Billboard.com has reported that the Jared Leto-fronted modern rock band 30 Seconds To Mars is being sued for $30 million dollars by Virgin Records.

“Virgin is suing the band for alleged breach of contract and damages “in excess of $30,000,000″, according to paperwork filed Friday (Aug. 15) in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Virgin accuses Jared and Shannon Leto of not delivering three of the five albums under the band’s contract, which it entered into in 1999 with Immortal Records. Virgin took over the contract in 2004, according to the suit, which adds that the Letos “repudiated” the 1999 contract “and claimed that they were excused from such performance from and after July 4, 2008, pursuant to California Labor Code Sec. 2855(a). The law governs the ability of entertainers to terminate their contracts after seven years.”

The band has responded via internet postings by Leto. It looks as if they intend to fight the lawsuit.

“So, as you may have heard we are being sued by our former record company for the ridiculously oversized, totally unrealistic and pretty silly (but slightly clever) sum of $30,000,000. Insane? Yea that’s what we said too.” Leto makes various claims in his posting, stating that the band were unhappy that they had sold two million albums yet were “still $1.4 million in debt” and that the “next record we make will be used to pay off that old supposed debt.”

It is interesting to see how this will play out, it seems to be the old major label swindle. Though, it is very possible for the band to walk away unharmed as I have heard about other artists safely ending their contract after 7 years in the state of California. For more info…

Source.

The Police have officially called it quits for good (for the 2nd time). The band finished their 151-show reunion tour last night at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The tour came in as the 3rd highest grossing tour of all time with a whopping $358,825,665 in total gross, only U2 and The Rolling Stones have out grossed them.

Reviews of the finale show have generally been positive, noting that the band and in particular drummer Stewart Copeland were very tight. Sting has been playing his usual Fender bass, his signature model. Some reviews have noted the odd first encore break the band took.

“Another twist was saved for the encore, which began with a dexterous run through Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” Just prior, the video screens revealed that the heavily bearded Sting was being shaved backstage, while simultaneously getting a manicure, pedicure and massage.”

Wow, Sting is just ridiculous, I won’t even bother saying much more than that. One cool thing is that their 2nd encore, just one more song was the up-tempo “Next To You” which definitely reminds me of the bands early english-punk roots, after all that is the scene they originally came out of.

Source.

Retro rock band Wolfmother have officially called it quits. The band reportedly played an awkward set at the Splendour In The Grass Festival on Sunday (August 3rd) and bassist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Haskett both left the band following the show.

Frontman Andrew Stockdale will continue on with the Wolfmother band name and recruit a new bassist and drummer to complete a new album and tour. The band issued this statement…

“Andrew Stockdale, Myles Heskett and Chris Ross will make no public statements at this time except to say that they are each really looking forward to making their new music over the years ahead.”

Source.

In music news…a somewhat humorous twist of events, the band Velvet Revolver are going to host a new singer contest. They have kicked out original singer Scott Weiland, (via blog - how modern huh?) and are going to host the contest for a new singer online, with presumably random people competing or submitting their singing.

I think they just abandon the contest idea and go with Sebastion Bach instead, you know thats what Slash wants to do anyway…

Source.