Free Republic

The artist formerly known as Mista Swissher Sweet needs a new stage name. Jontae Green, an Austell rapper, said this week that he will drop his old moniker after being sued by Swisher International, which bills itself as the world’s largest cigar maker. • Lawsuit Recent headlines: * Rapper to change name after cigar maker sues him * Cobb high schoolers plan shopping event for those in need * Hybrid organ to 'rattle and roll' Strand Theatre • Cobb County news Swisher says Swissher shouldn’t have used the brand’s name and logos on his Web site and in album art...

He Used To Be Cat Stevens - And He's Releasing A New Album The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens will release his first pop album in 28 years this fall. Stevens, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in the late 1970s, has signed with Atlantic Records in conjunction with his Ya Records label, it was announced Thursday. ``I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again,'' the 58-year-old singer-songwriter said in a statement. ``It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others...

SIR Bob Geldof yesterday unveiled the biggest musical event of the decade as he announced a stunning all-star line-up for Live Aid II. The centrepiece of the bash — to be called Live8 — will be a huge free festival in London’s Hyde Park on July 2. It will star Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, U2, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Dido, Joss Stone, and Sting — among others. The 150,000 tickets for the Hyde Park gig will be made available through a special text lottery to be held on Monday. There will be four other simultaneous live shows in Paris,...

CHICAGO (AP) A bus driver for the Dave Matthews Band pleaded guilty Wednesday to dumping 800 pounds of human waste from the vehicle's septic tank onto a sightseeing boat on the Chicago River last summer. The driver, Stefan Wohl, was sentenced to 18 months probation, 150 hours of community service and the maximum $10,000 fine, which will be paid to Friends of the Chicago River, said Tom Stanton, a spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Wohl, 42, of Selma, Texas, pleaded guilty to the original charges filed against him in January, reckless conduct and discharging contaminates to cause...

Win or lose, Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] has pulled off something people have tried to do for more than a decade: reuniting the surviving members of Nirvana. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, who made rock history in Seattle with the late Kurt Cobain, will appear today at a Kerry rally at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. Grohl will perform with his band, Foo Fighters. Novoselic, an activist who authored ``Of Grunge and Government,'' will speak. Also expected are Kerry's daughter, Alexandra, stepson, Chris Heinz, and Tom DeLonge of punk band Blink 182.