The good people of Alice, North Dakota paid tribute to Alice Cooper by awarding him a key to the city. Cooper is in the area to play the nearby Fargo Civic Center. I love it when "shock rockers" become mainstream. No doubt in 20 years some small town will give Marilyn Manson a key to their town when he plays the local fire hall's beef-n-beer outing.

More soundbytes (mostly from PRinside.com):

No Doubt have begun working on a new album, even though Gwen Stefini is still working on her baby project. Bassist says, "I wouldn't even say this album is in its infancy [apparently no pun intended]. It's conception, if anything. It's so super-early on. We're taking it very slowly, kind of just going in and writing here and there. Right now, it's all about the music and being as creative as possible."

Joan Jett 's new video "A.C.D.C." will feature everywhere girl Carmen Electra as her somewhat confused female lover. Jett and the former Baywatch star reportedly shot some of the video last week in New York City. Insiders say Electra and Jett play a would-be couple in the music video, but Electra's character can't decide if she'd rather be with a man or a woman. Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna also has a cameo in the video.

George Michael fell asleep at the wheel - again. Maybe he should have just pulled over for a bathroom break? Oh right, he's married now.

Axl Rose debuted the new Guns N' Roses this weekend at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom. Rose broke out the new stuff from the someday to be released "Chinese Democracy" as well as crowd pleasers from Guns' heydey. NME reports that "the new Guns n' Roses line-up was completed by keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Robert Finck (ex-Nine Inch Nails), former Primus drummer Brian Mantia, guitarist Richard Fortus, keyboardist Chris Pittman and bassist Tommy Stinson from The Replacements. Guitarist Ron Thal, from the band Bumblefoot, [also] joined GNR last week as a replacement for former member Buckethead."

The Gallagher brothers of Oasis fame are usually so busy slamming everyone else, its a nice change to see them bitching about each other. On tour in Australia, Noel Gallagher reportedly whined about his brother Liam enjoying to much fun time while the rest of the band is working. Noel is quoted as saying "Everyone'll be able to see it on the film soon enough. We ended up doing all these press conferences and Liam's not bloody there. You can see him on a speedboat, swanning around Sydney and eating oysters while we're working like mugs."