Nine Inch Nails’ nucleus Trent Reznor has himself a few new - and rather unexpected - fans. He's received recognition and thanks from various branches of the New York government for his work spearheading a campaign to raise money for Eric De La Cruz, a Nevada fan who needed a heart transplant. Both New York Senator Charles Schumer and Governor David Patterson wrote a letter thanking Reznor for his help, which was essential in raising nearly a million dollars to alleviate De La Cruz’s medical expenses. During Nine Inch Nails’ tour with Jane’s Addiction, both bands offered deluxe ticket packages that allowed fans to meet the groups before the show, with the money from those packages going straight to helping De La Cruz.

Reznor was presented with the accolades at one of his pre-show meet-and-greets on June 6th in Wantagh, New York. According to the NIN Hotline, fan Mike Caplice surprised Reznor with the certificates. “I wanted the entire NIN community to see that their efforts have been recognized by all levels of government. I’m an 18-year fan of the band who has two parents with cancer, and have seen just how flawed the U.S. health care system is,” Caplice said in an e-mail to the NIN Hotline. “I thought this was a really special moment for all of us who have seen the band and the community evolve over the years into a really positive and powerful force.” Photos of the individual certificates as well as a photo of Nine Inch Nails posing with one of the proclamation are up on Caplice’s Twitpic account.

New York State Senator Craig M. Johnson, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Congressmen Tim Bishop and Gary Ackerman also signed letters honoring Reznor’s efforts. To follow De La Cruz’s progress or to get involved in helping, check out the We Love Eric Website

With only one day before the opening show of U2's massive 360 World Tour, a rather official-looking video from Mark Haefeli Productions has been released on Youtube. It features stage construction, soundbites from band manager Paul McGuinness and tour producer Arthur Fogel. Check it out:

Chickenfoot, the shiteous new supergroup for over-forty alcoholics featuring Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joe Satriani, were forced to cancel Wednesday night's concert after Smith was injured onstage during Monday night's concert in Paris.

The statement the band issued: "We are sorry to inform our Spanish fans that Chickenfoot cannot perform tomorrow night in Madrid due to a serious injury to drummer Chad Smith. Chad was performing on stage last night in Paris and during the show he hurt his right arm badly. He has torn his small bicep and cannot play the show Wednesday, July 1st. The band is very sorry they cannot play for their Spanish fans this week and plan to return as soon as possible."

No word yet if the band will play the other concerts scheduled this week including The Montreux Jazz Festival on July 4th. The band has European dates schedule through mid July and will kick off their North American tour on August 2nd.

Alice In Chains are trying to make a comeback with a new singer and an upcoming new album, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin/EMI). It's a long, uphill battle for a band - even one with more than 17 million albums sold and multiple Grammy nominations - to bounce back from the sudden death of their lead singer (Layne Staley), but Alice is trying. They've got a new singer, vocalist/guitarist William DuVall, a new album and, hopefully, a second chance. 

Regarding their album's lead single, "A Looking In View," Alice In Chains vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell says, "The song basically speaks to any number of things that keep you balled up inside. A cell of our own making with an unlocked door that we choose to remain in. Focusing our attention inward instead of reaching out to a much larger world. I think this is common to us all. It's funny how hard we fight to hang on to a bone we can't pull through a hole in the fence, or how difficult it is to put down the bag of bricks and move on."

Black Gives Way To Blue is the band's first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and vocalist/guitarist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.