POP EYE

SMALL FACES: Hootie & the Blowfish recently entered an L.A. studio to begin work on their third album, which is due in September. The band may introduce some of the new songs when it plays a June 8 benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation at the Universal Amphitheatre and at KLLS-FM’s Wango Tango June 13 at Edison Field in Anaheim. . . .

Singer Steve Perry has left Journey after 20 years to pursue a solo career. Meanwhile, with new singer Steve Augeri (formerly of Tall Stories), the band has recorded a song, “Remember Me,” for the “Armageddon” soundtrack, which is due June 30 on Columbia Records. . . .

The Cure, which recorded songs for “The X-Files” movie soundtrack and an upcoming Depeche Mode tribute album, has also been asked to contribute a track to the soundtrack for “Orgazmo,” a live-action feature by “South Park” co-creators (and Cure fans) Matt Stone and Trey Parker. . . .

Jeff Scheel of Gravity Kills is expected to recover in time for the industrial band’s upcoming tour after suffering an unusual injury while performing in San Antonio last month. The singer threw his head back and forth so violently that he gave himself whiplash. The tour starts June 3 in Cambridge, Mass., and a new album, “Perversion,” is due June 9 on TVT Records. . . .