MTV News Round-Up 26/02/2004

*** Ash have announced a UK date as part of their forthcoming European tour. The gig will take place at London's Carling Academy Islington on March 17. The European tour kicks off in Hamburg on March 9 and includes dates in Paris, Amsterdam and Madrid. Ash's new album 'Meltdown' is due in May.

*** D-12, the rap collective who shot to fame in 2001 when they collaborated with Eminem on the hit 'Purple Hills', are to release their new album 'D-12 World' in April. The new record will be released on Shady/Interscope Records, and will feature production from Eminem and the group's Mr. Porter, as well Dr. Dre, Trackboyz and Kanye West.

*** The Strokes will reportedly play this year's Oxegen festival in Ireland. The New York outfit will apparently join the likes of The Darkness, David Bowie, N.E.R.D and Chemical Brothers. The event, formerly known as Witness, will take place at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas on July 10 and 11. Tickets go on sale on March 5.

*** A wedding scene between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has been cut from their forthcoming movie, after the director feared that the couple's recent break-up would affect people's perceptions of the film. 'Jersey Girl', directed by Kevin Smith, is released in the States on March 26.

*** Sum 41 are being sued by a New York man who says they threw a hot dog at him. Michael Sudore has filed two lawsuits against the band, citing psychological trauma and adverse effects to his business as the results of the incident. The hot dog was not only thrown, but Sudore was secretly filmed by the band and his reaction included on the DVD that accompanied their 2002 album 'Does This Look Infected?'.

Lisa Scott-Lee has been dropped by her record label after her last solo single, 'Too Far Gone', failed to make the top ten. "There are times in life when you have to move on, I have got some great new tracks and it's probably best all round if I find a new home for my music," Lisa told The Sun. Her next single may be a track called 'Lov'd Up', penned by Kylie Minogue.

DL