The Clio, MI, home of musician Rudy Martinez--a.k.a. Question Mark, frontman for '60s-era group ? & The Mysterians--burned down last week, according to a friend of the singer.

Along with the home itself--which Martinez had shared with his manager and manager's wife since 1967--Martinez lost four of his seven Yorkshire Terriers, his parrot and all of his material possessions, including gold records, a laptop computer, photos, posters and all of his stage clothes.

Plans reportedly are in the works for a benefit concert to aid Martinez, who did not have homeowner's insurance, and is currently living in a tour bus parked next to the destroyed home's barn. Details have not yet been announced. More information is available at the Question Mark Official Benefit Page on MySpace.com.

? & The Mysterians scored a No. 1 hit in 1966 with the cut "96 Tears."

A new single from late R&B/funk singer Rick James [ tickets ] is scheduled to hit radio stations later this month, according to a press release. The cut, titled "Deeper Still," will appear on a forthcoming album of previously unreleased material that James was working on in the years prior to his death in 2004. The set is scheduled for a mid-April release, as is "Memoirs of a Superfreak," an autobiography that James penned during his 1993-1995 jail term at California's Folsom Prison.

Hellyeah [ tickets ]--a new rock outfit featuring Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett, former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, and Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell and bassist Jerry Montano--has its sights set on an April release for its self-titled debut for Epic Records.

"The guys from Hellyeah and the incredible music we've created have brought me back to what I love," Paul said in a statement. "'Hellyeah' is the best record I've collaborated on since [Pantera's] 'Vulgar Display of Power.' The vibe is 'positive with a kick-your-ass-attitude.' I can't wait to take this band on tour."

Paul's brother, former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was shot to death on Dec. 9, 2004, while he and Paul were performing with their post-Pantera outfit, Damageplan.

Bad Religion [ tickets ] will set up shop at Grand Master Studios in Los Angeles next month to record a new album with producer Joe Barressi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age). The as-yet-untitled set is due out July 10 on Epitaph Records.

Goth rockers Type O Negative [ tickets ] have locked in a March 13 release for their forthcoming album, "Dead Again." The set is the group's seventh full-length, and is its first for SPV Records.

The band will precede the album's release with back-to-back shows Jan. 21-22 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, according to a press release.