PASSAGES: 'American Idol' Drops R.J.

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/15/2002 at 01:00 AM EDT

BOOTED: R. J. Helton was shown the gate on Fox's "American Idol" on Wednesday night, leaving four finalists vying for a $1 million record deal: Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini and Nikki McKibbin. The winner will be revealed Sept. 4. ... DIED: David Williams, 30, lead singer of the rock band Drowning Pool, was found dead on the band's tour bus Wednesday, police told the Associated Press. The cause of death was being investigated and an autopsy is to be performed. The group's debut album, "Sinner," has sold 1.2 million copies since its release last June, according to SoundScan. ... RETURNED: After a two-year hiatus, Vermont jam band Phish will play Dec. 31 at New York's Madison Square Garden, reports the AP. The group will go on to play three dates at the Hampton (Va.) Coliseum Jan. 2-4. The band plans to play more concerts in 2003 and may record a new album. ... PROTESTED: A British dance music group added its voice Wednesday to a growing campaign headed by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament pressure group urging the United States to reconsider possible plans to invade Iraq. The music group's name: Massive Attack. According to a message posted by the multiplatinum selling trio's lead vocalist, Robert Del Naja (known as 3D), on the band's Web site: "Massive Attack has added its name to the list of supporters of the Don't Attack Iraq Campaign. This campaign is gonna give us, as groups or individuals, a voice."