SATISFACTION: The Rolling Stones have sued the...

SATISFACTION: The Rolling Stones have sued the German magazine Der Spiegel over an article alleging that the band used backing tapes during its performances on the recent “Voodoo Lounge” tour. The magazine hired a sound engineer to analyze renditions of the song “A Rock and a Hard Place” recorded at three different shows. He concluded that the rhythm parts of the three tapes were so similar that recorded tapes must have been used.

The Stones’ British spokesman, Bernard Doherty, says of the charges, “If you’ve gone around the world and played 120 gigs, if you haven’t got the chops down by then, there’s something badly wrong. The Stones are always 100% live.”

* The Oasis bass situation has cleared up, with founding member Paul McGuigan returning from an exhaustion-related hiatus to replace his own replacement, Scott MacLeod, whose abrupt departure caused the postponement of a U.S. tour after just four dates. McGuigan came back just in time for two shows at the 20,000-seat Earl’s Court in London and is expected to remain for the resumed U.S. tour, with L.A. dates expected in December.