Industrial-rock godfather Al Jourgensen has revealed that the forthcoming album from his group Ministry [ tickets ] will be the band's final studio release.

"I've got a lot of side-projects and new projects I want to focus on," Jourgensen said in a press release. "We have our own label, 13th Planet Records, we're building, and I want to sign, produce and collaborate with other artists. Being in the studio writing, recording and collaborating is my favorite part of this snake-oil industry. I'd rather be behind the console than behind the mic. Plus, I kinda like the synchronicity of Dubya and Ministry riding off into the sunset hand in hand."

Titled "The Last Sucker," Ministry's swan song is due out Sept. 18. A farewell tour will follow in 2008.

The Dillinger Escape Plan [ tickets ] has entered the studio to begin work on its next full-length album, according to a press release. Recording sessions are taking place at Omen Room Studios in Los Angeles, where the group will remain through the end of the month. The set is expected to surface on Relapse Records this fall, according to the label.

Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer have filed a lawsuit against Avril Lavigne [ tickets ] and others, alleging that Lavigne's hit single "Girlfriend" is copied from the Dunbar/Gangwer-penned "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," first performed and recorded by the Bay Area new wave group The Rubinoos [ tickets ], of which Dunbar was a founding member. Lavigne and her co-writer, Luke Gottwald, are among those named in the suit, according to a press release.

"When Avril's version came out, we were deluged with calls and notes from friends and fans congratulating us on the logical assumption we would be enjoying the fruits of our efforts based on the commercial success she enjoyed with it," Dunbar said in a prepared statement. "The lyric, the meter, the rhythm--they're identical. When no one from Avril's side came to us--not even to offer an explanation or apology--we brought the matter to her camp's attention, hoping to avoid hanging out the 'dirty laundry,' so to speak."

Common [ tickets ], David Banner [ tickets ], UGK [ tickets ], Mos Def [ tickets ], Bilal [ tickets ], Clipse [ tickets ], Collie Budz, E-40, Cham and Large Professor are among the acts who have signed on for "Live at the BBQ," a trio of concerts set to take place July 12 in Los Angeles, July 22 in Chicago and Aug. 4 in New York. More information about the events, which are sponsored by Microsoft's Zune digital-music player, are available at the Zune website.