Melissa Etheridge and her partner Tammy Lynn Michaels have announced they are expecting twins together this spring. "We are thrilled to announce that Tammy is pregnant, and expecting our twins sometime around this fall," a post on Etheridge's Web site read. "To answer the obvious question: We used an anonymous donor from a [sperm] bank." The twins will be the first biological children for Michaels, while Etheridge has two children from a previous relationship with actress Julie Cypher.

Over 4,000 mourners showed up to pay respects to Detroit rapper Proof on Tuesday. The rapper was dressed in a track suit, Kangol cap, jeans and Timberland-style boots, reports the Detroit Free Press. "We knew he was gone," rapper King Gordy said. "But when you see him now, it's like, 'Here goes a reality check.' Right now, Detroit has a black cloud over it." The service took place just a few hours after the death of Keith Bender Jr., the man who police say was involved in the fatal shootout with the rapper, as previously reported. Proof's funeral is scheduled for this Wednesday at Detroit's Fellowship Chapel.

Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple has announced a major summer headlining tour, supporting last year's critically acclaimed Extraordinary Machine. The tour, which will primarily visit amphitheaters, begins on June 20 in Phoenix, AZ and wraps up on July 21 in Cleveland. David Garza, who opened Apple's fall tour, will be on-board for the trek, with singer-songwriter Damien Rice also on the bill for 18 of the dates.

Yellowcard have confirmed summer tour dates following their headline slot on the 2006 Virgin College Mega Tour. The band will kick-off their summer tour on May 7 in Memphis, TN and conclude on June 26 in Philadelphia, PA. The rockers will also perform their newest single "Rough Landing, Holly" on the Late Show With David Letterman on June 22.

Seether will release a live acoustic CD entitled One Cold Night on July 11. The CD features a recorded show from Philadelphia's Grape Street Pub on February 22. Singer Shaun Morgan said, "This is an experience for us to have some fun and present our music in a different fashion. It is amazing for us to be able to play the same heavy songs in a more intimate environment. We love it because we feel a connection with the audience and they can understand and listen to every chord that comes from the stage." Songs such as "Remedy" and "Broken" will appear on the CD plus the bonus DVD will feature an in-depth interview with the band and a gallery of still photos from their live performance.

Taking Back Sunday will hit the road this summer on a major tour, with Angels & Airwaves and Head Automatica in tow for the 28 city trek. The tour will begin June 22 in Jackson, NJ, with the full itinerary still to be announced. Taking Back Sunday is currently on a brief, sold out tour in support of their new album, Louder Now, due out April 25.

Former American Idol contestant Mario Vazquez will release his debut album later this summer. His first single "Gallery" was written and co-produced by Ne-Yo and is available in both English and Spanglish versions. Producers such as Ne-Yo, Soulshock and Karlin (whom has worked with Usher) and Scott Storch (whom has worked with 50 Cent and Christina Aguilera) have been working with Vazquez in the studio. "Mario Vazquez is a multi-talented, young American born Hispanic singer with a voice and charisma that we've been trying to find for a long time," said Clive Davis, Chairman of BMG U.S.

The Raconteurs have announced another one-off U.S. tour date, playing in Hollywood on June 7. The Jack White/Brendan Benson band will also play the Wireless Festival at Hyde Park in London on June 21. In related news, White's long-awaited Coca-Cola jingle debuted in Australia as part of a surreal new TV ad campaign.

LL Cool J

LL Cool J made his chart debut at number six this week with his newest album, Todd Smith. It features special guests such as Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx and Ginuwine. Another big debut on the charts was Canadian songwriter Daniel Powter's self-titled debut. His single "Bad Day" can be heard on the popular show American Idol when another singer gets voted off the show. This week's album charts were primarily ruled by Country albums such as Rascal Flatts' Me & My Gang, Toby Keith's White Trash With Money and Tim McGraw's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: Reflected, finishing at numbers one, two and seven respectively. Other debuts on the album charts included Queen's Stone Cold Classics, Buckcherry's 15 and Built To Spill's You In Reverse, finishing at numbers 45, 48 and 63 respectively.

The Panic Channel will release their debut album (ONe) on September 12. The Panic Channel consists of guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins, bassist Chris Chaney and lead singer Steve Isaacs. "If there was a channel that showed nothing but hysteria and panic, it would be the highest-rated channel on TV," said Navarro. "We like to think of creating music as a way to channel the panic into something tangible." They will also make a two-song digital-only release to coincide with the kick-off of their upcoming spring tour on May 16 in San Diego, CA.