French prosecutors have launched a manslaughter investigation into the stage collapse that killed two and injured dozens in Marseille, the U.K.’s Times Online reports. Workers were building the stage for Madonna’s July 19th Sticky & Sweet show when a crane gave way, causing a crush of rubble that claimed the lives of Charles Criscenzo of France and Charles Prow, from England.

In a new interview with Classic Rock Magazine, Slash confirms what fans have been suspecting over the past few months: Velvet Revolver still haven’t found a new singer.

On Shakira’s pulsing new single “She Wolf”, the Colombian superstar transforms into a howling, empowered beast – and drops the term “lycanthropy” (a psychiatric condition where a person believes she can transform into an animal). It’s a fierce piece of electro-pop that the singer took a full month to meticulously mix, but she tells Rolling Stone the original idea arrived in a flash of inspiration.

Pearl Jam revealed the pre-order details and track listing for their upcoming album Backspacer on their official Website. The LP is available in two formats through the band's Website, as both a “Ten Club/Indie Package” CD (similar to the packaging of their last self-titled album, or Avocado as the site calls it) and 180-gram vinyl featuring a 24-page booklet featuring original art by cartoonist Tom Tomorrow.

Nick Cave can’t stand still – he has to be one of the most hyperactive artists in the Australian scene. And, for the past 15 years, multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis has played a part in almost all of his music projects – from The Bad Seeds to Grinderman.

A few years ago, a Web rumour suggested Ozzy Osbourne was scrapping long-time guitarist Zakk Wylde, who joined Ozzy’s band in 1987. In late 2005, just before the start of the recording sessions for Ozzy’s 2007 solo LP Black Rain, Osbourne reportedly hosted auditions for a new guitarist. Apparently, those auditions didn’t yield an Ozzy-approved replacement, and Osbourne ended up using Wylde’s signature guitar riffing on what was a poorly received record.

Beyoncé’s new video for “Sweet Dreams”, the latest single from her hit-making machine I Am… Sasha Fierce, officially entered the viral universe after leaking last week. “Sweet Dreams” finds Beyoncé in full-out Sasha Fierce mode, synchronising her dance moves with her duo of “Single Ladies” doppelgangers and satisfying Fierce’s metallic wardrobe fetish.

Investigators probing the death of Michael Jackson are awaiting the results of a toxicology report before determining whether the superstar’s sudden cardiac arrest on June 25th can be ruled an accidental overdose or homicide, Los Angeles Police chief William Bratton told CNN: “We are still awaiting corroboration from the coroner’s office as to cause of death. That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back,” Bratton said.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has asked for a brief respite from new versions of his classic “Hallelujah,” arguing the large number of artists covering the song and its frequent appearance on soundtracks amounts to overkill.