Music Update

Winehouse bloody, bruised in UK photos

2007-08-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

A British newspaper splashed photos of singer Amy Winehouse bloody and bruised across its Friday edition after she allegedly had a fight with her husband.

The photos, supposedly taken early Thursday morning, showed Winehouse wearing blood-soaked ballet shoes, with bruises to her neck, bandages on her arms and makeup smeared down her face.

A gossip Web site reported that Winehouse had said her injuries were self-inflicted.

Police confirmed they had been called to an incident at a London hotel by a concerned member of the public but said no charges were filed.

The singer announced Tuesday that she was postponing her upcoming U.S. and Canadian tour dates after she canceled August performances due to "severe exhaustion."

Britain's Press Association said the couple were staying in the hotel after leaving a drug rehabilitation clinic in Essex, east of London.

The Daily Mail also published photos of Winehouse together with her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, after the alleged fight. His face and neck were covered in scratches.

The gossip Web site perezhilton.com said it received text messages from Winehouse explaining the incident and denying Fielder-Civil was responsible for her injuries.

"Blake is the best man in the world. We would never ever harm each other," the Web site quoted Winehouse as saying. "I was cutting myself after he found me in our room about to do drugs ... and rightly said I wasn't good enough for him. I lost it and he saved my life."

Kanye West trumpets education in TV spot

2007-08-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

Kanye West says he isn't political and has no interest in "who's running with who" in the 2008 election. But the 30-year-old hip-hop mogul filmed a public service announcement Friday for an advocacy group trying to make education the top priority for the next president.

"Politics is a business," the six-time Grammy winner told The Associated Press Friday. "I'm more social. I just care about people."

During the filming of the television commercial, sponsored by Strong American Schools and his own Kanye West Foundation, West read from a script at the front of a mock classroom filled with real Chicago students.

"Yo. Becoming a music superstar took hard work but it also took a solid education," West said dryly into the camera, his hands half inside his pockets.

"Say it with a little more meaning, Kanye," a director prodded.

West took his hands out of his pockets and started gesturing with his hands as he talked, taking several more stabs at the script.

Strong American Schools is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The group, which says it is nonpartisan and doesn't endorse candidates, is promoting three goals for education: higher standards, effective teachers and more support for learning, according to Executive Director Marc Lampkin, who worked on President Bush's 2000 campaign.

Other celebrities making public-service announcements for the organization's $60 million "Ed in '08" campaign include actors Ron Livingston from "Sex and the City" and Maura Tierney from "ER."

West, who grew up in Chicago, quit classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and later left Chicago State University for the music business. His 2004 Grammy-award winning album was titled "The College Dropout."

His new album, "Graduation," comes out Sept. 11, the same day as the release of "Curtis," the new album from 50 Cent, who promised to retire if West's new album outsells his.

West denied any feud between the two and said he talks to 50 Cent, "all the time."

"My focus is just putting positive energy out there, making extremely good music ... and try to put myself in a position where I can help as many people as possible," he said.

Madonna sells Maverick

2007-08-25T07:23:00.001-07:00

As she heads further into middle age, Madonna is officially no longer a Maverick. She settled a lawsuit by selling her interest in Maverick records to her partners in the venture, Warner Music Group.

Madonna, Guy Oseary and Ronnie Dashev collectively held 60% of the 12 year-old label but have reportedly sold their interest to Warner Music Group, which previously held the other 40% of the company.

Justin joins comedy film cast

2007-08-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

US singer Justin Timberlake will join the cast of Mike Myers' new comedy flick The Love Guru.

Although Timberlake has made his name as a pop star, he has already delved into the world of acting, recently starring in gritty drama Alpha Dog.

It will also be the second time the SexyBack star has collaborated with Austin Powers mastermind Myers, after both provided voices for Shrek The Third.

Myers, who is co-producing the comedy, plays a man raised by gurus who goes on to give marriage guidance.

Justin will star as a professional hockey player who has an affair with the wife of a fellow team mate, leading to disastrous results.

The singer will appear alongside Jessica Alba and Romany Malco in the movie as well as Verne Troyer who played Mini Me in the Austin Powers series.

Filming is expected to start next month in Canada.

Killers to release new album

2007-08-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

The Killers are planning to release an album of B-sides, rarities and unreleased tracks, they have revealed.

The Las Vegas rockers are understood to have a host of relatively obscure material in the vaults, which could make-up the embryonic project.

Frontman Brandon Flowers says the band hit upon the plan because their fans in America have not been able to buy the singles released elsewhere across the world.

"In England we have a lot of B-sides that people in America would never know about because we don't have singles here", he told Billboard.

"So we have about 15 of these songs that people have never heard, and we wanted to stick them on something for people to get to have them all together."

Amongst the material set to feature are a series of songs from movie soundtrack, namely "Shadowplay", their Joy Division cover from Anton Corbijn's Ian Curtis biopic "Control".

The Killers headlined V2007 in the UK last weekend.

U2 PopMart Live DVD released

2007-08-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

U2’s PopMart Live from Mexico City will be released on DVD on 10th September 2007.

Filmed at the Foro Sol Autodromo in Mexico City on 3rd December 1997, PopMart Live from Mexico City was directed by David Mallet and first released on video the following year; this is the first time it has been released on DVD.

Described as a sci-fi disco supermarket, the PopMart Tour opened in its 'spiritual home', Las Vegas on 25th April 1997. All trash and kitsch, PopMart introduced a giant mirrorball lemon, a 100ft cocktail stick - complete with olive, and the works of Lichtenstein, Warhol and Haring, to a live rock audience: a production experience never quite seen before.

Originally filmed on analogue video, the film has been transferred to a digital format with re-graded and cleaned pictures. Great care has been taken to maintain the original look by simply enhancing it, with an added degree of sharpness and contrast unavailable when originally filmed. The audio has also been re-mastered and mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.

PopMart Live from Mexico City will be available in two formats: a Standard 1-disc format containing the concert, and a Special Limited Edition 2-disc format, the 2nd bonus disc containing previously unreleased live audio and video material, including documentaries, a PopMart tour visuals montage, and DVD-ROM extras.

Johnny Borrell solo set at Proud Gallery

2007-08-20T07:04:00.002-07:00

Razorlight leader, Johnny Borrell, played to a packed Proud Gallery last night in a solo set for the Ben Sherman sponsored Five Decades, 12 Sundays series of shows. He played a selection of Razorlight hits including America, Golden Touch and Somewhere Else to an enthusiastic audience. The crowd control, however, was a level of concern, with perhaps too many punters allowed in. Although the lucky ones largely felt it was worth the crush to see their hero of choice.

The gig coincides with a photo exhibition on the band by photographer and friend of the band, Sophie Jarry. The exhibition is currently on display at the Proud Gallery in good old Camden Town.

Nirvana cover star

2007-08-20T07:04:00.001-07:00

Whatever happened to the naked baby floating in a pool looking at a dollar bill in the famous cover photo from NIRVANA's classic "Nevermind" album? That's the question MTV.com answered this week when it tracked down the tot, named Spencer Elden and now a 17-year-old high school student in Eagle Rock, California.

Elden's parents were paid $200 to allow their friend, photographer Kirk Weddle, to shoot a roll of pictures of the infant Elden swimming for the cover of the iconic 1991 disc.

Now the teen admits that it's a little strange to think that more than nine million people own a nude picture of him. He said, "Yeah, it's kind of creepy that that many people have seen me naked. I feel like I'm the world's biggest porn star."

Will Haven announce UK tour

2007-08-20T07:03:00.001-07:00

WILL HAVEN are excited to officially announce their return to the United Kingdom. Beginning this November, WILL HAVEN will invade this side of the pond with a series of headline dates across the UK.

During WILL HAVEN's last run through Europe, the band played a special headline show at The Metro in London. The gig proved to be a memorable one, as it scored a perfect "KKKKK" review from hard rock super-mag "Kerrang!" and left England's WILL HAVEN fans foaming at the mouth for more. Two brief video clips from the gig can be found at www.myspace.com/willhaven43

Recently, WILL HAVEN released "The Hierophant", the bands first studio album since 2001. Upon its release, "The Hierophant" has been welcomed with open arms by longtime fans and showered with critical praise. Being hailed "KKKK" worthy by "KERRANG!" while ROCKSOUND deemed "The Hierophant", "Will Haven's most accomplished work yet."

"The Hierophant" was produced by Deftones "Saturday Night Wrist" producer Shaun Lopez, formerly of Far as well as Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno. "The Hierophant" can be previewed at

Nightwish to hit North America

2007-08-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

Nightwish will be hitting North America in October.

The first outing will kick off on October 18th in New York and run through November 15th in Florida.

Dates for the spring out are not known yet but you can catch them at these dates:

10/18 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
10/20 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
10/21 - Montreal, QC - The Medley
10/27 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
10/31 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
11/04 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
11/06 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
11/14 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
11/15 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues

Victoria Beckham to offer fashion advice

2007-08-17T03:40:00.000-07:00

08/16/2007 10:48 AM, AP
Victoria Beckham will offer her fashion ideas in a new book, "That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between," to be published by HarperCollins in November.

"I've always been a girl's girl," Beckham, aka Posh Spice, said in a statement Thursday. "And I know from experience that making the very best of yourself is something any woman can do."

Beckham is a member of the newly reunited Spice Girls and wife of soccer star David Beckham.

"I was never the 6-foot-tall pinup. I've always been the girl-next-door who got lucky," she said. "I've come a long way in the last 10 years, but this book isn't my attempt to tell you what or what not to do. It's just to share some of what I've learned."

According to HarperCollins, "That Extra Half an Inch" will offer guidance on everything from how to dress on special occasions to "how to feel confident and look great every time you leave the house."

Beckham's ability to sell books, at least other people's books, has already been demonstrated. Last spring, she was seen holding a copy of "Skinny Bitch," a diet guide by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin that soon became a best seller.

R. Kelly debuts his `Trapped' sequels

2007-08-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

08/16/2007 3:08 PM, AP
Nekesa Mumbi Moody
R. Kelly's closet is getting bigger — and more bizarre. The singer premiered the sequel to his twisted and craftily campy "Trapped in the Closet" video serial with a red-carpet extravaganza in New York on Wednesday night.

"Don't ask me to explain it," Kelly told the audience before the videos aired. "I don't know how to explain how I wrote it."

It might be hard for anyone to explain Kelly's ghetto soap opera, which includes a gay pastor, cheating spouses, a convict named 'Twon and a well-endowed midget. In the new episodes — chapters 13 through 22, for those keeping count — he adds an old reverend, ex-con lesbians and a stuttering pimp, played by Kelly himself.

"I call it an alien," Kelly said of his tour-de-farce.

The "alien" first appeared in 2005, when the singer-songwriter premiered "Trapped in the Closet," a five-part song series that kicked off with a man hiding in his paramour's closet as her husband comes in; each song ended with a cliffhanger.

Soon afterward, Kelly released a DVD video of the series, adding seven more chapters — and with each chapter, the plot got weirder. But despite — or perhaps because — of its "Jerry Springer"-like appeal, it has become a cult classic.

Kelly's upcoming September trial on child pornography charges haven't dampened anticipation for the next installment of "Trapped": Parts of the new series have been premiering on Independent Film Channel's Web site since Monday; the DVD with the complete series hits stores on Tuesday. The IFC will show them in their entirety in September.

Like the chapters before it, the 22nd chapter ends with a cliffhanger. Does that mean there are more chapters to come? Kelly says he's not sure when the series will be done, but says it will finish "when the aliens decide to leave."

Jay-Z richest rap mogul, says Forbes.com

2007-08-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

08/16/2007 3:39 PM, AP
Jay-Z wins all around, says Forbes.com. He's got Beyonce on his arm — and more millions than 50 Cent and Diddy.

The rap icon, aka Shawn Carter, is No. 1 on the site's list of "Hip-Hop Cash Kings," based solely on 2006 income. He banked an estimated $34 million, Forbes.com said Thursday.

Jay-Z, president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, released his 11th studio album, "Kingdom Come," which sold around 2 million copies. Jay-Z, 37, is also part owner of the New Jersey Nets and has endorsement deals with Budweiser, Hewlett-Packard and General Motors.

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson ranks second with an estimated $32 million. The 31-year-old rapper-businessman oversees his G-Unit record label, clothing line, ring tones and other enterprises, and has sold more than 11 million albums. His latest record, "Curtis," is due out Sept. 11.

Diddy (real name: Sean Combs) placed third with an estimated $28 million. A fashion plate, he has a clothing line, Sean John, and heads Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment and its record label. Diddy, 37, is also host of MTV's "Making the Band" series.

Rounding out the top five are Timbaland ($21 million) and Dr. Dre ($20 million). They're followed by Eminem ($18 million); Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Scott Storch (all $17 million); Ludacris and T.I. (both $16 million); Outkast and Lil Jon (both $14 million); Ice Cube ($13 million); Jermaine Dupri and Swizz Beatz (both $12 million); Chamillionaire and The Game (both $11 million); and Young Joc ($10 million).

Stefani says she wants more children

2007-08-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

08/16/2007 8:02 PM, AP
Gwen Stefani says she wants more children — but not while she's on tour and not until she's done another No Doubt record. Her 1-year-old son, Kingston, has been traveling with the 37-year-old singer on her "The Sweet Escape" tour.

"I go from the tour bus to the hotel room to the concert venue — all while carrying my baby," Stefani tells InStyle in its September issue, on newsstands Friday.

"He's just getting into music. He does the whole head-bouncing thing," she says. "I love him so much. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Kingston is the first child for Stefani and her rocker husband, Gavin Rossdale, 39, who were married in 2002.

"Obviously I'm in a race to have another, but I don't want to do it while on tour," Stefani says. "And I want to do another No Doubt record."

"But I can't wait to get pregnant again," she tells the magazine. "It's so fun and consuming and romantic."

Stefani became a staple in the music world with the 1995 release of No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" record. British-born Rossdale, who fronted Bush, made his American debut with the more sober album "Sixteen Stone."

World’s first speaker system for iPhone launches

2007-08-17T03:34:00.000-07:00

added: 17 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
It has made a royal splash either side of the pond and now Logic3 can announce that the Apple iPhone has its own set of noble speakers – the i-Station Traveller for iPhone. Be the first to suitably show-off your brand new iPhone with the world’s first iPhone speaker system from Logic3.

Logic3’s newest i-Station Traveller boasts a sleek, black gloss finish with silver trim, which perfectly complements the iPhone. Measuring just 170mm across, Logic3 has created a stylish and chic system for both home and abroad.

As the first dedicated iPhone speaker system on the market, the i-Station Traveller for iPhone’s innovative and compact design accommodates the iPhone both vertically and on its side for optimal use. In fact, with the sleek adjustable holding system, Logic3’s latest i-Station can turn your iPhone into an all-singing, all-dancing multimedia system, so you can watch your downloaded videos in style!

Sound quality is a key feature of the iPhone and Logic3’s iPhone speakers have been specifically designed to complement and enhance this sound, with the TDMA noise – the sound emitted from mobile phones and heard through speakers – kept to a minimum.

If you’re feeling generous or simply want to show-off, why not share your playlist with the world through the 35mm neodymium drivers? The fantastic sound quality is not compromised by the compact design of the i-Station Traveller for iPhone, which boasts a total output of 4 watts.

Still waiting for an iPhone? Fear not - for those retro iPod owners who are yet to upgrade, Logic3’s new offering is also compatible with any gadget with a 3.5mm jack, including the whole iPod range, MP3 players and even your PSP. Ticking all the boxes, Logic3 provides a 3.5mm to 2.5mm stereo converter so you can even connect a compatible mobile phone.

Giving you the option to showcase your iPhone on the move, the i-Station Traveller for iPhone comes supplied with four AAA batteries. A mains adaptor also comes as standard - great if you would rather make your iPhone’s i-Station a permanent fixture in your house.

Complete with a velvet-finish case, the i-Station Traveller for iPhone will be available for just £29.99 from high street retailers. You will also be able to snap them up online through Amazon and www.logic3.com.

Kayne, Pharrell and Lupe in hip-hop supergroup

2007-08-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

It looks like CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers) will be more than a one off for Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Lupe Fiasco as the supergroup plan to record a full album following the results of their collaboration on Kanye's mix-tape.

Fiasco spoke with Billboard.com and told them that plans are in place to move forward with a full album by the trio. "Now our labels are working it out. Whoever is going to pay is going to pay a whole hell of a lot," he said.

Jamie Cullum Forum date

2007-08-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

n conjunction with releasing 'In The Mind Of Jamie Cullum’ CD, Jamie will be playing a special gig to launch the compilation being released through District6 records (www.district6.co.uk) at the Kentish Town Forum on September 7th.

Jamie will be performing a special electro live set with his brother Ben and will be supported by Roni Size & Reprazent and Mark Murphy. These artists will also be joining Jamie to play a couple of special tracks live. This will be Roni Size & Reprazent first live performance in nearly 10 years – so will be worth watching.

Friday 7th Sept
7pm until 11pm
THE FORUM, 9-17 Kentish town

Tickets:
Standing £17.50 in advance £20 on the door
Seated £19 advance, £21.50 on the door

Maxïmo Park new single release

2007-08-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

added: 16 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Maximo Park release a new single Girls Who Play Guitars through Warp Records on Monday 20th August. Girls Who Play Guitars is the follow-up to the hit singles Books From Boxes, and the Top Ten smash, Our Velocity. The single will be available on CD single, two x 7" coloured vinyl and download. <

All bonus songs are exclusive to this release and include another in the bands obituary series, this time about the American visual artist Joe Brainard (more information on www.joebrainard.org).

Maximo Park, who received ecstatic reactions to their sets at Glastonbury, Oxegen and T In The Park, have sold out their October headline tour. Tickets for an additional second night at Glasgow Barrowlands went in hours. The band also play the main stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals in August, ahead of hosting an arena show in their hometown of Newcastle before the end of the year.

The full dates are:

AUGUST
24th Reading Festival SOLD OUT
25th Leeds Festival SOLD OUT
OCTOBER
Mon 1st Glasgow Barrowlands SOLD OUT #
Tue 2nd Glasgow Barrowlands SOLD OUT #
Wed 3rd Dundee Caird Hall SOLD OUT #
Fri 5th Doncaster Dome SOLD OUT #
Sat 6th Manchester Apollo SOLD OUT #
Sun 7th Cambridge Corn Exchange SOLD OUT *
Mon 8th Portsmouth Guildhall SOLD OUT *
Wed 10th Wolverhampton Civic Hall SOLD OUT *
Thu 11th London Brixton Academy SOLD OUT *
Fri 12th London Brixton Academy SOLD OUT #

DECEMBER
Sat 15th Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 0870 707 8000 £16.50 +

Support comes from: # Good Shoes & Blood Red Shoes, * Good Shoes & Theoretical Girl and + Very Special Guests TBA & Good Shoes.

Maximo Park's second album, Our Earthly Pleasures, which debuted in the UK Charts at Number Two and has shot past Gold status, was produced by Gil Norton (Pixies / Foo Fighters).

Ash release 'End Of The World'

2007-08-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

The band follow their headline appearance at this Reading / Leeds festival - Radio 1 / NME stage - with the release of 'End Of The World' on September 10th. The track, the third from their recent 'Twilight Of The Innocents’ album is another aural salvo from the mighty armoury penned by Tim Wheeler and already proven a favourite on the band's recent sold out four night residency at London's Koko.

The beguiling vocals underpinned with the snap, crackle and pop of a rhythm cascading outta of the speakers including some guest beat box improv suggests that Ash still have the knack of hitting all the right notes. Stay tuned...

Meanwhile the band play:

October
20th Liverpool Carling Academy
21st Bristol Carling Academy
23rd Nottingham Rock City
24th Newcastle Carling Academy
25th Sheffield Octagon
27th Birmingham Carling Academy
28th Glasgow Barrowland
29th Manchester Academy
31st Leeds University

November
1st Norwich UEA
2nd Southampton Guildhall
3rd London Brixton Carling Academy

Man punched for singing Coldplay song

2007-08-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

08/13/2007 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

A Coldplay fan has been beaten up following their rendition of "Yellow" in a karaoke bar.

The incident took place in Seattle on Thursday (August 9) at Changes.

As the unnamed man took the stage to sing the song, a woman reportedly declared: "Oh no, not that song. I can't stand that song!"

She then leaped at the would-be singer, shouted expletives at him and told him his singing "sucked," while expressing the same opinion of the song, according to a Seattle police report.

She pushed the man and punched him, all in an effort to stop his singing.

Other patrons went to the singer's aid and hauled the 21-year-old woman outside.

Robert Willmette, one the barmen at Changes, said: "It took three or four of us to hold her down."

According to the barman, the woman "went crazy" when she got outside, punching him twice in the face.

The police were called and blocked the whole street off.

The officers took the woman, whom Willmette described as "a little hippie girl," to the ground.

She assaulted the police officer and was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of assault, reports the Seattle P.I. paper.

U2 documentary on its way

2007-08-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

added: 14 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
U2 are set to star in a forthcoming documentary which features rare footage of the band in the recording studio.

Produced by Daniel Lanois – who has co-produced a number of the bands albums - 'Here Is What Is,’ will highlight what goes on behind the scenes as U2 put their material together.

Speaking about the project, Lanois admitted that "the mystery of the recording studio is what keeps me coming back.'

P Diddy releases ‘Through The Pain'

2007-08-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

added: 14 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
'Through The Pain (She Told Me)’ is the dazzling new single from P Diddy, featuring the soul-filled vocals of Mario Winans, set for release on August 20th and 27th - digital and physical respectively.

Taken from the Bad Boy/Atlantic Records, UK Double Gold-certified album PRESS PLAY, the commercial single will also contain the blazin’ hot 'P Diddy Rock’ track. Featuring super-producer Timbaland, Atlantic label-mate Twista and Shawnna, this additional track mixes deep house cheekiness with a Hip-Hop sensibility, creating a vibe that transcends both.

And with the UK Double Gold-certified album PRESS PLAY released last year, there is definitely a point of view. Its arrival signalled the first solo project in five years and first studio album since 2001’s THE SAGA CONTINUES, Since then, singles like 'Come To Me’ with Nicole Scherzinger (which zoomed into the UK Top 10), the amazing Just Blaze produced -'Tell Me’ featuring Christina Aguilera and the explosive 'Last Night’ have gone on to set club floors on fire.

Other guests on the album PRESS PLAY include: Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Big Boi, Timbaland, Brandy, Cee-Lo, Ciara, Nas and Twista. On the production side, P.Diddy welcomes such studio stars as Kanye West, Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams, Havoc from Mobb Deep, Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas, and Rich Harrison to mention a few.

Amy to leave Camden

2007-08-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

added: 14 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Amy Winehouse’s Dad is reportedly looking at new properties for the troubled singer so she can escape the hard drinking scene in Camden.

Winehouse is often seen propping up the bar in many of the London borough’s salubrious public houses, especially celeb hangout The Hawley Arms.

Now, if the tabloids are to be believed, her father Mitch is looking to move her and husband Blake Fielder-Civil to a quieter, leafy suburb so she can get a grip of her problems.

On top of this, Wino's manager Ray has allegedly approached some of Winehouse's favourite Camden boozers to ask them to keep tabs on the gaunt star.

P Diddy gets B.I.G. movie

2007-08-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

added: 14 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

P. Diddy is reportedly in line to executive produce a biopic about the life of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace).

Directed by George Tillman Jr, the film "Notorious" will be based upon the book "Unbelievable: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G." by Cheo Hodari Coker.

Movie studio Fox Searchlight has already announced an open audition for aspiring actors to put themselves forward for the lead role.

Starting from today (August 13th) anyone can submit a video to the website www.biggiecasting.com.

According to the rapper's former manager, Wayne Barrow, his former client's shoes will be difficult to fill.

He said: "As it relates to the individual Christopher Wallace - his looks, his stature, what he represented, the swagger, the sensibility of the man - all those elements are very difficult to find, no matter where you go.

"In the typical Hollywood world, no one came to mind outside of Forest Whitaker who could capture that essence genuinely."

The studio stated they intend to concentrate on the rapper's private life, zeroing in on "the humanity within Christopher himself."

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood plans a U.S. performance

2007-08-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

added: 13 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
f you thought you would never see a classical music concert filled with generation x'ers you better think again. When the man behind the orchestra performances is a Radiohead star you can expect a lot of people under 40 to be in attendance when it hits the States.

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood plans a U.S. performance early next year but it's not a alt rock n roll extravaganza that fans will be paying to see. Instead they will be treated to Greenwood's classical music piece "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" which he wrote for the BBC in 2005.

Greenwood premiered the compisition in November of last year in London and it will make it's U.S. debut in January of next year at New York City's St. Paul The Apostle church during the The Wordless Music Series.

Stereophonics return

2007-08-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

added: 13 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Stereophonics return on October 1st with the eagerly awaited 6th studio album 'Pull The Pin’ – their first release in 2 years. Written by Kelly Jones, it looks set to be the definitive album of their 10-year career & features the lead single 'It Means Nothing’, September 24th. Instantaneous and razor-sharp, it’s the perfect re-introduction to one of the UK’s biggest bands and looks set to dominate airwaves this summer.

Written by Kelly and produced by Kelly & Jim Lowe, 'It Means Nothing’ is a dynamic, superlative track and the very first song to be commercially released from the new LP. Following the must-have album taster 'Bank Holiday Monday’, which became a live favourite earlier this year, it’s both compelling and powerful, with melody and gravitas in equal measure.

Inspired by the London terrorist attacks, it taps into Kelly's own feelings of reconnecting with core values. 'I wrote the song in a hotel room in Germany,' says Kelly. 'It was around the time 7/7 happened. It’s not a song about attacks; it’s more about the way we all realize how important our loved ones are at times like these. It’s easy to take each other for granted. We get caught up in the material world or work and forget that it all means nothing without the people you love in your life if they weren't to come home that day.'

This winter, they will play a major UK arena tour:

November
4th BOURNEMOUTH, IC
5th BRIGHTON, Centre
7th MANCHESTER, MEN
**8th HULL, Arena – NEW DATE ADDED
9th SHEFFIELD, Arena
11th BIRMINGHAM, NEC
**12th BIRMINGHAM, NEC – NEW DATE ADDED
13th NOTTINGHAM, Arena
15th LONDON, Wembley Arena
16th LONDON, Wembley Arena
18th CARDIFF, Arena – SOLD OUT!
19th CARDIFF, Arena
**20th CARDIFF, Arena – NEW DATE ADDED
22nd NEWCASTLE, Arena
24th ABERDEEN, ECC
25th GLASGOW, SECC

www.stereophonics.com

Robyn takes No.1 spot

2007-08-13T05:58:00.000-07:00

added: 13 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Swedish pop singer Robyn has knocked Timbaland off the top of the singles chart with her single With Every Heartbeat.

The Way I Are drops to number two, followed by Stronger at number three, a new entry from Kanye West.

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Kate Nash, who's topped the album charts with her debut Made of Bricks, has seen her single Foundation drop two places to four.

Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry rounds up the top five, while Plain White T's Hey There Delilah takes the sixth spot and Umbrella from Rihanna slips down three to seven.

Dream Catch Me by Newton Faulkner and Worried About Ray by Hoosiers take up the eight and ninth spot respectively, followed Enrique Iglesias' Do You Know at ten.

In the album charts, TV talent show winner Paul Potts' debut album One Chance is pushed to number two, thanks to Kate Nash's new entry - but Hand Built By Robots by Newton Faulkner remains at number three.

Amy MacDonald's This Is The Life follows at number four, Timbaland's Shock Value takes fifth place, and Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion drops one place to hold the sixth spot.

There was another new entry at number 8 by The Coral with Roots And Echoes.

Sean Kingston still America's No. 1

2007-08-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

By: News Desk
17-year-old Floridian Sean Kingston remains at the top of the U.S. Billboard singles charts this week with his debut hit "Beautiful Girls".

The track fends off Fergie's 'Big Girls Don't Cry" for a second week, which swaps places with Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah' at three. Timbaland's current UK No. 1 hit 'The Way I Are' is at four, with Rihanna's "Umbrella' ft. Jay-Z rounding out the top five.

There's only one entry in the top ten this week, as Kanye West's new single "Stronger", produced by Daft Punk, rockets from No. 47 to six. The track is followed by T-Pain's "Bartender" ft. Akon, Hurricane Chris' "A Bay Bay', Fabolous ft. Ne-Yo with "Make Me Better" and the Shop Boyz' "Party Like A Rockstar".

Timbaland calls new Madonna album 'amazing'

2007-08-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

By: News Desk
Madonna's new album will be 'amazing', and that's according to one of the world's most in-demand producers.

Hip-hop producer Timbaland has been working on up to ten tracks with the pop queen in the last month, and been waxing lyrical this week about the follow-up to 2005's Confessions on a Dancefloor", which will also feature co-writes with Justin Timberlake, Mika and Pharrell Williams.

Timbaland has been involved with 10 tracks on the album, which has two working titles - "Blackstar" and "XXV". He told MTV News: "We just did Madonna's record. Me and Justin did the records for the album. She's great, she's got a hot album. Her album is up there with Justin's last release."

And mentioning his favourite cut on the new set, the producer added, "The name of the song is 'La La'. The hook is saying all these different names for coffee. We're taking it back to, 'You must be my luck-eee starrrr!' Remember 'Ugly' by Bubba Sparxxx? It's got a beat similar to that."

Lily Allen to get her own TV show

2007-08-11T03:53:00.001-07:00

08/10/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

Lily Allen is to get her own BBC TV show next year.

The star, currently dealing with visa problems in the USA, has been in talks with broadcasters, reports London's The Sun.

Allen met with BBC3 boss Danny Cohen last week, and BBC insiders have since confirmed they are keen to sign the singer up.

A BBC source said that they would be working with Allen after she finishes recording her new album, which is scheduled to be completed by May next year.

The news follows a string of TV appearances from Allen, including being a guest on Jonathan Ross's BBC chat show and gues-thosting Channel 4 show The Friday Night Project.

British music mogul Tony Wilson dies

2007-08-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

08/11/2007 12:50 AM, AP

Tony Wilson, a music impresario credited with guiding a crop of bands from industrial England to the international stage, died Friday. He was 57.

Wilson promoted a host of influential musicians from his native city of Manchester in northern England, including Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays.

He died from complications of kidney cancer, the city's Christie Hospital said.

Wilson's influence on the city, and on British music, is documented in the 2002 movie "24 Hour Party People," which charts the rise — and eventual fall — of Wilson's empire, which included Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub.

Manchester-born and Cambridge-educated, Wilson's record label and nightclub were credited with making the city Britain's most vibrant music center through the 1980s and 1990s, spawning bands including the Smiths, the Stone Roses and Oasis.

Though Factory Records and the Hacienda closed down in the 1990s, Wilson remained a passionate advocate for his city, presenting a radio show for the local British Broadcasting Corp. station.

"He was a true free spirit and a passionate advocate for Manchester — the city, its people and, of course, its music," the BBC said in a statement.

50 Cent: I'll quit if outsold by West

2007-08-11T03:50:00.000-07:00

08/10/2007 8:56 PM, AP
50 Cent believes his new album will outsell Kanye West's upcoming disc, and he's betting his solo career on it. Both 50 Cent and West have albums due out Sept. 11. 50 Cent, who has sold better than West, has been riled by forecasts that sales of West's "Graduation" could rival those for his "Curtis" CD.

"Let's raise the stakes," the 31-year-old rapper told hip-hop Web site SOHH.com in an interview posted Friday. "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music. I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out anymore solo albums."

An e-mail sent to West's publicist wasn't immediately returned Friday.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson, has been publicly disparaging of West before. In 2005, he suggested the 29-year-old rapper's popularity was only possible because of 50's own success.

But they recently collaborated in the studio. Their work, though, isn't scheduled to appear on either new album.

50 Cent's last full-length solo album, "The Massacre," was the best-selling disc of 2005 and sold more than 1.14 million copies in its first week of release. The same year, West's "Late Registration" opened by selling more than 860,000 copies in its first week.

Damon vetoes Pet Shop boys remix

2007-08-11T03:48:00.001-07:00

added: 10 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Damon Albarn has refused to allow the Pet Shop Boys permission to use their remix of a Blur track on a new compilation, according to reports.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen leader is said to have vetoed plans for the pop duo to include a reworking of "Girls & Boys" on the upcoming release, which is titled "Disco 4".

A UK tabloid today claims that Albarn fell out with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe ten years ago, in a dispute over the remix and other matters.

"Damon complained that they had made the song sound like their own", a source told The Sun, in reference to the remix of "Girls & Boys", which was originally released in 1994.

"He was also annoyed when he heard Neil Tennant supported Oasis in their '90s chart battle with Blur. Neil said Damon was pretentious. He's just proved him right."

"Disco 4" is due for release in September and features reworkings of tracks by The Killers, David Bowie, Madonna and Yoko Ono.

Nash backs Camden Market

2007-08-11T03:46:00.001-07:00

added: 10 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Kate Nash appeared at a 'secret' gig in London last night in support of the campaign to save a historic market in the UK capital.

The pop newcomer played a ten-song set at the Boogaloo Bar in Highgate, in a bid to highlight proposed plans to demolish Camden Stables.

Currently under threat from developers, Nash called on the crowd to support her in fighting the plan, in the week that her debut album, "Made Of Bricks", was released.

"We don't want every street in London to look the same because that would be f*cking boring!" she told the crowd.

Amongst her set was a cover of Cold War Kids' "Hang Me Up To Dry" and current UK number two single, "Foundations".

Visit Savecamdenstablesmarket.co.uk for more information on the campaign.

Emma Bunton has baby

2007-08-11T03:43:00.000-07:00

added: 10 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

Emma Bunton has given birth to a baby boy today, it has been announced.

The Spice Girl and her boyfriend, former pop star Jade Jones, are understood to have named the baby Beau, after the delivery this morning.

He was born in the private London Portland Hospital and mother and son are said to be "doing fine", according to an official spokesman.

"Emma gave birth to a boy at 11.12am this morning. The weight was 7lbs 15oz, which is the same weight as Jade when he was born.

"I believe the name they have chosen is Beau, which is French for handsome", the spokesman explained.

He continued: "The phone's been ringing off the hook, but none of the Spice Girls have called yet. I'm sure they will but they're all out of the country at the moment."

As previously reported, the Spice Girls are due to begin their comeback world tour in Vancouver, Canada in December.

Parking-lot fender bender for Britney

2007-08-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

08/09/2007 3:52 PM, AP

Oops, she dinged it again.

Paparazzi took pictures and videos of a puppy-toting Britney Spears steering her car into another one as she tried to turn into a spot in a Studio City parking lot. Then assessing the damage to her own car only. Then heading off to shop.

But the tale of the tape made it clear to the owner of the parked car just who it was who scraped up her silver Mercedes-Benz.

Kim Robard-Rifkin, 59, told the entertainment Web site CelebTV.com on Wednesday that nobody from Spears' camp had contacted her about the damaged car.

"It's sad because I was really hoping she'd step up and be a mensch, be a human being," Robard-Rifkin said. "It was simply like my car didn't matter to her, my inconvenience didn't matter to her."

A video on CelebTV.com, taken Monday, shows the 25-year-old pop star (with a puppy on her lap) attempting to park her black convertible and hitting the adjacent car.

Robard-Rifkin, a registered nurse, said she was "sort of amused and sort of shocked" when she learned it was Spears who hit her car, and figured she would hear from the embattled entertainer.

"There were obviously a lot of paparazzi there and what kind of person wouldn't realize that this (would) be on TV and she had to be responsible and contact me," she said.

"I'm not asking for money. I'm not asking for a new car. ... I simply want my car fixed, the same as I would fix somebody's car if I had done that."

Robard-Rifkin filed a police report on Thursday.

An e-mail to Spears spokeswoman at Jive Records was not immediately returned.

Spears' divorce from Kevin Federline became official on July 30. Since February, Spears and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James. When the divorce was finalized, a child custody hearing was scheduled for Aug. 14.

Radiohead book out October

2007-08-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

added: 10 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
A book collecting Radiohead's artwork is to be released later this year.

Entitled "Dead Children Playing", the hard-back collection is due out in October, and reportedly spans the band's recordings since 1995.

Famed artist Stanley Donwood and unknown collaborator Dr Tchock are understood to be the main contributors to the book.

Donwood has been responsible for Radiohead's covers and associated artwork for over a decade, taking in the apocalyptic designs of "OK Computer", "Kid A", "Amnesiac" and co.

Radiohead are believed to be currently mastering their seventh studio album, the follow-up to 2003's "Hail To The Thief", in New York City.

Beyonce launches Emporio Armani perfume

2007-08-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

added: 10 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Singer Beyonce has been revealed as the new star of the Emporio Armani Diamonds perfume advertising campaign - and she says she is prepared for the part.

The 25-year-old pop star said she had learned to be photo ready at all times.

She carries three pairs of sunglasses (black, gold and brown) in her handbag and a pair of nude-coloured or gold Christian Louboutin shoes in case she has to elevate her outfit at a moment's notice.

She has just bought an 18-carat gold ring from Lorraine Schwartz's monkey collection. Beyonce's is a hear-no-evil monkey made of five carats' worth of yellow diamonds surrounded by white ones.

Beyonce, who recalls wearing her first Armani suit at 14, said diamonds are now a sign of a woman's strength.

"Now women can buy their own diamonds," she said

Idol's Gina Rocks Engagement

2007-08-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

08/08/2007 1:21 PM, E! Online

Apparently he remembered to call her when he was sober.

American Idol finalist Gina Glocksen got engaged to longtime beau Joe Ruzicka Tuesday after he popped the question during his girlfriend's hometown stop on the American Idols Live tour.

Glocksen had just finished a duet with Phil Stacey on Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "It's Your Love" at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, when Ruzicka was ushered onstage.

Declaring himself "the biggest Gina Glocksen fan of all," as recorded by multiple cell phone cameras readily at hand, Ruzicka got down on one knee, offered up a ring, and was almost drowned out by the excited shrieks emanating from the audience.

The newly betrothed couple, who sealed the deal with a slew of kisses, live in nearby Naperville. Ruzicka is a high school science teacher. (Check out video footage of the stone and the smooching on Glocksen's Website.)

The happy turn of events also presumably made Glocksen's rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" alongside Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones and Haley Scarnato all the sweeter.

Glocksen, who added a much-needed dose of rocker-chick chic to Idol's sixth season earlier this year with her well-received takes on Evanescence's "Call Me When You're Sober" and the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You," gave frequent shout-outs to Ruzicka during her seven-week tenure on the show.

"He has been my rock throughout this whole process," the 23-year-old said at the time. "He's absolutely the best thing that's ever happened to me." Glocksen said that Ruzicka was the one who encouraged her to re-audition this year after not making the cut in 2006.

"Congratulations, Gina and Joe," Sanjaya Malakar enthusiastically shouted at the couple—his most skillful move of the night, according to a review of the show in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The American Idols Live tour wraps up Sept. 22 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Chris Cornell identity theft

2007-08-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

added: 9 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Seems Chris Cornell has been the victim of online identity theft. Or at least people are pretending to be Cornell while chatting or corresponding online. Cornell probably broke a few fans hearts when he announced they were talking to imposters.

Cornell took to his Myspace page on Monday to inform fans that they were not talking to him. He writes: "Hello this is Chris Cornell. Over the past several months, several incidents have taken place where others felt the need to engage in activities pretending to be me. I have been wanting to make a clear statement to fans, friends and anyone this may concern; under no circumstances, under any name or address do I or have I ever communicated or corresponded with anyone online or otherwise."

Kate Nash secret gig

2007-08-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

added: 9 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Kate Nash will play a 'secret' concert in London tomorrow evening, according to reports.

The pop newcomer, who is currently at number two in the UK charts with her "Foundations" single, is amongst the stars due to appear at a charity show.

The "Save Stables Market" gig will benefit the outdoor Camden shopping area, which is currently under threat from property developers.

She will be joined on the bill by Graham Coxon at the show, which takes place at the Boogaloo in Highgate. No news about tickets have yet been released.

Kate Nash released her debut album, "Made Of Bricks", on Monday.

Amy gets Simsons roll

2007-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Amy Winehouse will appear in an episode of "The Simpsons" next year, it has been claimed.

She is expected to follow in the footsteps of Metallica, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, REM, The White Stripes and Smashing Pumpkins by featuring on the show.

Few details have been revealed about her appearance, which comes after the debauched UK star made considerable commercial strides in the US.

A show 'source' explained: "Amy is huge in America right now. She was asked if she would consider making an appearance on the show and she agreed. Apparently she is a big fan.

"There aren't many details about the episode yet, but we do know she meets Lisa in a blues bar and teaches her how to sing."

Courtney Loves responds to Lily Allen comments

2007-08-08T07:15:00.001-07:00

08/07/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

Courtney Love has spoken out about on alleged comments Lily Allen made about her on MySpace.

The comments were widely reported, but Love said Allen claimed they were down to the fact that her MySpace site was hacked into.

Allen allegedly wrote: "I am not bfs (best friends) w/ (with) C (Courtney) Love, one night with her made me realise why Kurt (Cobain killed himself."

Posting on Myspace.com/courtneylove, Love wrote: "Thanks to Lily Allen for her lovely apologising for having had her MySpace broken into.

"I wouldn't pick on me if I was Miss Lily, as it wouldn't take TOO much to swat, but we've known each other far too long, like each other far too much and if she was gonna say something nasty she has the acerbic wit and intelligence to say something cutting, that would actually really hurt, not some cliched hoary old chestnut some obsessed blogger would say.

"She tells me her MySpace was broken into - even if I REALLY think she did blog it mindlessly some 8am after being up far too long for a young healthy woman I don't care and I appreciate and accept her thoughtfulness for apologising for what was printed, if she is telling the truth and it really doesn't much matter - everyone slams everyone early in their careers, (Sonic Youth)'s Kim Gordon still slams me, I mean how much more boring can you get? (than Kim Gordon - slam!) Does anyone care?"

Weezer man pens memoirs

2007-08-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

08/07/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo has plans to publish his journals.

The singer has regularly kept a diary throughout his recording, touring, and a recent stint studying at Harvard University.

The singer's literary agent David Vigliano is currently trying to get a deal for the book, although there is no indication when Cuomo's journals willl be published, reports Gawker.

Meanwhile Weezer are in the process of making their sixth album, the follow up to 2005's Make Believe.

Posting on Weezer.com the band wrote: "Weezer is just polishing up a batch of songs for a recording session that I going to start at the beinning of July. This will be the final recording session for our 6th album, which we aim to put out in the final half of 2008."

Lily Allen visa issues rock tour

2007-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

added: 8 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

Pop star Lily Allen has reportedly run into some work visa issues. The singer was detained at a Los Angeles airport according to Filter, however they report that the show will go on and Allen will still be making her scheduled west coast appearances.

Allen's people have reportedly dismissed claims that the photographer assaulting star has had her work visa revoked. Which is good because it's been a while since we has seen a good paparazzi smackdown; Britney Spears recent Vegas lovefest aside.

For some strange reason she is reported to be in Las Vegas with Common and Kanye West filming a video for Common's album, Finding Forever. She'll have a good month to compare egos with West and Common as her string of dates are set to start until September 6th in San Diego.

Bon Jovi boose debate

2007-08-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

added: 8 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi's threats of legal action against energy drink Mijovi have been dealt a blow - his outburst has resulted in a massive sales boost of the beverage. The Bad Medicine singer is demanding the coffee-based product change its name and label, because he thinks it is too similar to his own name.

A source tells the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, "One store had people coming and getting their pictures taken with the drink. And it's even spawned a cocktail named the 'Angry Rocker'."

The product is also marketed under the slogans 'itsmijovi' and 'itsmilife', but Marcos Carrington, the owner of the energy drink brand, maintains he was inspired to name the drink Mijovi after his girlfriend Jovita.

Timberlake and Beyonce lead MTV hopefulls

2007-08-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

added: 8 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

Beyonce's Irreplaceable was nominated for video of the year, as was Timberlake's ambitiously cinematic What Goes Around ... Comes Around, which co-starred Scarlett Johansson.

Also competing in the category are Amy Winehouse's Rehab, Kanye West's Stronger, Rihanna's Umbrella (featuring Jay-Z) and Justice's D.A.N.C.E., it has been announced.

Timberlake was also nominated for male artist of the year and "most earth shattering collaboration" for pairing with Timbaland for Sexy Back. Beyonce was nominated for female artist of the year and for her collaboration with Shakira on Beautiful Liar.

West landed five nominations, including male artist of the year. He has often appeared prickly about losing awards, and he was still sore over being snubbed last year for his Evel Knievel spoof video Touch the Sky (In 2005, he did win best male video for Jesus Walks).

"I come to win. I don't come to lose," West told MTV on TRL, where the awards were announced. "I think there's some really strong competition this year."

Rihanna also received five nominations, propelled by her hit single, Umbrella, which is up for "monster single of the year". Also nominated for male artist of the year was Akon, T.I. and Robin Thicke. Rounding out the nominees for female artist of the year were Fergie and Nelly Furtado.

Amy Winehouse, whose album Back to Black was her second disc but her first released in the US, was nominated for best new artist. She received three nods, including female artist of the year. In the best new artist category, Winehouse will compete with her compatriot Lily Allen, as well as Carrie Underwood, Gym Class Heroes and Peter Bjorn & John.

Up for best group are Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Linkin Park, Maroon 5 and the White Stripes. The 24th annual VMAs will be handed out during a live two-hour show on September 9 in Las Vegas at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Only eight categories will be awarded on the broadcast. Performers will include Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Amy Winehouse, Chris Brown, the Foo Fighters and Rihanna.

Timbaland will serve as "maestro" for the night, booking the show's acts. "By me being maestro," said Timbaland, "I am the show."

Keith Richards: 'I DID snort my dad's ashes'

2007-08-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

08/06/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has confirmed that he did snort his father's ashes, as he told NME.com earlier this year.

Richards originally claimed he was misquoted, after his publicists attempted to quash the story.

Richards, who last weekend claimed he would live to the age of 150, revealed that although he did snort his father, he did not mix his ashes with cocaine, as his previous NME.com quote implied.

"The cocaine bit was rubbish," he said. "I said I chopped him up like cocaine, not with.

"I pulled the lid off [my father's urn] and out comes a bit of dad on the dining room table," Richards continued. "I'm going, 'I can't use the brush and dustpan for this.

"What I found out is that ingesting your ancestors is a very respectable way of...y'know, he went down a treat."

You can read the original world-exclusive Richards interview on NME.com now.

Usher says he's happily married man

2007-08-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

08/06/2007 3:34 PM, AP

Usher and Tameka Foster, who are expecting their first child together, have tied the knot.

"I exchanged vows with Tameka Foster in Atlanta on Friday and we are happily married," the 28-year-old singer tells Usmagazine.com in a story posted Monday.

According to the magazine, a small, private ceremony was held in the office of Usher's lawyer and that his mother and former manager, Jonetta Patton, was in attendance.

Publicist Patti Webster referred to the Us Weekly story when asked for comment from The Associated Press.

Usher and Foster called off their July 28 wedding amid reports that Foster had checked into a hospital because of problems with her pregnancy.

He told Us Weekly last week: "Everybody's fine. Tameka and the baby are fine."

The couple announced their engagement earlier this year, and later, that Foster was expecting Usher's first child. She has three other children from a previous marriage.

50 Cent aims for charts with JT collaboration

2007-08-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

50 Cent is heading for the pop charts with 'Ayo Technology' as he moves yet further away from his gangsta rap style.

He was in London last month shooting the video for the song, featured on his forthcoming album, Curtis — with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

He said: "There's things that are going to be [the video] that you aren't actually seeing while we're shooting it right now. And so after they get it, they'll go in post and start adding effects to it, it'll turn into a whole other thing. But it's exciting."

He said he felt it was time to start moving in a different musical direction but still remaining comfortable with himself and his art.

50 Cent and JT started recording in Miami, but returned to Houston into the studio and said it was like clockwork.

50 said: "Justin had it clear in his head. There was no paper - He just went and delivered his vocals and changed octaves all over the place. It came out great — you can't ask for better."

Usher marries after all

2007-08-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

added: 6 Aug 2007 // by: Sam Shaw
After a last minute cancellation of his nuptials to Tameka Foster last week, R&B star Usher went through with the wedding on Friday in Atlanta, reports say.

The couple, currently expecting their first baby, were married in a simple ceremony in Usher's lawyer's office, the opposite of the extravagant bash they had been planning at Island Def Jam head LA Reid's Long Island home.

The singer's representatives have yet to confirm the reports.

Timbaland retains top spot

2007-08-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

added: 6 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Timbaland has resisted advances of Kate Nash to retain number one spot in the single's chart.
Last week the hotshot producer's single The Way I Are finally ended Rihanna's ten-week reign at the top of the tree.

Her single Umbrella slipped one place to number four, while another of her singles, Shut Up And Drive, moved up from 18 to 14.

London singer-songwriter Kate Nash hung on to her number two spot with Foundations and Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry moved up one place to number three.

New in at number five was Robyn With Kleerup's dance track With Every Heartbeat, which pushed Enrique Iglesias' Do You Know down one place to number six.

One of the biggest jumps this week was Hans Zimmer's Spider Pig - a theme tune from The Simpson's Movie - which moved from 106 to position 24.

Spice Girls pick Canada

2007-08-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

The news comes despite an online campaign to have the band play in war-torn Baghdad gathered pace online.

However, it has now been confirmed that the concert will take place in Canada, after Toronto came out ahead of Paris, Melbourne, Manchester and Alice Springs.

In a statement, the girls confirmed the news, saying: "We are delighted to be going to Toronto. We have such incredible fans there and we are amazed at such a positive reaction."

The actual date of the new Spice City stop-off is yet to be confirmed, although is expected to take place in January.

The already confirmed dates on the world tour are as follows:

December

02 Vancouver
04 San Jose
07 Los Angeles
08 Las Vegas
11 New York
15 London
20 Köln
23 Madrid

January

08 Beijing
10 Shanghai
12 Hong Kong
17 Sydney
20 Cape Town
24 Buenos Aires

Murphy pressed to help raise daughter

2007-08-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

08/04/2007 5:15 PM, AP
A day after Eddie Murphy confirmed that he is the father of Melanie Brown's baby, the former Spice Girl's lawyer complained that Murphy isn't accepting his parental responsibilities.

"He has not indicated in his statement or to us that he plans to visit the baby," attorney Gloria Allred said Saturday.

Brown's primary concern is that Murphy "see his child, spend time with her, hold her, love her and bond with his daughter," Allred said.

Murphy, 46, "always has and will continue to honor his responsibilities as a father," according to a statement released Friday by his publicist, Arnold Robinson.

"He acknowledges paternity of the child Angel and has paid child support to Ms. Brown, as well as covering the expenses of her pregnancy," Robinson said.

Murphy considers the matter private and planned to have no further comment, he said.

Angel Iris Murphy Brown was born April 3. Brown also has an 8-year-old daughter.

Murphy, nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Dreamgirls," has five children from his marriage to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, who filed for divorce in 2005. He got engaged last week to film producer Tracey Edmonds.

Aguilera cancels New Zealand leg of tour

2007-08-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

Pop superstar Christina Aguilera has cancelled the New Zealand leg of her world tour after falling ill in Australia.

The Fighter hitmaker cancelled two shows on the Australian leg of her Back To Basics tour last week after being diagnosed with a viral upper respiratory tract infection.

And now Aguilera - who is rumoured to be pregnant with husband Jordan Bratman's baby - has cancelled the remaining concerts in New Zealand.

A statement from the star reads, "I would like to apologize once again to all of my fans here in New Zealand for having to cancel my last two shows of my tour.

"This is my first time in your beautiful country and I have really been looking forward to performing for you all. Unfortunately, I caught a bad flu virus and I have not been able to recover in time.

"Thank you all for your continued love and support and I can't wait for the next time."

Spears rehires Alli Sims

2007-08-04T04:53:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears has rehired cousin Alli Sims as her assistant after sidekick Shannon Funk was sacked last month.

Sims dined with Spears and a mystery man at Winston's in West Hollywood on Thursday after the pop star asked her cousin to assist her until she finds someone full-time.

Sims, who quit as Britney's employee to concentrate on her singing career, agreed.

A source says, "Britney and Alli split on really good terms and Alli was very good at her job, so Britney wanted her back almost as soon as she'd quit.

"Britney was particularly impressed when Alli stood up for and insisted she was a great mom in a recent interview with People magazine. She knows Alli is someone she can trust."

Stevie Wonder plans U.S. tour

2007-08-04T03:05:00.001-07:00

08/03/2007 8:26 AM, AP
Stevie Wonder will go on his first U.S. tour in more than a decade, starting next month in San Diego.

The 57-year-old singer made the announcement at an outdoor performance in Los Angeles on Thursday.

"A Wonder Summer's Night" will feature 13 concerts from Aug. 23 to Sept. 20 in eight states. Stops in California include San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Concord, Santa Barbara, Saratoga and Los Angeles. Other cities include Portland, Ore.; Woodinville, Wash.; Chicago; Detroit; Atlanta; and Baltimore. The final concert will be in Boston.

Tickets will be available beginning Aug. 11. Ticket prices weren't immediately released.

Although Wonder has given numerous performances worldwide, his last full-scale tour in the U.S. was in 1995.

The Motown legend has some two dozen Grammy Awards and dozens of hits. His song "I Just Called to Say I Love You," featured in the movie "The Woman in Red," won the Academy Award for best original song in 1985.

2007-08-04T03:04:00.000-07:00

Linkin Park bootlegs

added: 3 Aug 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi
Linkin Park announced last week that they will be making official bootlegs available for sale at their shows. The catch is that only 1000 fans will be able to buy them. The band announced the move on their website. Here is what they had to say: "No more listening to distorted, bootleg copies of LP concerts, get a clear, mixed copy of your Linkin Park show at the merchandise booth!

"Visit the merchandise booth at any Linkin Park tour date (starting with Projekt Revolution 2007) to purchase a limited-edition recording of the entire LIVE Linkin Park performance from that night. Only 1000 copies will be sold for each show date, so be sure to get yours before they're gone."

ป้ายกำกับ: Linkin Park bootlegs

Britney faces suit after 'assault'

2007-08-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

(Thursday August 02, 2007 08:49 AM)

Two paparazzi photographers have accused pop singer Britney Spears of throwing a baby bottle and threatening them after they took pictures of her leaving a spa in the US.

Spears yelled "I am going to kill you!," at Andrew Deetz, the photographer who was allegedly beaten by Spears' bodyguard, according to a statement released by the photographers' lawyers.

The men, Deetz, 24, and Kyle Henderson, 23, said they were preparing to sue.

The men were taking pictures of Spears, 25, as she and her children - 22-month-old Sean Preston Federline and 10-month-old Jayden James Federline - left the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel at about 11.30am, accompanied by two bodyguards.

One bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, pushed Henderson against the wall until Wynn security intervened and asked Henderson to leave, the statement said.

As they were about 30 paces away and walking in the opposite direction, Camera attacked Deetz from behind, threw him on the ground and punched and kicked him until security pulled him away, it said.

Afterwards, Spears ran towards Henderson but was stopped by security, and then threw a baby bottle at him, the statement said.

Then, in front of several other hotel guests and bystanders, Spears threatened to kill Deetz and said he should get a restraining order against her because she was going to kill him or hire someone that would, it said.

Camera also told Deetz on July 23 outside the Lisa Kline boutique in Beverly Hills "I have unfinished business with you", the statement alleged.

Spears' lawyer Gary Stiffelman declined to comment. Wynn Las Vegas released a statement confirming Spears stayed at the hotel and left on Thursday, but also declined to discuss the incident.

Malaysia Not Entirely Sweet on Stefani

2007-08-02T02:47:00.000-07:00

07/31/2007 3:00 PM, E! Online

Gwen Stefani apparently isn't everyone's favorite girl in Malaysia.

A Muslim students group that objects to the pop star's sexy style and come-hither lyrics is pushing to have Stefani's first-ever concert in Kuala Lumpur scrapped before the spotlights have a chance to shine.

"Her video clips promoting the event are too obscene," Mohamad Hilmi Ramli, president of the National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students, told Reuters. "We want the organizers to cancel the concert, failing which we will ask the authorities to intervene."

Just over half of Malaysia's 26 million-strong population considers itself Muslim, with Buddhists, Christians and Hindus composing sizeable minorities.

"[Malaysian mobile phone company Maxis Communications] has been staging a series of foreign acts…to make a profit and to expose our young generation to things such as moral decay," Ramli added.

According to Stefani's Website, the Aug. 21 show is still on. The Star, a Malaysian English-language newspaper, predicted last month that the concert, part of the platinum-blonde chanteuse's Sweet Escape world tour, at Putra Indoor Stadium could attract up to 9,000 people.

The L.A.M.B. designer, who has always been the best model for her signature brand of flirty-meets-sporty gear, will then close out the Asian leg of her tour with stops in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan before heading to Honolulu.

Stefani is currently entertaining the masses Down Under, rocking Sydney's Acer Arena yesterday and Sunday. The 37-year-old wife and mother showed the Southern Hemisphere that she obviously isn't all about sex-n'-stuff, stepping off the stage to mix with the fans during one part of the show and dedicating "The Real Thing" to her 14-month-old son, Kingston.

Sounds like family values to us.

Peter, Bjorn and Kanye

2007-08-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

08/01/2007 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dotmusic

Kanye West will perform with Peter, Bjorn & John in Sweden later this month, it has been claimed.

The rap superstar is understood to have invited the Scandinavian pop group to be his backing band at a festival in Gothenburg on August 11.

Both acts are on the bill for the Way Out West gathering and are expected to perform the trio's breakthrough hit "Young Folks."

Meanwhile, Peter, Bjorn & John have confirmed plans to re-release "Young Folks," with remixes from Beyond The Wizards' Sleeve, Phones, and Diplo.

Eminem bites Apple

2007-08-02T02:42:00.000-07:00

Eminem has launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Apple, in the ongoing dispute over the sale of his digital music.

The rap superstar's publishing company have demanded the computer giant remove all his music from iTunes in the new legal challenge.

Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated reportedly filed the suit in Detroit's US District Court, insisting Apple were never given the go ahead to sell his music in download form, reports the Detroit News.

"Eight Mile and Martin have demanded that Apple cease and desist its reproduction and distribution and Apple has refused", the complaint reads.

In 2004, Eminem and Eight Mile Style sued Apple for $10 million in a dispute over the track "Lose Yourself" which was used on iTunes in 2003.

R. Kelly Trial Date Set

2007-08-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

The criminal case against R. Kelly, which has been pending for five years, is headed to trial. At a court hearing Wednesday (August 1), Judge Vincent Gaughan said Kelly's trial will begin on September 17. Kelly was charged with 21 counts of child pornography in 2002 (seven of which were later dropped) for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl; he has pleaded not guilty.

Snow Patrol star in court no-show

2007-08-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

07/31/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson did not appear in court to face a charge of cocaine possession today (July 31).

At the last hearing earlier this month, the keyboard player was told that he must appear before the court today.

Sheriff Iain Peebles did not ask where he was.

Simpson and co-accused Colin Kennedy, both 35 and from Glasgow, are accused of being in possession of cocaine in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, on June 24, 2006.

Sheriff Iain Peebles continued the case without plea until August 28 after a request from Simpson's lawyer.

The band is scheduled to headline the V Festival next month, reports Yahoo!

Eminem's music publisher sues Apple

2007-08-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

07/31/2007 6:23 PM, AP
The publisher of rapper Eminem's music has filed a federal lawsuit against computer giant Apple Inc. for selling downloads of his songs without permission.

Apple has an agreement with Universal Music Group, the record company that owns the recordings, but doesn't deal directly with publishers, who own the rights to scores and lyrics.

In the suit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Eminem's music publisher Eight Mile Style and copyright manager Martin Affiliated seek more than $75,000 for copyright infringement, unfair competition and a violation of the Michigan consumer protection act.

The suit also asks for damages of up to $150,000 per infringement — or each time a song is downloaded

Eight Mile Style administrator Joel Martin says the suit involves 70 to 80 songs, including tracks from the Grammy Award-winning "The Eminem Show."

Apple had no comment Tuesday on the lawsuit, spokesman Tom Neumayr said.

Eight Mile Style attorney Norman Ankers contends that record companies need permission from copyright holders before downloads can be authorized.

"This is a significant issue in the music industry," Ankers said. "This occurs with many artists and many record labels."

Apple charges 99 cents for most song downloads. Recording companies get about 70 cents of that, and pass on 9 cents of that fee to publishers.

"Generally, artists want their music sold," Martin said. "We want it downloaded. We request that any provider that's offering downloads license it through the publisher."

"Apple is not accounting to us. They are accounting to Universal (Music)," he said.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is from Detroit. "The Eminem Show" sold 7.6 million copies.

Eight Mile Style also sued Apple in 2004 for copyright infringement. That lawsuit alleged that Apple used Eminem's "Lose Yourself" in commercial TV ads for its iTunes music store. The case was settled out of court.

Spears accused of threatening paparazzi

2007-08-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

07/31/2007 8:13 PM, AP
John Rogers
Britney Spears threw a baby bottle and threatened two photographers after they took pictures of her leaving a Las Vegas spa, the photographers said in a statement Tuesday.

Spears yelled "I am going to kill you!" and cursed at Andrew Deetz, a photographer who says he was beaten by Spears' bodyguard on Thursday, according to a statement released by Deetz's lawyers.

Deetz, 24, is preparing to sue, his lawyers said. The other photographer involved was Kyle Henderson, 23. They both work for a celebrity photography company called Flynet Pictures, which sells to such publications as People and US Weekly, according to Daniel Kogan, a spokesman for Deetz's lawyers.

The men were taking pictures of Spears, 25, as she and her children — 22-month-old Sean Preston Federline and 10-month-old Jayden James Federline — left the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel around 11:30 a.m., accompanied by two bodyguards.

One bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, pushed Henderson against the wall until Wynn security intervened and asked Henderson to leave, the statement said.

As they were about 30 paces away and walking in the opposite direction, Camera attacked Deetz from behind, threw him on the ground and punched and kicked him until security pulled him off, it said.

Afterward, Spears ran toward Henderson but was stopped by security, and then threw a baby bottle at him, it said.

Camera also told Deetz on July 23 outside the Lisa Kline boutique in Beverly Hills, "I have unfinished business with you," the statement alleged.

Spears' lawyer Gary Stiffelman declined to comment.

Wynn Las Vegas released a statement confirming that Spears stayed at the hotel and left on Thursday, but also declined to discuss the confrontation.

"We respect the privacy and do our utmost to maintain the anonymity of our guests," it said.

Las Vegas police issued a summons for a charge of battery to Camera, the only person cited. He could face up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Stiffelman's office would not relay messages to Camera seeking comment, and The Associated Press was unable to find a phone number for him.

Spears, Federline are divorced

2007-07-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

07/30/2007 7:40 PM, AP
Britney Spears' marriage to Kevin Federline officially ended Monday.

"They are divorced," the pop star's attorney, Laura Wasser, said after a Superior Court hearing. "Everything is finalized."

Court Commissioner Scott Gordon signed orders for dissolution of marriage, an alimony agreement and child custody.

The alimony agreement will not be made public unless there is an enforcement issue, Wasser said.

"Most of that tracks the prenup," the attorney said, without elaborating.

The child custody order was tentatively sealed, pending an Aug. 14 hearing.

"The best interests of the children could be harmed" if the arrangement were not sealed, Gordon said.

Spears married Federline in October 2004, eight months after her first marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled. She cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce from Federline on Nov. 7, 2006.

Wasser said that Spears was "OK" with the terms of the settlement but that "she would like to be with her kids more."

Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their two sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James.

Paramore sing Hallelujah

2007-07-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Paramore have announced details of their next single.

The Tennesse band release 'Hallelujah' on September 3rd, taken from their second album 'Riot!'.

And the four-piece will play the following UK shows:

25th August - Reading festival

26th August - Leeds festival

1st September - Portsmouth Pyramid

2nd September - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

3rd September - Manchester Academy 2

5th September - Cardiff University

6th September - London Astoria

7th September - London Astoria

The White Stripes add US show, change venue

2007-07-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

The White Stripes add US show, change venue

They also finish video for next single

28.Jul.07 1:05am

The White Stripes have announced the addition of a show in Austin, Texas to their extensive tour of the US.

The Detroit duo will play at Stubb's Bar-B-Q on September 16, and tickets go on sale tomorrow (July 28).

Meanwhile, the band have been forced to change the venue of their September 18 San Diego, California gig to the Coors Amphitheatre due to noise restrictions and concerns from local residents. Tickets from The Embarcadero show will be honoured at the Coors Amphitheatre.

In other news, the band have revealed that they just completed the video for their next single, 'You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)', filmed in Canada's Arctic territory Nunava.

Stills from the video can be seen on the band's website. The video is set to premiere on Monday (July 30).

Usher And Fiancee Tameka Foster Cancel Wedding

2007-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Couple, who are expecting their first child in the fall, made the announcement Saturday.

By Robert Mancini, with additional reporting by Jayson Rodriguez

If you planned to pick up a wedding gift for Usher this weekend, hold up — the singer and his fiancee have announced that their wedding is off.

Usher's representatives issued a statement Saturday (July 28) announcing that the singer and his fiancee, stylist Tameka Foster, have canceled their ceremony, adding that "no additional information will be given regarding the circumstances of the cancellation." The statement went on to ask for privacy regarding the matter.

Usher and Foster were engaged earlier this year (see "Usher Plans New LP — And Marriage — By End Of Year"), and announced that they are expecting their first child in the fall.

The relationship - and engagement - was the source of much inspiration as Usher toiled away on his upcoming, yet-untitled album (see "Usher Finds 'Magic' With Jermaine Dupri On New Songs"). He gushed about the news when MTV News visited his studio recently, and producer Jermaine Dupri noted that a track called "The Realest" was inspired by Usher's enthusiasm over the relationship. "He was like, 'I got the realest woman in the world. You ever had the realest woman in the world? You ever have a real one?' " Dupri said.

But the engagement had also been the source of much controversy, which Usher eventually addressed in an open letter to People magazine.

"I am happy, excited, completely clear and independent on my direction, feelings, decisions and I am NOT BEING LED," he wrote, addressing rumors that Foster has Usher on a short leash.

Passengers on Lohan ride hire attorney

2007-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

07/28/2007 2:02 AM, AP
John Rogers
The men who say they were unwilling passengers on Lindsay Lohan's wild ride through Santa Monica have retained a lawyer who said he hopes to resolve the case without hauling the actress into court.

Attorney Randall Billington told The Associated Press on Friday that he has been retained by Dante Nigro and Jakon Sutter, who say they pleaded with Lohan to stop as she raced along the Pacific Coast Highway at 100 mph before dawn Tuesday. He is also representing Ronnie Blake, who says Lohan drove Nigro's sport-utility vehicle over his foot as she raced off with the vehicle.

"Some people think a discussion should begin with 'I'll see you in court.' I don't believe that," said Billington, adding he hoped the situation could be resolved amicably. He also expressed concern for the well-being of Lohan, who was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence and cocaine possession at the end of the ride.

"From my clients' point of view, they want to see a good outcome to that story for her," he said.

Lohan's attorney and publicist did not respond to calls and e-mails, and Santa Monica police officials declined to comment.

"At this point we have no new information to report," said Lt. Alex Padilla, a police spokesman.

Billington declined to make the three men available for an interview.

In a video interview posted on the celebrity Web site TMZ.com before they retained an attorney, the three said they crossed paths with Lohan when they saw her traveling in a car with a friend and waved to them. Nigro said the friend responded with a text message saying the 21-year-old actress was inviting them to a party.

At the party, Nigro said, he saw Lohan drinking heavily. Sutter and Blake, who weren't allowed inside, said they waited for their friend in the car.

Shortly before the chase began, Nigro said, Lohan's personal assistant got into an argument with her boyfriend and then with the actress. When Lohan told her to be quiet she announced she was quitting and left, Nigro said.

At that point, he said, Lohan snatched his keys, which were still in the ignition of his SUV, jumped into the driver's seat and gave chase. As the car accelerated, Blake said, he managed to jump out, but the vehicle ran over his foot.

He was limping and walking with a cane Friday, his attorney said.

As Lohan raced after her assistant, Nigro and Sutter said, her car reached speeds of 100 mph.

"So we start pleading with her, 'Can you please stop the car," Sutter said.

"She says, 'I can't get in trouble, I'm a celebrity, I can do whatever the ... I want," Nigro said.

"I was honestly terrified," Nigro added. "I really thought we were going to crash and I really thought we were going to get severely hurt or all of us were going to die."

After Lohan's assistant got away, Nigro said, the actress raced to the Santa Monica home of the woman's mother. The mother, seeing a strange car arrive as she was returning home, fled in a Cadillac Escalade and called police.

"At this point the Escalade's flying, we're flying, we're probably going 80 miles per hour in residential Santa Monica," Nigro said.

The chase ended when the woman stopped near the Santa Monica police station and Lohan was arrested.

As she spoke with police, Nigro said, Lohan tried to implicate Sutter.

"We can hear her saying, 'No, no, I wasn't driving, the black kid was driving," he said.

Sutter and Blake are black, and Nigro is white.

It was the second driving arrest in two months for Lohan, who was also arrested over Memorial Day weekend after crashing her car into a curb. She was released from a rehab program this month.

In separate developments Friday, Lohan's estranged parents, Michael and Dina Lohan, appeared in a New York court to fight over child-support payments, and a lawyer for Lohan appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom in connection with a traffic accident the actress was involved in two years ago.

In New York, a judge chided Lohan's father for failing to make child-support payments for the actress' younger brother and sister. Michael Lohan was ordered to return to court Aug. 10 with proof he is looking for a job.

In Los Angeles, Lohan was granted her request to have a new judge hear a lawsuit brought against her by a man whose van collided with her Mercedes-Benz in 2005 as the actress was fleeing photographers.

Madonna-Justin Timberlake collaboration leaked

2007-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

07/27/2007 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com
A track from the must-hyped collaboration between Madonna and Justin Timberlake has appeared online.

Said to be called "Candy Shop," the song appeared on putfile.com, but was removed following copyright issues. The track is a mix of dance, pop, and hip-hop and will appear on Madonna's forthcoming album, scheduled to be released in November.

"Candy Shop" is just one of several tracks she worked on with Timberlake and uber-producer Timbaland, both of whom have been writing and producing songs as well as adding vocals. Pharrell Williams and Mika have also been involved in the album.

Britney aide ticketed in Vegas scuffle

2007-07-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

07/28/2007 2:03 AM, AP
John Rogers
A bodyguard for Britney Spears must face a battery charge after he scuffled with two men trying to photograph the singer and her young sons at a Las Vegas Strip resort, police said Friday.

The bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, was accused of grabbing and punching one photographer and pushing another into a wall about 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel-casino.

Camera was issued a misdemeanor battery summons after the scuffle.

No serious injuries resulted, police said. Neither Spears, 25, nor the children — 22-month-old Sean Preston Federline and 10-month-old Jayden James Federline — were reported to have been hurt.

"There were no signs of injuries to her or the children, nor is she listed as a victim," Las Vegas police Sgt. John Loretto said of the singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She is listed in police reports as a witness, along with one man and five other women.

"The only person issued a citation was Ms. Spears' private security guard, Mr. Camera," Loretto said.

A representative at Jive Records, Spears' record label, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment, and a Wynn resort spokeswoman declined comment.

A lawyer for Spears' estranged husband, Kevin Federline, also did not immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages seeking comment on reports that Spears should not have had the children in Las Vegas. The couple are involved in divorce proceedings in California that according to several reports include restrictions on traveling out-of-state with the boys.

Police said the scuffle, which was captured on security videotape, occurred after Andrew Deetz, 24, and Kyle Henderson, 23, approached Spears and her entourage in a hallway and a hotel security guard told them to put their photo equipment away.

Henderson allegedly bumped Camera, who was holding Spears' son, Sean.

Spears screamed, Camera "shouldered" Henderson against a wall, gave the child to Spears, and ran after Henderson and Deetz, according to police reports.

Police said Camera punched Deetz, who showed officers a lump and abrasion on his forehead. Henderson was not reported to have been hurt.

Loretto said he did not know when Camera was scheduled to respond to the summons. He could face up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Spears has been involved in several recent confrontations with paparazzi. She apologized earlier this month for attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella in February, saying she had been preparing to try out for a movie part and got carried away. The umbrella incident took place during a period in which she also shaved her head, got new tattoos and was seen partying hard in Los Angeles clubs.

Beyonce falls during Florida show

2007-07-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

by: Sam Shaw
Beyonce Knowles took a fall, landing booty-over-face down a flight of stairs during a concert.

The curvaceous singer was throwing her hair around whilst wearing sky-high heels and a bright red mac and tripped, falling face-first down about 12 stairs while singing 'Ring The Alarm', but the tough as nails diva didn't let it faze her, carrying on after a short break from the show.

Despite her plea to the audience: "Don't put it on YouTube," it seems she was ignored, with Sony now thought to be trying to pull any guerrilla footage.

It has not been confirmed whether she was actually hurt or whether it was just her pride, with conflicting reports being published.

Spice Girls add extra dates

2007-07-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

by: Rob Barnett
The Spice Girls have added extra dates to their upcoming world tour and rekindling of the 90’s Girl Power phenomenon. The girls will play extra shows in China, Canada and San Jose. Tickets have been shifting at an alarming rate by millions of fans worldwide hoping to see their heroines of yesteryear. They’ve even set up Spice City which encourages fans to vote online for which towns they should play in, if not already on their tour schedule.

The tour takes them from Canada, US, Germany, Spain, China, Australia, South Africa and Argentina throughout December, with only one UK date announced in London on the 15th.

Girls Aloud must be quaking in their boots!

Alicia Keys is 'dying to work with' the White Stripes

2007-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

07/25/2007 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
courtesy of NME.com

Alicia Keys has revealed she's "dying" to work with her favorite band, the White Stripes.

The soul singer, who also admitted the Stripes' latest album Icky Thump is her favorite LP of the year, tried to get Jack and Meg White to guest on her new album As I Am.

She revealed: "I'm dying to work with them. Me and the White Stripes are going to do something crazy. We tried to work something out for this record, but the timing got a little crazy and it didn't come off. I know we can do something next time around."

And the Stripes are not the only indie rockers that Keys is a fan of. She added: "I'm dying to work with Queens Of The Stone Age too. Both bands have a very simple approach to music, but it has a soul to it that I totally get. If we did something together, it would be incredible."

Keys's forthcoming album, out in November, sees the star team up with John Mayer and Linda Perry. Six songs from the album were premiered at a low-key playback party on Monday night (July 23). Keys then surprised the small crowd of journalists by playing three more songs at a piano.

The star performed "Superwoman," "That's The Thing About Love," and "Sure Looks Good To Me."

R. Kelly revisits the closet

2007-07-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

07/25/2007 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dotmusic

R. Kelly is to issue 10 new instalments of his cult video series "Trapped In The Closet."

The original "hip-hopera" became a huge hit two years ago, especially in the U.S. where the DVD sold almost 250,000 copies.

Following the story of a man named Sylvester (Kelly), the drama featured 12 cliffhanger episodes with bizarre plot twists based around used condoms, midgets, and bed-hopping.

The 10 new episodes will be released on DVD on August 21.

According to Billboard.com, these will find Kelly portraying an old man named Randolph, complete with a pot-belly and a fake white beard that nearly falls off mid-scene, as well as a preacher in a grey Jheri-curl wig and garish orange suit.

In one of the final chapters, Kelly's Sylvester character talks business with a Sopranos-esque mobster who is eating a giant plate of spaghetti.

Backstreet Boys Unite!

2007-07-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

07/25/2007 8:27 AM, E! Online

Everybody: Backstreet's back, alright.

After a two-year layoff and the departure of Kevin Richardson, the all-grown-up Backstreet Boys are readying the release of their sixth studio album for Oct. 30.

The yet-to-be-titled disc will be issued by Jive Records and marks the Backstreeters' 10th anniversary with the label that launched them to superstardom.

Rob Weiss and Dan Muckula, the latter of whom penned Backstreet's 2005 hit "Incomplete," are supervising production on the new album, per Billboard. The first official single, a piano-driven rock ballad titled "Inconsolable," will be shipped to radio stations nationwide on Aug. 27. A more upbeat ditty, "Any Other Way," was leaked to music sites back in May.

Following the release of a greatest-hits set in 2001, the members pursued side projects before returning to the charts with 2005's Never Gone. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number three and sold about 750,000 copies in the U.S. and 3 million worldwide.

That was a far cry from the quintet's heyday, when 1999's Millennium sold 30 million copies and 2000's Black and Blue racked up 15 million units.

Richardson, who at 35 was the band's oldest member, announced in June 2006 that he was amicably leaving the group to pursue other interests. Richardson and wife Kristin welcomed their first child, a son named Mason, earlier this month. He has also performed on Broadway and is composing the soundtrack to the CGI animated film The Spirit Bear due out next year.

The rest of Backstreet—Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter and AJ McLean—opted not to replace him and have continued on as a quartet. They say Richardson can come back at any time.

The Backstreet Boys were formed in the early '90s in Orlando under the auspices of former producer Lou Pearlman, who was recently indicted in bank-fraud charges.

After hitting it big in Europe, the group found success Stateside with its 1997 self-titled debut. The Backstreeters went on to score a number of Top 10 hits, including "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "All I Have to Give," "I Want It That Way" and "Shape of My Heart," and competed with 'N Sync for the title of most popular boy band.

Britney behaved badly at photo shoot

2007-07-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

07/25/2007 12:50 PM, AP
John Rogers

Britney Spears sat back and watched as her Yorkshire terrier puppy pooped on a $6,700 designer gown at a photo shoot for OK! magazine.

"I wasn't in the room but I was there to hear the upset shrieks of the stylist," editor-in-chief Sarah Ivens told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday. "Her assistant dealt with it in the end, after being asked to take care of it. They had to be asked to clear it up."

Spears also wiped grease on a designer dress, treating it like "a napkin," took frequent trips to the bathroom — leaving the door open — and complained that the high-end clothing put together for the July 19 fashion shoot weren't sexy, short or tight enough, the magazine said.

After about three hours, the 25-year-old singer bolted, walking away with more than $14,000 of borrowed apparel, Ivens said.

"I've never seen anything like it," she said. "It's definitely the most bizarre shoot I've ever been on."

Representatives for Spears had offered an exclusive interview that was intended as career comeback for the singer, Ivens said.

"What actually transpired on the day was a shock to us and left me and the whole crew feeling quite shocked and sad, really," she said.

OK! publicist Brian Strong said the magazine didn't publish the photos in its latest issue because they "weren't up to standard."

A representative at Jive Records, Spears' record label, didn't immediately return a phone call and e-mail seeking comment Wednesday.

"She needs to have a really strong team to advise her what to do, what not to do," Ivens said. "And then, if she gets that, I'm sure she can pull it around. It's all there. She's got talent. She just needs to get her priorities straight, I think."

Kanye and 50 Cent go head to head

2007-07-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

added: 25 Jul 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

Kanye West has publicly stated that he will not be moving the release of his "Graduation" album, which is due to come out on September 11th, the same date as 50 Cent's third album "Curtis".

Speaking to MTV, West stated: "The date, "Graduation", September 11, we ain't moving."

Rather than being a competition, he explained that the anticipation of two big hip hop albums coming out on the same day would be good for the genre.

West added: "I'd rather come out on a day like that, up against 50 - where people are excited about going to the stores and it's an event and people talk about it - and be number two on that day, rather than come out and be number one on a day nobody cares about.

"It's about things going down in history. It's not that much exciting stuff in hip-hop right now. I think people are going to make it more than what I'm making it myself.

"At the end of the day, I'm making music and I'm trying to sell."

Britney pregnant by mystery man?

2007-07-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

added: 25 Jul 2007 // by: Marco Gandolfi

According to gossip tabloid NW Magazine, Britney Spears is pregnant with her third child reports Launch.

NW reports that Spears has told close friends that she is pregnant, and that she does not know who the father is.

A source told the magazine: "She's been secretly filling her pals in on the good news since last week.

Rage, Daft Punk, QOTSA, Shins Set For Vegoose Fest

2007-07-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

As tipped here last month, Rage Against The Machine will co-headline this fall's Vegoose Festival at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, alongside French electronica duo Daft Punk. The event is set for Oct. 27-28; two-day passes go on sale Saturday (July 28) through Vegoose.com. Other acts on the bill include Queens Of The Stone Age, the Shins, Muse and Iggy and the Stooges, performing their classic album "Fun House" in its entirety.

The Vegoose lineup will be rounded out by Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Ghostface Killah, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Battles, Umphree's McGee, UNKLE, Gogol Bordello, Blonde Redhead, Thievery Corporation and Ghostland Observatory.

As in past years, the event will also encompass the Vegoose at Night concert series, comprising separately ticketed shows at venues throughout Las Vegas. Among the confirmed acts are the Shins, Thievery Corporation, moe. and STS9. Tickets for these performances will go on sale in mid-August.

Vegoose is produced by Superfly Presents and A.C. Entertainment, the same team that produces the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn.

Lindsay Lohan Arrested Again For DUI; Reportedly Checks Back Into Rehab

2007-07-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks after leaving a rehabilitation facility, Lindsay Lohan was pulled over by police early Tuesday morning (July 24) in Santa Monica, California, and arrested on five counts, including driving under the influence of alcohol, drivingarcotics, according to a Santa Monica Police Department spokesperson. TMZ reported that Lohan checked into an undisclosed rehab facility hours after the arrest; Lohan's attorney, Blair Berk, said in a statement that the actress is "safe, out of custody and presently receiving medical care."

While it isn't yet known where Lohan is receiving the medical care, her mother, Dina Lohan, said in a statement issued to "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" that Lindsay is in a "safe place." "We are doing everything in our power in support of Lindsay and I won't give up — this is my daughter and we love her," read the statement. "I am sick over this. My children, my family, we are like prisoners in our own home because paparazzi [are stalking us] outside [our] home." Lindsay's estranged father, Michael Lohan, told People the arrest is "killing me, it's ripping me apart."

Lohan was taken into custody after police stopped her near the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday morning. Lieutenant Alex Padilla said in a press briefing Tuesday morning that Lohan's arrest came as a result of a bizarre car chase that began earlier in the morning.According to Padilla, Lohan was behind the wheel of a car that did not belong to her, chasing a vehicle driven by the mother of a personal assistant who had tendered her resignation to Lohan just hours before. "The mother was afraid," Padilla said. "She wasn't quite sure what was going on, so she called the police saying she wanted to make sure everything was going to be OK." The mother, who The Associated Press reported didn't know it was Lohan behind her, drove her black Cadillac Escalade to the SMPD and dialed 911 to report the incident, and then drove to the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, where Lohan followed her. Padilla said the unnamed mother of the assistant believed she was in danger during the chase.

When police arrived at the Civic Auditorium parking lot, they saw Lohan engaged in a "heated debate" with the woman.

Police pulled Lohan over and, smelling alcohol on her breath, gave her two breathalyzer tests, registering over the legal limit of .08 on both occasions — a .12 and a .13. While arresting her, police also reportedly found a white powdery substance in her pocket that is believed to be cocaine. She had been released from the Santa Monica police station at press time, with bail set at $25,000.

Lohan's lawyer, Blair Berk, issued a statement Tuesday morning about the incident and Lohan's continued struggle with substance abuse. "Addiction is a terrible and vicious disease," Berk said. "Since Lindsay transitioned to outpatient care, she has been monitored on a [Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor] bracelet and tested daily in order to support her sobriety. Throughout this period, I have received timely and accurate reports from the testing companies. Unfortunately, late yesterday I was informed that Lindsay had relapsed. The bracelet has now been removed. She is safe, out of custody and presently receiving medical care."

Lohan checked out of the Promises rehab facility in Malibu, California, on July 13 after a six-week stay and had voluntarily been wearing an alcohol-monitoring anklet, which TMZ said she was wearing at the time of the arrest.

Her recent stint in rehab came after a Memorial Day car crash in which she was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence (see "Lindsay Lohan Leaves Rehab After 45 Days, Celebrates In Vegas"). She turned herself in to Beverly Hills police to be booked on that charge and an additional suspicion of misdemeanor hit-and-run last Thursday.

Just last week, MTV spoke to a number of substance abuse experts who said that reports of Lohan going to nightclubs just 24 hours after her release from a rehab program were troubling and could be the first signs of a potential relapse (see "Lindsay Lohan's Post-Rehab Club-Hopping Could Lead To Relapse, Experts Warn").

Spokespeople for Lohan and the SMPD could not be reached for additional comment at press time.

This report is provided by MTV News