THE BUZZ: The Eagles sue the eagles, the deftones channel Iggy, Phish wear their Jammys, and more...

TAKE IT EASY, WILL YA?

With their laid-back Southern California demeanor, the Eagles have probably never struck anyone as a particularly sour or vindictive bunch, but try telling that to the American Eagle Foundation. In 1998 the band sued the foundation for using the phone number (800) 2-EAGLES, registering the Web site address www.eagles.org, and launching the label and video company American Eagle Recordings, which distributed CDs of eagle cries and movies of the soaring birds.

The band may have thought they had a bird in the hand, but the foundation refused to go down without pecking back, so it battled the suit. The band finally dropped the case. Apparently, they found it difficult to prove that the bird lovers had inflicted any damage. Meanwhile, American Eagle Foundation President Al Cecere filed a countersuit of $500,000 against the band to recoup legal fees, travel expenses, and deposition costs. He's considering taking further action for punitive damages, claiming that the foundation was forced to divert resources while it contested the original suit and that it lost plenty of money and business in the process. Cecere's attorney said those damages could exceed $1 million, which should be enough to feed plenty of hungry birds.

DEF AND PRETTY DUMB

The deftones are reputedly one of the least threatening new-metal combos on the scene today. Sure, their music is abrasive and passionate, but the band members are generally viewed as amiable, levelheaded guys. That may be true, but during the recent Waldrock Festival in Bergum, Holland, Chino Moreno, the band's singer, pulled a stunt that would make Iggy Pop smile.

The band took the stage some 40 minutes late. Moreno evidently had been drinking excessively — he was trailed by a handler whose job was to keep him from falling down. During the first song, the singer dove into the crowd. He spewed obscenities and talked about his extreme affection for his private parts. In case the language barrier caused any confusion, Moreno demonstrated exactly what he meant by removing his pants and underwear.

Although the band continued their set, Moreno was met with boos and jeers. Halfway through the show, festival promoters pulled the plug, and the band members sheepishly returned to their dressing room. Moreno later explained away his unruly behavior as a rebellion against backstage venue security, who he said tackled him, punched him, and booted him in the head before the show.

THE SOUND OF MOOSIC

If cows could speak, what would they say? According to a pair of British scientists, they'd ask to hear mellow rock tunes. Leicester University professor Dr. Adrian North and researcher Liam MacKenzie recently tested the milking habits of more than 1,000 Holstein-Friesians by playing them loud and soft music. They found that cows listening to ballads yielded 3 percent more milk than the average. The cattle seemed to particularly enjoy Lou Reed's “Perfect Day,” Simon and Garfunkel's “Bridge over Troubled Water,” R.E.M.'s “Everybody Hurts,” and Aretha Franklin's “What a Diff'rence a Day Makes.”

When louder music played, the cows reacted negatively, producing slightly less milk. Songs that stifled the cows' milk production included “Pumping on Your Stereo” by Supergrass; “Space Cowboys” by Jamiroquai; and, alas, “Size of a Cow” by the Wonder Stuff.

PHISH, DEAD, CLAYPOOL IN THEIR JAMMYS

Forget the Grammy Awards — for those who like their rock to roll on and on and on, the real action was at the Jammy Awards, held this past summer at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The event was cosponsored by Peter Shapiro, Jambands.com, and Relix magazine. Awards were presented to artists, radio stations, Web site operators, and festival organizers who promote jam rock.

The Grateful Dead won Release of the Year for Ladies and Gentlemen, the Grateful Dead. Along with Mike Gordon, Phil Lesh and Friends won Jam of the Year for a gig on December 31, 2000. Live Performance of the Year went to Phish for their show at Deer Creek in Noblesville, Indiana, on July 11, 2000.

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade took home the Best Live Album award for Live Frogs, Set 1. Phish won Best Studio Album for Farmhouse; Yonder Mountain String Band grabbed New Groove of the Year honors. The Festival of the Year was Gathering of the Vibes; the Mockingbird Foundation earned the humanitarian award, the Mimi Fishman Memorial. The Best Fansite award went to www.etree.org, and Jam Nation took the honors as the Best Radio Show.

CHET ATKINS (1924-2001)

Guitarist Chet Atkins, one of modern country music's most influential figures as a musician and as head of RCA's Nashville division since the 1950s, died of cancer June 30 at his Nashville home. He was 77. A key participant in the early days of country and rock ‘n’ roll, Atkins played on legendary sessions with Elvis Presley (“Heartbreak Hotel”), Hank Williams (“Your Cheatin' Heart,” “Jambalaya”) and the Everly Brothers (“Wake up, Little Susie”). He also recorded more than 75 albums of guitar instrumentals and sold more than 75 million records. In his role as a music executive, Atkins signed a string of legends to RCA, including Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings, and Roy Orbison.

Atkins was born on June 20, 1924, in tiny Luttrell, Tennessee. His father was a music teacher, and his mother played piano, but it was Atkins's stepfather, Willie Strevel, who in 1932 encouraged the boy to play fiddle and guitar. Atkins made his first Nashville recording in 1947 — “Guitar Blues” for Bullet Records. Eight years later, he scored his first hit for RCA: a cover of “Mr. Sandman.” Atkins was named Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year like clockwork between 1967 and 1988. In 1973 Atkins was nominated for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During his career, he won 14 Grammy Awards, and in 1997, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.