The Boston Pops will back Mariah Carey [ tickets ] on the National Anthem during Super Bowl XXXVI's pregame show on Feb. 3, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

The orchestra will also back two as-yet-unannounced stars on "America the Beautiful."

In addition, the Boston Pops' pre-game show program also will feature two works by American composer Aaron Copland--"Fanfare for the Common Man" and excerpts from "A Lincoln Portrait."

Former Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha, who has kept a low profile since leaving the band more than a year ago, issued the following statement in response to a federal judge's decision on Tuesday (12/18) to overturn the death sentence of Mumia Abu-Jamal and order a new sentencing hearing:

Yesterday's decision for Mumia Abu-Jamal is a huge step forward in the road to freeing one of America's most renowned and dedicated activists. But progress towards justice can't be mistaken for justice itself. A commutation of a sentence in a wrongful conviction will be no substitute for the full freedom Mumia deserves.

Meanwhile, ex-Rage guitarist Tom Morello issued the following statement:

The overturning of Mumia Abu-Jamal's death sentence is a tremendous victory for the cause of justice. The noose has been removed from this political prisoner's neck for the time being thanks in large measure to persistent public outcry.

Abu-Jamal, a journalist and radio personality, was convicted of murder in the 1981 shooting of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Amnesty International and a number of civil rights groups and celebrities have argued that he did not receive a fair trial.

Rage Against the Machine and Beastie Boys headlined a January 1999 benefit show in New Jersey to raise money for Abu-Jamal's defense.

From Salon.com's article on the state of the industry:

...lots of music retailers find themselves in the awkward position of watching CD-Rs become the bestselling item in their stores, while at the same time realizing CD-Rs could literally drive them out of business. ...

The New York Post's Page Six reported:

Rocker Perry Farrell just returned from a 'death-defying' rescue mission to war-torn Sudan, where he helped free 2,300 women and children enslaved by the nation's Taliban-like regime.

Farrell, the lead singer of Jane's Addiction, participated in a seven-day mission to Sudan led by the Swiss-based Christian Solidarity International [CSI]. ...

Farrell and his fellow missionaries paid Arab "slave retrievers" to buy back the freedom of indentured families, [Charles Jacobson, president of the American Anti-Slavery Group] said.

From CNet.com:

After a series of delays, the long-awaited online music service Pressplay launched Wednesday [12/19].

Pressplay, which will charge people a monthly subscription fee to download and stream digital music ... is a partnership between entertainment giants Vivendi Universal and Sony, both of which own record companies. A third major label, EMI Recorded Music, has also offered its copyrighted music to the venture.

The "last two Great White shows ever" will take place on Dec. 29 in Oroville, Calif., and on New Year's Eve in Santa Ana, Calif., according to the group's official website. Frontman Jack Russell announced last month that he was leaving the band.