Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Chili Peppers top Billboard


photo, RHCP

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers are on target to become the third rock band in as many weeks to reach the top of the U.S. album charts.

Based on reports of first-day sales, their first studio album in four years, the double-disc "Stadium Arcadium," should have no trouble topping 400,000 units when Nielsen SoundScan issues data for the week ended May 14 on Wednesday. The album is currently No. 1 in the U.K.

The current Billboard 200 champ is Tool, with sales of 564,000 units for "10,000 Days." The band took the crown from Godsmack, whose "IV" opened with 211,000 copies.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' last studio set, "By the Way," debuted at No. 2 in July 2002 with 282,000 copies.

Reuters/Billboard