And while we're on the topic of "Chinese Democracy," I'm guessing many of you have gotten your grubby little hands on a copy of the long-awaited album by now. Or, if not, maybe you've surfed over to Guns N' Roses My Space page to give it a listen. Either way, do you think it was worth the wait? Click this link to weigh in.

Well, looks like we’re pretty close to finding out whether or not R. Kelly is goin’ up the river or not.

By MICHAEL TARM
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- Prosecutors wrapped up their child pornography case Thursday against R. Kelly the same way they began it a month ago: by playing for jurors the entire graphic sex tape at the center of the trial.

Defense attorneys stood on their argument that the man having sex with an underage girl in the video is not the R&B singer and that the girl isn't who prosecutors say she is, either.

Jurors began deliberating Thursday afternoon and continued until about 6 p.m. The nine-man, three-woman panel was told to return first thing Friday morning and was immediately sequestered, with the explicit scenes in question fresh in their minds.

Now that you’ve been sufficiently grossed out, I’d like to point out that we don’t need to examine all that fancy, shmancy evidence here in the court of public opinion. You just get to spout off without all that pesky jury duty bogging you down. So click here to weigh in on the lusty R&B singer's fate.

As Rolling Stone reports, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne may have taken a page out of Perry Farrell's book this year. That is, like Farrell's Lollapalooza festival, which once toured the country but now just happens in Chicago, Ozzfest may drop anchor in Dallas and become a two-day metal fest.

In a move that got plenty of ink last year, the Osbournes made the festival free. (Hear Ozzy himself talk about that by clicking this link.) But fans still didn't quite fill up opening day at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre, and that can't be a good sign if they're going back to chargin' good old fashioned ducats.

So I figured it's time for a survey, since I haven't had one in a while. I've heard mixed reviews from local metal fans regarding the state of Ozzfest these past few years. Some still see it as the big metal event for the summer. Others scoff at how commercial it's gotten and think the bands are lame. But what do you think?

Hmmm. Something big is supposed to be happening in the world of pop music this weekend. What was that? Thinking, thinking …

Oh yeah! The 50th Grammy Awards are Sunday. And I'm curious about who you think should win in some of the big categories. So click the links to add your two cents, and I'll post the results on Sunday.

Well, guess there was no real point to that Van Halen survey I took last week since David Lee Roth is the only one of the group's lead singers to get any love from Bring the Noise readers. So, it's unanimous. You all think David Lee Roth is the greatest, and that Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone are irrelevant. And we'll see if the guy still has it tonight at the show.

Van Halen version 4.0 is all set to rock KeyArena next week, with original mouthpiece David Lee Roth back in place (for now) and young Wolfgang Van Halen on bass in place of the estranged Michael Anthony. And while that's all good and well, I wanted to know which of the earlier incarnations rocked the hardest?

Was it the original Diamond Dave lead bunch, which brought us "Jump" and "Hot For Teacher" while rockin' the spandex and Aquanet like none before. Was it the earthier Sammy Hagar fronted bunch that brought us "Right Now" in the '90s? Or maybe you think "Van Halen III" is a misunderstood masterpiece and that Gary Cherone got a raw deal.

Pitch in your two cents and take the survey here. I'll post the results next week.

Vote for your favorite "Bollocks" track here. The plan is to use the results for an anniversary story later this month. And so far "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy UK" are front runners, as you might expect. But where's all my "Pretty Vacant" people? I'm just sayin'. Highly underrated song. My favorite British, midget rapper is even a fan. But what's up with this You Tube clip? Laziest video ever!

The Sex Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols" album turns 30 later this month. And I was just curious. What does that album mean to you? And what's your favorite track? Take the new survey here and leave comments below.

Last week, after the announcement that Britney Spears would open the Video Music Awards, I asked you which of the current crop of tabloid all-stars most needs to go away. And here's how you voted:

Which celebrity would you be happiest to never hear from again?

Britney Spears: 38 percent

Paris Hilton: 31 percent

Lindsay Lohan: 25 percent

Nicole Richie: 6 percent

But that was before Britney's trainwreck VMA appearance. Which kind of begs for a new survey, perhaps. Back in a bit.

I asked you guys to vote on this summer's hottest concerts. And there are some surprising results so far, based on who has been climbing the pop charts and grabbing all the magazine covers of late. Here's what you've said so far:

The summer's hottest tickets, according to you:

1. Kenny Chesney
2. Rush
3. (tie) Bumbershoot, Sasquatch, The Police
4. Steve Miller Band
5. UB40

UB40? Hmmm. Either those guys are a lot more popular than I figured, or some fan bases are more full of slackers than others. Anyway, cast your vote here.

Summer concert season quickly approaches – a time when you can get a sunburn and get your mosh on at the same time. And I'm wondering which of the big events that have been announced so far you're most excited about. The Police? Sasquatch? Kenny Chesney?

Take the survey here and I'll update the results periodically. Plus, I'll use the final tally for an upcoming SoundLife story.

Should the man have been fired for his "nappy headed hoes" comment? Put your two cents in here -- or leave your take below if it's more involved than "yes" or "no" -- and I'll post the results early next week.