Dallas-based quartet Deaf Pedestrians were chugging along, playing shows with bands like Staind, Papa Roach, Saliva and Shinedown and making a name for themselves on local radio.

The band has clearly hit the ground running. Formed just a blink ago in Spring 2006, Mink has already written more than 60 songs (30 of them in one intense three week stretch), recorded their debut album in just four weeks (with noted producer Sylvia Massy of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tool fame)

(Los Angeles) June 7, 2007 - One of the most creative forces in the artist community, Mötley Crüe founding member and songwriter Nikki Sixx takes a different stroke with the pen with his first book Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star (VH1/Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster), releasing in the US & Canada on September 18.

Move over, Avril. Out of the way, Kelly Clarkson. A new star is about to take flight. Like the pitch-black bird with which she shares a name, a nod to her Viking past, Marion Raven has already been hard at work conquering the world.

Happy Birthday to Saliva lead singer Josey Scott (1971), singer/songwriter Christopher Cross (1951), The Four Seasons singer Frankie Valli (1937), the 'Godfather of Soul' James Brown (1933), country singer Dave Dudley (1928; d. 2003), boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson (1921; d. 1989), folk legend Pete Seeger (1919), "Return of the Jedi" actor Sebastian Shaw (1905; d. 1994), singer/actor Bing Crosby (1903; d. 1977), and Italian author Niccolo Machiavelli (1469; d. 1527).