By Ally Schweitzer
– Metallica is plowing through obstacles– both natural and emotional– to continue their European tour. With flights still hard to come by in the aftermath of the Icelandic volcano eruption, the band has been traveling via boat and bus to get to concert arenas. According to lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, Metallica hasn’t toured in a bus since bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a bus crash during the band’s 1986 European tour. “When we boarded the bus again this week and had to travel overnight,” Hammett told reporters, “I realized that those bad memories are still here. I still haven’t overcome the fear of buses. But the show must go on.”
– In recordings: M.I.A.’s latest comes out June 29th; MMMbop-ers Hanson will team up with Motown bassist Bob Babbitt and horns arranger Jerry Hey for their third album coming out June 8; Outkast’s Big Boi swears his long-delayed solo album will be released July 6; Kylie Minogue has a new single and an album this summer; Paul McCartney announced that he will release his entire post-Beatles discography through independent music group Concord instead of his former label, the struggling EMI.