GNR's 'Hits' Coming Before New Album

While work continues on Guns N' Roses' endlessly delayed album "Chinese Democracy," Geffen has set a March 23 release date for "Greatest Hits," compiling 14 of the hard rock act's best-known tracks. The album boasts such favorites as "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Patience," "Paradise City" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" from the "Interview With a Vampire" soundtrack.

This is the third archival Guns N' Roses release since last fall, when Geffen issued DVDs of the home videos "Welcome to the Videos" and the two-volume "Use Your Illusion."

However, according to sources, the band did not give its consent for "Greatest Hits" to move forward and may pursue legal action to block its release.

As previously reported, the Axl Rose-led group will return to the live stage May 30 at the Rock in Rio-Lisbon festival in Lisbon, Portugal. It will be GNR's first live appearance since a disastrous 2002 comeback tour, which was canceled with 13 dates remaining.

As for "Chinese Democracy," it is unknown when the album will be released. Bassist Tommy Stinson told Billboard.com last year that finishing touches were being applied to the set before it would be sent off for mixing.

Here is the track list for "Greatest Hits":

"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Sweet Child O' Mine"
"Patience"
"Paradise City"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
"Civil War"
"You Could Be Mine"
"Don't Cry"
"November Rain"
"Live and Let Die"
"Yesterdays"
"Ain't It Fun"
"Since I Don't Have You"
"Sympathy for the Devil"

Weezer Unveils Reissue, DVD Details

Weezer has nailed down details for an expanded reissue of its self-titled 1994 "Blue Album" and the retrospective DVD "Video Capture Device." Both items will arrive March 23 via Geffen. The CD's first disc will sport the original 10-track album, while a second disc, "Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets," collects 14 rare cuts.

Among them are the B-sides "Mykel and Carli," "Susanne" and "My Evaline," live versions of "My Name Is Jonas," "Surfwax America," "Jamie" (acoustic) and "No One Else" (acoustic), previously unreleased "kitchen" recordings of "Paperface" and "Only in Dreams," pre-production versions of "Lullaby for Wayne" and "I Swear It's True" and the original album mix of "Say It Ain't So."

The Ric Ocasek-produced "Blue Album" peaked at No. 16 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 2.8 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. It spawned the rock airplay hits "Undone ("The Sweater Song")," "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So."

"Video Capture Device" is loaded with 13 music videos, including the director's cut of "El Scorcho," a home-made clip for "Pink Triangle" and a self-described "indie-style low budget" clip for "Slob." Also featured are live versions of "Jamie" and "In the Garage," footage from the making of the "Blue Album" and the group's spring 1995 tour and "Say It Ain't So" live from "The Late Show With David Letterman."

Weezer's official Web site reports that the DVD will also boast "a selection of five 'Raw Nuggets' from 1991-2002, generally rougher footage, but still of very cool events, plus a selection of the TV ads crafted over the years to promote the release of the band's albums. There will be optional band commentary on all the music videos and on about half of the 'Documentary' and 'Raw Nuggets' pieces."

As previously reported, Weezer is working on its fifth studio album with producer Rick Rubin.

Brosnan is Still 007

Recent rumors have said that Pierce Brosnan wouldn't return as 007. 

Empire Online hoped to put the matter to rest...at least for a while:

Eager to put the matter to rest once and for all, Empire Online spoke direct to Eon Productions this morning to find out just what was going on. And let us tell you – they're not happy bunnies there at all. 'All these rumours have come from a newspaper who quoted someone at Eon when they haven't spoken to anyone here,' complained Eon's Publicity Manger Catherine McCormack.

'For now, Pierce Brosnan is our James Bond. We haven't made any statement to say he isn't our James Bond.'

'It's so difficult to comment,' she went on to say, 'when we don't have a script or even a start date.' So has Brosnan signed a contract with you, we asked. 'He signed an initial three contract deal with us,' she explained, 'and from then on it's on a film by film basis. So he hasn't signed one yet.'

So there you go. They don't have a script. They don't have a start date. And as of this morning, Eon doesn't even have a signed contract with Pierce Brosnan – but that's apparently completely normal for this stage of film production. Just so you know.

PUTTING OUT THE FIRE

Johnny Cash's family quashing an ad campaign for hemorrhoid-relief products set to the tune of "Ring of Fire."

Disney to Buy Muppets From Henson Co.

LOS ANGELES - Kermit and Miss Piggy are joining Mickey and Minnie, capping a 14-year effort to bring the Muppets into the Walt Disney family.

The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday it will buy the "Muppets" characters, including Kermit, Miss Piggy and others, as well as the "Bear in the Big Blue House," franchise from The Jim Henson Co.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The arrangement, which took about six months to negotiate, represents a coup for Disney chief executive Michael Eisner, who has been attacked in recent months as an entrenched, weak manager unable to lead the entertainment giant effectively.

"Michael Eisner's long-standing passion and respect for the Muppets gives me and my family even more confidence in Disney as a partner," said Brian Henson, who with his sister Lisa, is co-chair and co-chief executive of The Jim Henson Co.

The announcement is also a much-needed boost for Disney, which has been under attack for weeks from ex-board members and is the subject of a takeover bid from cable television giant Comcast Corp.

The deal culminates a lengthy pursuit of the Muppets by Disney, which nearly acquired the characters in 1990. The deal fell apart shortly after the death of company founder Jim Henson.

The company then was bought by German media company EM.TV, which sold it back to the Henson family last year.

The deal does not include the Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, who were sold earlier by EM.TV to the Sesame Workshop.

The Muppet characters already exist in Disney theme parks in a 3D film, while "Bear in the Big Blue House," is a long-running show on the Disney cable television channel.

Disney plans to make new television shows, video games, movies and other products with the existing characters as well as develop new characters in the coming years.

"We have been very impressed by how the Disney company treats its own characters," said Lisa Henson. "We feel if the Muppets are treated with as much care in the long term as Walt Disney's characters are, we will have properly served the legacy."

The agreement includes a four-year consulting arrangement with The Jim Henson Co. to provide strategic advice on the use of the characters and a three-year production deal to develop movies, television shows and other projects using the characters.

The Jim Henson Co. will retain its "Creature Shop," which builds the puppet characters and provides special effects for other studios, as well as the rights to its film and television library, including "Fraggle Rock" and "Farscape," among others.

Munich-based EM.TV bought The Jim Henson Co. in February 2000 for $680 million in cash and stock. The company sold it back to the Henson family last July for $78 million in cash.

Polaroid Warns Film Users Not to 'Shake It'

LONDON (Reuters) - Outkast fans like to "shake it like a Polaroid picture," but the instant camera maker is warning consumers that taking the advice of the hip-hop stars could ruin your snapshots.

Outkast's number one hit "Hey Ya" includes the "shake it" line as a reference to the motion that amateur photographers use to help along the self-developing film.

But in the "answers" section on the Polaroid Web site, the company says that shaking photos, which once helped them to dry, is not necessary since the modern version of Polaroid film dries behind a clear plastic window.

The image "never touches air, so shaking or waving has no effect," the company said on its Web site.

"In fact, shaking or waving can actually damage the image. Rapid movement during development can cause portions of the film to separate prematurely, or can cause 'blobs' in the picture."

A Polaroid spokesman added: "Almost everybody does it, thinking that shaking accelerates the development process, but if you shake it too vigorously you could distort the image. A casual shake typically doesn't affect it."

Polaroid said its film should be laid on a flat surface and shielded from the wind, and that users should avoid bending or twisting their pictures.

Of course, "lay it on a flat surface like a Polaroid picture," doesn't sound nearly as cool.

Dido to Begin North American Tour in May

TORONTO (Billboard) - English pop singer Dido has confirmed details of a North American tour in support of her new Arista album, "Life for Rent." The trek will begin May 17 in Vancouver and has dates booked through June 18 in Boston.

"Life for Rent" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 last October and has sold nearly 1.5 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album has been an international smash, having spent 18 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart.

Dido will also tour Europe this summer, beginning July 5 in Athens, Greece.

Here are Dido's tour dates:

May 17: Vancouver (Queen Elizabeth Theater)
May 19: Seattle (Paramount Theater)
May 20: Portland (Schnitzer Theater)
May 22: San Francisco (Berkeley Community Theater)
May 25: Los Angeles (Wiltern Theater)
May 29: San Diego (OAT)
May 30: Las Vegas (The Joint)
June 4: Minneapolis (Northrop Theater)
June 5: Chicago (Chicago Theater)
June 6: Detroit (Fox Theater)
June 8: Toronto (Hummingbird Center)
June 11: Philadelphia (Tower Theater)
June 12: Washington (Constitution Hall)
June 13: New York (Beacon Theater)
June 18: Boston (Pavilon Theater)
July 5: Athens, Greece (Lykabettus Theater)
July 7: Madrid (Conde Duque)
July 8: Barcelona (Pueblo Espanyol)
July 10: Locarno, Switzerland (Piazza Grande)
July 11: Frankfurt, Germany (Old Opera Square)
July 13: Nimes, France (Arena)
July 14: Turin, Italy (Parco Della Pellerini)
July 16: Montreux, Switzerland (Stravinski Hall)
July 17: Munich (Konigsplatz)
July 18: Vienna (Castle Schonbrunn)
July 25: Hamburg (Stadtpark)
July 26: Berlin (Museumsinsel)
July 27: Cologne (Tanzbrunnen)

NBC's Conan O'Brien Issues 'Apology' to Quebec

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late-night comedian Conan O'Brien sought to defuse a flap over a recent segment poking fun at the French-Canadian province of Quebec by issuing a self-deprecating "apology" on Tuesday in French.

"People of Quebec, I'm sorry," the host of NBC's "Late Night" show said in English, as a translator recited in French, with English subtitles, "People of Quebec, I'm an albino jackass."

"We meant no harm with our comedy piece the other night," O'Brien continued, "translated" into French as: "The other night, I wet the bed like a little girl."

"I was a stranger in a strange land and I was very insensitive," he went on, with the subtitle: "I have a small penis."

The tongue-in-cheek mea culpa was delivered by O'Brien after his usual monologue during the taping of Tuesday night's show in New York.

O'Brien sparked a burst of outrage from the Canadian government last Thursday with a segment in which a rubber hand-puppet known as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, a recurring character on the show, said to a Quebecer: "You're French, you're obnoxious and you no speekay English." The ribald puppet told another: "I can smell your crotch from here."

The controversial segment came during O'Brien's highly publicized road trip last week for a series of shows taped in and around Toronto to help boost that city's profile in the wake of last year's deadly SARS outbreak.

But members of the federal government in Ottawa said O'Brien's jokes about Quebec, a province which has had separatist governments for much of the last 20 years and is a delicate political topic in Canada, went too far.

Alexa McDonough, a legislator for the left-leaning New Democratic Party, described the program as "racist filth" and "utterly vile." She demanded the government seek the return of the C$1 million ($760,000) subsidy paid by Ontario, the province of which Toronto is the capital, to General Electric Co.'s NBC network to help bring O'Brien's show to Canada.