Hot Hot Heat Cheer 50 Cent's Retirement Promise

Hot Hot Heat make their long-awaited pop-rock return with 'Happiness Ltd., which hits stores today alongside records from Kenny Chesney, Kanye West and 50 Cent. Frontman for the Canadian quartet, Steve Bays, told Spinner that while his ensemble doesn't expect to beat the hip-hop competition in the chart stakes, they'd certainly like to join the winner for their victory lap when the figures come in.

"I think we're gonna be at 50 Cent's after party, or maybe Kanye West's," Bays told Spinner. "Whoever sells more records -- that's the party we'll be at."

If West is victorious, which could very well happen thanks to the extra attention he's garnered with his pre-MTV VMA awards Britney bashing, Bays says he is looking forward to 50 making good on his promise of retiring. "I think it would be awesome if he quit the music industry," the wide-eyed frontman said. "But, maybe that's just in the U.S. Maybe in the U.K. he'd [change his name to] 50P or 20P in Da Pub."

It will take a week for chart figures to come in, so in the meantime, HHH will celebrate 'Happiness Ltd.' with a special show at Los Angeles' Cinespace the day their effort drops, and a Sept. 14 late-night slot on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live.'

Hot Hot Heat have already road tested most of their new songs, thanks to stellar opening slots with the Killers and Snow Patrol this past summer. Despite the fact that Tuesday is the first chance fans get to hear the album, Bays is already thrilled with the live result. "The reaction's been insane so far," he said. "It's not that you're sitting around waiting to get hugs, but it's kind of nice to know some people are tripping hard on the [record's songs]."