James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said. Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said.

On December 21st, 2002 , James Brown joined the Dave Matthews Band onstage for the first time ever and performed “Get Up (I feel like being a) Sex Machine”. This infamous performance is a highlight in DMB history and marked the highest rarity value for the 2002 tour.

LeRoi performs as guest musician on the Nas song "Hold Down the Block" from his new record Hip Hop is Dead. Hip Hop is Dead was produced by Mark Batson, who produced Stand Up and is currently in the studio working with DMB on their next studio release. Hip Hop is Dead was released earlier this week and is available in stores now.

According to the Chicago Tribune the Dave Matthews Band is bidding to play a couple shows at Wrigley Field during the All-Star Break that runs from July 9th – 11th.

The Chicago Cubs want City Hall to approve a pair of outdoor concerts at Wrigley Field on July eighth and ninth.

Officials say they need council approval by next month to secure a place in the band's schedule. The concert precedent began in 2005 with a pair of Labor Day concerts by Jimmy Buffett.

Dave Matthews will be playing at the Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 14, 2007. A limited amount of tickets are available to Warehouse members with billing addresses outside the US.

In addition the rest of the band will join Dave for a couple more show overseas...

Dave Matthews Band will be traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada. The Fray will be the support act for both of the MGM Grand Garden Arena shows. The Warehouse ticketing request period for the shows at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Series 2-2007, will open on Monday, November 27, 2006 at 9:00 am EST and will close on Friday, December 1, 2006 at 1:00 pm EST. Confirmations will be posted on or before Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 1:00 pm EST.

Dave Matthews Band will be making another trip to Australia to perform at the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Fremantle (Perth) and the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Byron Bay!

Sat / Mar 31 / West Coast Blues & Roots Festival /Fremantle (Perth)
Fri / Apr 6 / East Coast Blues & Roots Festival / Byron Bay

West Coast Blues & Roots information is available now at www.sunsetevents.com.au

East Coast Blues & Roots information is available now at http://www.bluefest.com.au

12.31.1996 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA is the seventh volume of Dave Matthews Band's Live Trax series! The 1996 Hampton New Year’s show is available for Pre-Order as a 3-CD set or as a digital download in MP3 or FLAC format until 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, December 8, 2006.

All CD Pre-Orders of the Hampton Coliseum show will receive a free Live Trax sticker and all Pre-Orders will be automatically entered to win a grand prize of a limited edition Rossignol snowboard, designed and autographed by Stefan Lessard. Five runner-ups will receive a 2007 calendar autographed by Dave Matthews. There will also be several bundle options with the Live Trax 7 Pre-Order.

Dave Matthews Band's 2007 calendar, featuring full-color photographs from the 2006 tour and sized at 12"x12", is now available for preorder! All preorders in the DMB Store through December 8, 2006 will be automatically entered to win a grand prize of a limited edition Rossignol snowboard, designed and autographed by Stefan Lessard. Five runner-ups will receive a 2007 calendar autographed by Dave Matthews.
To preorder the 2007 DMB calendar, click here.

Dave Matthews is featured in the music documentary “Before The Music Dies”. This documentary also features Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt and more.

Before the Music Dies is an extraordinary documentary and cautionary overview about the state of the music business in America. Written by Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen (and directed by Shapter), each of whom lost loved ones who happened to be musicians, Before the Music Dies is a journey through a vital music scene in the U.S.—-artistically speaking—-that is no longer nurtured and supported commercially.

Dave Matthews will make his first appearance in Asheville at this year’s all-star Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, Dec. 16 at the Asheville Civic Center

Also to appear: Robert Randolph, the New Orleans Social Club, The John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic, Marty Stuart and Haynes own blues-rock band Gov’t Mule and more.

Tickets go on sale at 3 p.m. Monday to Haynes fans through the Web site www.xmasjam.com and then to the general public at 10 a.m. Nov. 24 at the Civic Center box office and through the Ticketmaster .