JOEY RAMONE BACK IN THE STUDIO

On October 28th, Joey Ramone is going into the studio for the first time since the breakup of the Ramones. he will be bringing in noteworthy newcomers 22Jacks (featuring members of WAX, The Adolescents, Face To Face, and No Use For A Name) as his backing band. They will be recording the Cheap Trick song "I'll Be With You Tonight" which will be featured on a Cheap Trick tribute album coming out early next year on Castle Rock Records. Overseeing this project is longtime friend and legendary producer Ed Stasium.

-Karen Pace, Chart News Editor

CANADIAN ARTS FUNDING SYSTEM CHALLENGED

An article in this month's Macleans magazine has unearthed some rather disturbing statistics from within the government arts funding department. Seems that there exists a heavy imbalance in the division of funds between Quebec and the rest of Canada. According to the magazine, during the '95-'96 fiscal year, Foreign Affairs gave out a total of $2.6 million in touring grants; 40% of that money to projects based in Quebec. The charges of favoritism are propelled further by the fact that the three officials overseeing the grants are all francophones. For more about this issue, check out Macleans.

LUSH DRUMMER MEMORIAL PLANNED

Parents of Chris Acland, the drummer for Lush who hung himself last week at his family home, have requested that all donations in the name of the young talent be given to the music department of the school where he learned how to play drums. Tragically and wastefully, the reason for Acland's suicide was his despondency over a relationship breakup. The funeral is planned for this Saturday.

CYBERHIGH AND DRY

Radiohead has just debuted their new site this week, chock full of fun and (happily) quite low on the propaganda scale. According to NME, the site will soon include access to new recordings, taken from their most recent studio work in Oxford town. In the group's fan club newsletter 'Waste', vocalist Thom Yorke said "It's not gonna have much info 'cos there seems to be plenty of unofficial sites who seem to know better what's going on than we do. They certainly seem to be writing my lyrics for me, if I'm ever stuck for an idea I go and read them."--->Radiohead

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