Music News 1999 Garth Brooks has finally gone over the edge. According to USA Today, Brooks is set to appear next year in a movie entitled "The Lamb" as an Australian pop star named Chris Gaines. Mr. "I refer to my stardom in the third person" has taken up appearing in public in character for the next year. To further blur the line between fiction and reality, Garth Gaines will be recording several albums under the name Chris Gaines, changed his appearance to a more "alternative" look (moptop wig and Van Dyke beard), has requested Billboard to provide a mock history of Chris Gaines chart positions that will replace Mr. ex-Brooks' respective releases. VH-1 will also broadcast a mock "Behind The Music" segment on the life of the imagined character. This from a man who, a few years ago, was so worried about lost sales revenue he campaigned to collect royalties from used CDs. I guess he's not concerned about alienating his entire fan base. A near-completed solo album by late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence is being released this month from VT Records. In other INXS news, Terrence Trent D'Arby has not only taken over Hutchence's spot, but is now reportedly involved with his widow Paula Yates. Maybe he's got Garth Brooks Syndrome. Blues Traveler bassist Bobby Sheehan, 32, has died due to causes unknown as of this time. He was found in his New Orleans home by guests. No word yet as to the future of the band, and no announcement from the group. In other BT news, singer John Popper's (and his harmonica's) first solo album, "Zygote," is out in stores now. The 30th-anniversary Woodstock festival went off without a hitch...if you don't count the lack of toilet sanitation, charges of sexual assault, looting, 40 arrests, riots, and fires. Not that I advocate violence (unless people really deserve it), but did the organizers really expect a couple thousand rock fans crammed in an enclosed area, overcharged on tickets and food, with overflowing toilets and an aggresso-rock soundtrack, to dance hand in hand like Coke's old "teach the world to sing" commercial? Seems like even the other members of Oasis can't stand the brothers Gallagher. Guitarist Paul Arthurs jumped ship about a month ago, and now bassist Paul McGuigan has turned in his tour pass. The 90s answer to the Kinks' Davies brothers announced their hearts will go on, and they'll be auditioning new members who can stand playing "Champagne Supernova" every night. Travis Meeks of Days of the New (Hanson in Chains to some) has taken the Whitesnake approach to bandmates, having fired the entire original lineup and recorded a new album with all new musicians. The new single, "Enemy," is out and the video has just been shot. TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsASymbolAndBeforeThatKnownAsPrince has decided to work for The Man again. After a number of public statements about the major labels and a stint with his own NPG Records, the Glyphed One has signed with Arista and will release "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" in November. Chuck D and Sheryl Crow will cameo in the video. The Purple Rainmaker also recently held a weekend garage sale at his Paisley Park Studio to sell off various Princibilia. I guess being your own boss isn't what it's cracked up to be. TLC have a new video discouraging women from having breast implants by including footage of implant removal surgery. How much of their usual cleavage the singers will be sporting in the video remains to be seen. The Spin Doctor's chief warbler Chris Barron was diagnosed with a rare paralysis of the vocal chords and may never sing again (that'll be enough cheering from the sick-minded among you). This comes just weeks before the release of "Here Comes The Bride," the new Doctors album. Details to follow. Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland is on bungy-cord rehab again after violating his parole on drug charges for another heroin overdose this summer. The other Pilots have all announced support for Weiland and are waiting for hearing this month deciding Scott's future in hopes of supporting their just-finished new album. For those who though that the Tommy Lee-Pam Anderson-Brett Michaels triangle were the pioneers of naked rock stars caught on camera, pics of an apparel-free, slightly less dead-looking Keith Richards have turned up and have been passed around the Internet. If you are like myself and would wonder why anyone would want to see such things, it's best to just let it be. And for your own safety, do not try to imagine what they look like; it will haunt you forever. Manager Bob Herbert, creator of the Spice Girls, relocated to Hell ahead of schedule when he suffered a car accident in England. The 4-member Spicerack issued a statement of condolence. Eddie Van Halen and company will try a can't-do-any-worse attempt to record a new album this year with singer Gary Cherone still in the ranks, and Danny Korchmar producing. (Let's see, VH's career currently sucks, DLR's career currently sucks, and they still won't reunite?) Vince Neil had a couldn't-be-choreographed-better comic moment while on tour with the Scorpions this summer, when an annoyed concertgoer felt compelled to clock him in the throat with a tequila bottle, effectively removing him from the rest of the tour. Anybody catch it on video? Fights broke out during two nights of Dave Matthews' summer tour, when 1000 fans without tickets gathered in the parking lot and rioted. No, that wasn't a typo; not Rage Against the Machine or Chili Peppers fans, Dave "What Would You Say" Matthews, one of the mellowest musicians this side of Jewel. The band's management declined comment. And speaking of Jewel, she'll be vying for a cut of the Christmas sales pie with a new album featuring her interpretations of chestnuts like "Silent Night" and "Winter Wonderland," and a holiday-flavored version of her own song "Hands." In yet another sign of the Apocalypse, Ricky Martin's album has been certified quintuple-platinum, guaranteeing you'll be exposed to "Living La Vida (freakin') Loca" at wedding receptions for the next 20 years. Guns n' Roses, remember them? The band that hasn't been heard from since 1992 (qualifying them for a "Where Are They Now?" segment on VH-1) are working on editing a live album from their last concert tour. This is, I'm assuming, supposed to whet our appetites for an album of all-new material (minus Slash) which has been in bandmate-fighting limbo since slightly after the last Ice Age. No release date for the new album yet, but one song will be ready to be placed on the soundtrack of the new Schwartzenegger flick, "End of Days." Glad to see they've been working hard on their time off. Fans spent $6 million in T-shirt sales alone on Bruce Springsteen's 15 shows here in his home state of NJ. Not that impressive when one realizes that's only a dozen shirts sold. Creed (aka Pearl Jam with diction) has a new album coming out called "Human Clay." The first single and video, "Higher," are now out and ready to drill the catchy tune into your head. The band is premiering all 10 songs on their Web site www.creednet.com. The UK is planning to launch an unmanned rocket in 2003 that will broadcast Blur's music from planet Mars. Wait, let me read that again. Yes, I did say *Blur*, didn't I? If we're going to have a British band representing Earth's rock music, how about Pink Floyd? David Bowie? Can we take a vote on this? MUSICIA Top