Canadian metallurgists Voivod and says that he will under no circumstances return to the Metallica fold (even if they beg). Voivod's first new record in two years is due for a March release. Meanwhile, Metallica soldiers on in the studio with producer Bob Rock playing all the bass lines. The band is eyeing a new release by July.

A bevy of well-known recording artists paid musical tribute to Elton John at a concert on January 17 in Anaheim, California, that was part of the festivities surrounding the 2003 Winter NAMM show. Presented by Yamaha, the concert was a benefit for music education charities. The show began with the guest artists singing their favorite Elton John song, backed by John's superb band. Highlights included Nikka Costa singing “Levon,” Bruce Hornsby's rendition of “Burn Down the Mission,” Jewel's take on “Your Song,” Norah Jones singing “Tiny Dancer,” Michael McDonald doing a gospel-tinged “Take Me to the Pilot,” Randy Newman with “Benny and the Jets,” Diana Krall flashing her vocal and pianistic talents on “Border Song,” and Take 6 doing an a cappella version of “Philadelphia Freedom.” After the guest renditions, Sir Elton himself took the stage to tumultuous applause. He performed a great set of yet more of his classic material and showed he's still at the top of his game as a singer and as a pianist.

Mary Hansen, 36. The Stereolab vocalist was biking through central London on December 9, 2002, when a truck backed into her, killing her instantly. In a written statement her bandmates said, “The suddenness of her death has shocked the band. Mary was a special person.” Zal Yanovsky, 57. The ex-Lovin' Spoonful guitarist died of a heart attack on December 16, 2002, at his home in Kingston, Ontario.

Joe Strummer, 50. The former Clash guitarist and vocalist died at his home in England on December 22, 2002, of an apparent heart attack. Strummer was one of rock's most influential figures in the '70s and '80s and helped spawn the British punk movement.

Maurice Gibb, 53. The Bee Gees bassist and singer died in a Miami hospital on January 12 after surgery to repair an intestinal blockage. Less than two weeks later, surviving band members Robin Gibb and Barry Gibb officially announced that they would never again perform under the name The Bee Gees.