> Jason Scheff, vocalist and bassist for the group Chicago, has been communicating with his group's fans via the Internet. In fact, some fans who have created a sign (stored on Compuserve) and enlarged it have gotten invited backstage after the show. Scheff and Chicago can be reached at 76702.2615@compuserve.com
> The 15th CMJ Music Marathon - a three day and four night symposium on the alternative music industry and international music festival - will take place at New York City's Lincoln Center from September 6-9.
Two panels which promise to be well attended include "Selling Records in the 21st Century - The Internet vs. the Record Store", moderated by Windy Chien of Sick & Tired and "Sexism & Violence In Music and Video: Can Free Speech Go Too Far?" moderated by Howie Klein of Reprise Records. There will also be a question and answer session with Don Was and "Beach Boy" Brian Wilson about his forthcoming documentary film, "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".
More than 400 signed and unsigned artists from around the world will be performing at the festival. Some bands of note who will play include Belly, Better than Ezra, Boo Radleys, David Byrne, Echobelly, Foetus, G. Love and Special Sauce, Matthew Sweet, Meat Puppets, Mercury Rev, Silverchair and Spearhead. For further information contact CMJ at 516-466-6000.
> A video compilation of Sarah McLachlan videos is expected to arrive in stores in time for the winter holiday season.
> Skinny Puppy's Dwayne Goettel passed away August 23 in Edmonton of an apparent overdose.
> Urge Overkill will be touring in Australia at the time of the U.S. release of their new album. The tour will be in the U.S. around the second week of October, and continue in North America until December. The band also just finished filming a video in California for the U.S. single "The Break". The European single is "Somebody Else's Body".
