Rockers Drowning Pool [ tickets ]--whose latest single, "Soldiers," was inspired by the band's participation in a USO tour through Iraq and Kuwait--are expected to testify before congress on behalf of US war veterans whom the group believes are not receiving adequate medical attention.

"This was an issue a few weeks ago when Walter Reed Hospital was a sound byte and now it is gone," the group said in a letter to Congress that is posted at its MySpace page. "We want to make sure that it stays in the public eye and gets the attention it deserves. It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, or independent; this is an issue that deserves attention."

According to figures included in the letter and attributed to the nonprofit organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association (IAVA), the average wait time veterans face when filing a disability claim is 127 days.

The group's publicist announced today that the letter will be read during an upcoming congressional hearing, and that the band is expected to testify on Capitol Hill during the second week of September.

As previously reported, "Soldiers," the first single from Drowning Pool's forthcoming album, "Full Circle," is available as a free download via the USO's MySpace page.

Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai [ tickets ] is sweetening the pot for fans who pre-order from his website a copy of his upcoming album, "Sound Theories Vol. I & II": 2,500 random pre-ordered copies will contain "a satin pass that will admit the purchaser into any one meet & greet aftershow" on his upcoming tour, according to Epic Records. More information is posted at the site.

Electronic artist Moby [ tickets ], who is in the studio working on a new album, has inked a deal with Mute Records' North American division.

"I've been on Mute everywhere in the world except for North America for the last 14 years, now I'm finally on Mute for North America," Moby said in a prepared statement. "I'm happy, because Mute has been my favorite label for most of the last 25 years, and it's nice to finally be on Mute in the country where I actually live."

Since signing to Mute UK in 1993, Moby has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, according to the label.

In addition to working on his new album--for which no release date has been announced--Moby will log some time this summer playing a series of DJ dates, including a set tonight in New York City. Details on that engagement, as well as three other DJ shows--all of which are scheduled in Italy at the end of next month--are posted at Moby's newly revamped website.

Puddle of Mudd [ tickets ] has nailed down a July 24 release date for "Famous," its follow-up to 2003's gold-certified "Life on Display."

"It's about passion and writing music that connects with other peeople and somehow heals them," Puddle of Mudd frontman Wesley Scantlin said in a press release about the forthcoming set. "I really want to try to crawl under people's skin and, at the same time, make some kick-ass rock'n'roll music."