The Panic Channel

Last night on Rock Star: Supernova, it was announced that show host Dave Navarro's band, The Panic Channel, will be the opening act for Supernova when the band goes on tour in January 2007. Supernova, featuring Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted and Gilby Clarke, will crown their new lead singer on next week's episode. The tour actually kicks off on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas and will continue until the end of February. Meanwhile, Supernova's debut album, produced by Butch Walker, is due November 21.

Barely a week after parting ways with keyboardist Eddie Hawrysch, the Black Crowes have now lost guitarist Marc Ford as well. The timing is a bit awkward as the Crowes will kick off a tour tonight in Richmond, VA, but guitarist Paul Stacey will be on board for the tour. The band's manager, Pete Angelus, wrote in an online post, "I am not going to comment on the timing of this notification or the way Marc has elected to handle his personal and business affairs with the Black Crowes, however I will state as a matter of fact, that this is not the first time that Marc Ford has breached his agreement with the Black Crowes." Meanwhile, Ford said in a statement that he left the band because he was afraid his health and sobriety would be in jeopardy while touring. The Black Crowes are currently working on a new album that is due sometime next year.

Daniel Powter will release a deluxe CD/DVD edition of his gold-certified debut album with brand new songs and special performance footage. The new edition of the self-titled album is due November 7. The CD will feature Powter's new single, "Love You Lately," which impacts radio later this month, and the DVD will include the entire album in hi-resolution audio, live version B-sides of the singles "Bad Day," "Free Loop" and "Song 6," music videos, and an eight-song live performance recorded at the legendary Capitol Records Studio A.

Similar to what System Of A Down did with Mezmerize and Hypnotize, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will release two albums this year, starting with Thug Stories on September 19. Thug Stories is a more low-key affair, but the second record, expected in late 2006, is being overseen by producer Swizz Beatz and will feature many guest stars. "We got Dr. Dre, we got Three 6 Mafia, we got Kanye West, we got a lot of people on the album," Krayzie Bone told MTV.com. "We got Mariah Carey. She promised that she was gonna do a song with us once, and she kept her promise." Akon and Ice Cube also will show up on the album, which has yet to be titled.

Bowling For Soup will release a new effort, The Great Burrito Extortion Case, on November 7 via Jive Records. Billboard says the album's first single, "High School Never Ends," will hit radio outlets on September 25. The Great Burrito Extortion Case is the follow-up to 2004's A Hangover You Don't Deserve.

Ruben Studdard

American Idol winner Ruben Studdard will unveil his next album, The Return, on October 17. He recently told AOL Music, "Even with the success of Kelly Clarkson's album, I think a lot of people were surprised to see how edgy she was in her real self. Most of the time, people see us on [the show] and they think we're kids. I'm an urban artist, I'm a grown man. And now I'm showing people that I'm mature, and this is really who I am." Studdard also described his new LP as more "pop-driven" and influenced by the likes of Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. "It's R&B because I'm singing it, but listen to all the tracks down - it's soul-pop," he said.

Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) and his own Ya Records label have signed a deal with Atlantic Records to release Yusuf's first album of modern Pop songs in 28 years. The new record is due in November. "I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again," said Yusuf. "It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross."