Cinematic Orchestra recently played a handful of shows in the States, culminating in a festival performance at Coachella, but the band tells Spinner that those shows were just a break for them from their latest project: scoring a Disney nature film. Bandleader Jason Swinscoe and bassist Phil France have been writing-to-picture, trying to tell a specific narrative through instrumental music while, at the same time, retaining Cinematic Orchestra's own style. The film is about flamingos.

Asked if they watched 'March of the Penguins' as part of their research for the score, Swinscoe tells Spinner, "I saw that in cinema when it came out and there are other films we were asked to reference which we're sort of staying away from." Swinscoe reasons that he doesn't want to get too influenced by typical theatrical scores. "The reason why we were asked to do this is because we have a brand. We have a sound," he says. "We don't want to fall into the world of hit composers."

Guess that rules out that tour with John Williams we were all hoping for.

What would normally amount to a summer-long hedonistic romp has now been reduced to one day. That's right, folks. After months of rumors, Ozzfest has indeed morphed from a traveling heavy metal festival into one-off event for 2008. Set for Dallas' Pizza Hut Park on Saturday, August 9, the spectacular will be headlined by Ozzy Osbourne and include Metallica in their Ozzfest debut.

The main stage line-up will also include Serj Tankian, Jonathan Davis of Korn and Shadows Fall, among others. A special all-star tribute to slain Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott will also be featured.

"Ozzy just finished an 11-month world tour so I think he deserves a summer off," said festival organizer and Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne about this year's one-day Ozzfest. "We're going to be a stadium destination festival for now -- we have gone past doing the sheds every summer. We've given everyone else the blueprint and we have to keep evolving Ozzfest."

Tickets for this year's festival will go on sale Saturday, May 31.

Foxboro Hot Tubs -- the side project of punk giants Green Day -- will hit the road next Monday for a run of dates through the Southwestern U.S. The tour of intimate venues gets underway at Juanita's Cantina in Little Rock, Arkansas on the 19th, and wrap at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, Calif. on May 28.

Tickets are $20 cash and will only be available at the respective venue box office the day of the gig. There is a two ticket maximum per person and no cameras will be permitted.

The band's recent 1960s-influenced album, 'Stop Drop and Roll,' will be released through the Warner Bros. imprint Jingle Town Records on May 20. Despite an effort to keep Green Day's alias a secret, Warner/Chapell Music's database originally credited the tracks 'Mother Mary' and 'Highway 1' to the members of the multi-platinum punk band.

See the full list of tour dates after the jump.

There's not much behind the name Architecture in Helsinki, besides a relatively nice ring. "I've only been to Helsinki once, so I don't know much about the architecture there," frontman Cameron Bird admitted to Spinner. Bird came up with the name of the band as a "distant, abstract concept." He relocated to Brooklyn last year to record Architecture In Helsinki's latest album, 'Place Like This,' but now spends his time between both Brooklyn and Melbourne, Australia.

"Melbourne is only around 150 years old, so the buildings there are pretty colonial," he says. "There's a lot of sandstone and bluestone but other than that, Melbourne isn't a particularly beautiful architectural city. Brooklyn, on the other hand, has a lot of brownstones and I'm totally into that. It's beautiful."

We agree. It's just that Architecture In Brooklyn doesn't have the same ring to it.

Five years after the start of the Iraq war and following his own visit to the war zone for the filming of his 2004 documentary, 'I Know I'm Not Alone,' Spearhead's Michael Franti remains in the trenches fighting for peace (hey, isn't that an oxymoron?).

"It's never hard to get people to care but it's hard to get them to show up year after year after year," Franti -- who's forthcoming, rasta-fied album, 'All Rebel Rockers,' is dedicated to inspiring people to stay committed to the cause, whatever theirs might be -- tells Spinner. "There's the environmental crisis and wars that seemingly have no end, no budget and no limits and people are feeling unheard."

Franti's personal protest is the human cost of war, as profiled in his film, as well as in the recent 'Body of War,' for which he lent 'Light Up Ya Lighter' to the soundtrack. Meanwhile, Franti's atypically anti-partisan when it comes to the upcoming election. "This year everyone's asking me who I endorse and I say I don't endorse candidates, I endorse ideas," he says. But it's probably a safe bet the anti-war candidate will get his vote come November.

Until then, he's slammed, filming episodes of his info-packed video-shorts, 'FrantiV,' touring, organizing his now worldwide Power to the Peaceful festival, and performing at events like Earth Day L.A. and Common Ground Relief in New Orleans's Ninth Ward. Recently he turned up at L.A.'s Skirball Center (with his friend Zach de la Rocha, Lucinda Williams and others) to pay tribute to the grandpappy of protest, Bob Dylan, part of the museum's program accompanying the exhibit, 'Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966.'

The story of guitarist White Gold is a typical one in rock 'n' roll. As he tells it, White Gold was once a "ragged man [with] frail hair [and] scrawny muscles," until he encountered an angel who gave him a milk-filled guitar. Suddenly this weakling was transformed into a hunky bare-chested rock god with flowing hair. Together with sexy-looking female musicians Wholena and Skimberly, the bassist and drummer known as the Calcium Twins, White Gold extols the healthy virtues and benefits of milk through his bombastic funk rock music. "I consumed [and] transformed -- I went forth into rock history," he says.

But White Gold isn't an actual rock star though he sure plays like one with his macho singing and moves. He is the campy invention of the real-life advertising firm Goodby, Silverstein & Partners as part of the California Milk Processor Board's campaign to get younger people drinking more milk.

"I think we were tossing around ideas, [and] the phrase 'white gold' had been thrown around just as a neat name for milk," Goodby, Silverstein's Paul Charney, who, with Andrew Bancroft and Bryan Houlette, developed the campaign, tells Spinner. "What if there was a guy named White Gold who wanted to spread the word of milk through the power of song?"

The creative team drew inspiration from the movies 'This Is Spinal Tap' and 'Zoolander' in shaping the character. The presentation is as over-the-top as the music. In the video for 'One Gallon Axe,' White Gold levitates while playing his dairy-powered guitar; and in the 'Tame the White Tiger' video, he submerges into a river of milk.

"We wanted to create this guy who embodies the benefits of milk in a funny way," Charney says. "The idea that rock musicians has this beautiful flowing hair, this smile, this Axl Rose-body -- they got all this from milk."

Sara Quin -- one-half of the musical sister duo Tegan and Sara -- admits that she is both excited and nervous about their upcoming string of concert dates, a back-and-forth shuffle between their own headlining shows and stops on the Cyndi Lauper-led True Colors human rights concert tour. "Pretty much for the last three years, all we've done has been playing to our own crowds," she tells Spinner. "That is easy. In a weird way, you become weakened. You come out on stage and everyone loves you, you barely have to do anything. Even though I know the True Colors crowd is going to be amazing, I'm terrified because we haven't done any support stuff in so long. To support the tour and what it represents, though, you can't go wrong."

The band wanted to participate in last year's string of concert dates -- a series designed to raise awareness about discrimination against the gay, lesbian, bi and transgender communities -- but were in the studio recording their latest CD, 'The Con.' Quin admits that she followed the action on tour religiously. "I felt jealous," she jokes, "because I saw [Gossip frontwoman] Beth Ditto hanging out with Rosie and Cyndi Lauper and I wanted that love, I wanted the sunshine on me." Tegan and Sara have made plans to shake their set up significantly for the human rights tour. "We're gonna strip it all down and do pretty much alternative versions of everything. It could end up being really cool or a disaster. I want to give this crowd a different look at us -- to have people hear the songs in a different way."

When their touring dates are finished, Sara jokes that their summer will contain "beverages and bikinis," but in truth, they will be hard at work on other projects. "Tegan and I are both writing furiously for the next record," she says. "I have always felt like I was squeezing songs out of me slowly, but lately I've been writing a lot. We recently played a show with Death Cab For Cutie, where we talked with [guitarist/producer] Chris Walla who worked on our last record. We're pretty much signed up to work on our next record with him again."

Put variations of Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Linkin Park and Guns N' Roses on the same bill and you've got a serious rock show. Last Friday night, about a thousand lucky fans got to see just that as Slash and Cooper were honored for their sobriety by MusiCares.

Steven Tyler, who was on hand to present the From the Heart honor to Slash, talked to Spinner about their friendship before the show. "They opened up for us one night," he recalled. "We were backstage and I said, 'Listen you guys, we got like five years sober, so if you guys got anything on you and you bring it in my dressing room, I'm gonna have to leave. I'm gonna get real pissed off and kick your a--.' But they found their own road." Asked then how proud he was of Slash, Tyler responded, "Forget it, beyond belief. He's been through hell and high water, and he's come out the other side."

During his acceptance speech, Slash, who, in true rock star fashion left his sunglasses and top hat on, thanked his "awesome" wife and two little boys, as well as "music in general since it's been my underlying motivation for survival." Letting his guitar do most of the talking though, he jammed with his mates in Camp Freddy for a ridiculous all-star celebration that started with Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander killing versions of the classic 'Surrender' and 'Gonna Rase Hell,' continued with Chester Bennington crooning Cooper's 'Eighteen' to the icon. The jam ended with Tyler coming out for two songs, including a standing o-inducing version of 'Whole Lotta Love,' that also featured Jerry Cantrell.

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck thinks that George W. Bush would make an ideal McDonald's employee. In the current issue of Uncut, Buck fielded questions from fans, one of whom asked what career he'd give the President if he could have him switch professions.

"Well, since he's failed at everything else he's done, he needs to step down the management level a little," Buck snapped. "There's probably a McDonald's that could use management, and he seems like the kind of purse-mouthed snot nose who'd be great at terrifying 13-year-olds."

"A lot of what he's done is betray the working people," Buck added. "I mean, I'm a rich white guy, and as much as I disagree philosophically with everything they do -- it's only been good for me -- on a personal level, if you don't count the environment and the deaths."

R.E.M. will launch a world tour in support of their latest album, 'Accelerate,' on May 23. The band will appear on PBS television's 'Austin City Limits' the following day.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rocked the intimate Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, Wednesday night, treating fans to a live rendition of his classic 1978 album, 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' in its entirety. After a ten-minute intermission, the band returned to the stage to perform the landmark 1975 disc, 'Born to Run,' to an awestruck crowd.

Well-to-do fans paid at least $1,000 per ticket in an online auction for the show. Proceeds from the event raised $3 million for renovations to the aging theater. The E-Street Band last played the venue -- when it was known as the Monmouth Arts Center -- during a six-night stand in 1976.

Springsteen's wife, E Street guitarist Patti Scialfa, was the brainchild behind the benefit gig. Scialfa serves as honorary chairwoman of the theater's capital campaign. A donation also paid for 37 wounded veterans to be bused to the concert from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The veterans reportedly received a standing ovation nearly as lengthy as the one given the band.

Encores included 'So Young and In Love,' 'Kitty's Back,' 'Rosalita' and the tour premiere of 'Raise Your Hand.' Springsteen resumes his world tour in support of his most recent album, 'Magic,' on May 22 at the RDS Arena in Dublin .

Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl has reportedly penned an open letter to Metallica, pleading with them to make sure their new disc is 'kick-ass.' And who could blame him? The one-time Nirvana kitman writes:

"Dear Metallica:

Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mailorder catalog called Under the Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!).

I can't wait to hear the new s---, and no matter what you guys do I'll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I'm sure you'll come out and blow everybody's f---in' minds, because you're f---in' METALLICA!

Good luck. And don't release it until it's kick-ass.

Yours, Dave Grohl.

P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"

We second that.

Scar Jo isn't the only actor showing off her music skills. While in L.A. last week for the premiere of 'Iron Man,' Terrence Howard -- best known for his Oscar-nominated work in 'Hustle & Flow' as well as the Best Picture-winning 'Crash' -- held a listening party for his upcoming debut album, 'Shine Through It,' which is scheduled for release in late September.

Howard played the role of gracious host for the intimate gathering of nearly 25 guests at the Sony/BMG offices in Santa Monica, even at one point refilling guests' plastic cups with wine while they enjoyed the music. Before playing the album, Howard, who played air instruments and sang along to the 11 songs, recalled how he grew up listening to Cat Stevens, Carly Simon and Karen Carpenter, and the impact of hearing Louis Armstrong's classic 'It's a Wonderful World.' "I tried to take it back to that in my music," he said.

The album opens with 'Love Makes you Beautiful,' which carries a dramatic '70s feel alongside a folk-tinge, while other selections feature a decidedly pop sound. But 'Shine Through It' goes well beyond that, with the jazz instrumental 'It's all Game,' a song Howard said was done in one take, and 'Mr. Jones' Lawn,' a track that marries Outkast and Cat Stevens, if you can imagine.

Album release dates mean very little these days, what with all the BitTorrents, LimeWires and other file-sharing devices that piss off the RIAA. Two days after new music from Oasis leaked, the bulk of the songs from Weezer's eponymous sixth album have found their way online in advance of the June 24th release of 'The Red Album.' In 2005, Weezer endured a similar fate when their album, 'Make Believe,' also leaked online well in advance of its official release.

The rollicking 'Troublemaker' and the operatic, stylistically diverse opus 'The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)' are among the eight songs currently circulating across the Internet.

Another song, the ballad 'Heart Songs,' chronicles frontman Rivers Cuomo's musical evolution, citing everything from Joan Baez and Eddie Rabbitt to Grover Washington Jr., Pat Benatar, Quiet Riot, Judas Priest and Nirvana's 'Nevermind' in its lyrics.

Meanwhile, it's not all dour in the Weezer camp, as the new disc's first single, 'Pork and Beans' has topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks survey.

Eddy Arnold, one of the pioneers of 'the Nashville Sound,' died Thursday morning, just days before his 90th birthday. The legendary country singer was second only to George Jones in the number of songs that made the country charts, with 145 radio hits -- 28 of those making it all the way to No. 1. Some of his many classics include 'Make the World Go Away,' 'Bouquet of Roses,' 'Lonely Again' and 'Cattle Call,' just to name a few. Many of those hits also made it onto the pop charts, as Arnold became one of the first crossover successes to come out of Nashville, paving the way for future country-pop acts like Kenny Rogers and Charlie Rich.

Arnold, nicknamed the 'Tennessee Plowboy,' was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966. The following year, he was named the Country Music Association's first-ever Entertainer of the Year. And in a career that spanned almost 60 years, he boasted sales of more than 85 million records.

Ben Harper returned to school in triumph last Saturday, as he and friends Jackson Browne and Taj Mahal headlined the Claremont Folk Festival at Harper's childhood alma mater, Claremont Elementary School.

Browne, who Harper called a "friend and a hero," opened with a stunning version of 'The Barricades of Heaven,' and continued with an acoustic set that mixed old classics such as 'For Everyman' and 'These Days,' with the rare 'Drums of War.' Browne also performed a new song, which he introduced as having written for his girlfriend. "It doesn't have a title and it might could use another verse," he told the crowd. He then dedicated the final song, an achingly beautiful rendition of 'Something Fine' to Alma, a little girl seated on the bales of hay that provided the makeshift barricade to the stage.

The backdrop brought up nostalgia for Harper as the festival, now in its 28th year, was started by his grandparents, Dorothy and Charles Chase. Before his opening 'Pleasure and Pain,' he spoke of getting his grandmother's approval. "This is the first song I wrote where my grandmother Dot said, 'You might be able to make something of this.'" Grandma and grandpa would've been more than proud that day.