Poison Drummer Arrested for Rape
Mar 31, 2008 News, Poison, Scandal
The drummer of famous 80s hair band Poison was arrested on Monday on a rape warrant out of Mississippi just as he got off a flight from New Zealand at LAX. The 46-year old rikki Rockett was busted by the Airport Division of the LAPD as he was going through customs. The LA Daily News first reported that the musician was transported to the LA County Jail where he was booked on a felony fugitive sexual assault warrant out of Neshoba County, Mississippi.
Rockett and singer Bret Michaels founder Poison together. Rockett was in New Zealand to reunite and perform with the other original members of the band at a huge heavy metal show.
Celine Dion Postpones Concerts
Mar 30, 2008 Celebrity, Celine Dion, Diva, Legends, Music, Music Artists
Celine Dion has been forced to cancel more concerts in Australia. She is suffering from a throat infection.
She has already put off shows in Brisbane and Melbourne, and not she has to postpone stops in Sydney and Perth.
T.I. Changes Plea
Mar 28, 2008 Prison, Rapper, T.I.
Rapper T.I. has decided to change his plea in his guns trial. The rapper was arrested last October for attempting to buy machine guns, paying for them with cash and without registering for them as mandated by the law. He was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He initially plead not guilty and has since been under house arrest after being released on a $3 million bond on October 26th. Now that he’s plead guilty, he is expected to be sentenced to 1500 hours of community service followed by about 12 months of prison.
Marleys VS Weinsteins
Mar 27, 2008 Bob Marley, Reggae, Song
Two Bob Marley projects are in the works but only one will be able to use the icon’s music. The family of the reggae legend has a long-standing policy of not licensing his music to any film or TV project where an actor portrays the musician. And that included the Weinstein Co.’s planned adaptation of Rita Marley’s (Bob’s wife) ‘No Woman, No Cry’. It’s kind of ironic considering she’s an executive producer. Martin Scorsese is set to direct an as yet unnamed documentary on the legend which the Marley family supports. Bob’s son Ziggy goes to say that “We believe that this project is the best way to represent our father’s life from his perspective and any other film project pertaining to our father will be empty without his music to support it.”
Diddy-Tupac Story was a Hoax
Mar 26, 2008 Diddy, News, Rapper, Tupac
It looks like the explosive report written last week by a Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Times reporter that linked Diddy to the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur was a big hoax. According to The Smoking Gun, it was perpetrated by a con artist in Federal prison who fabricated many of the so-called FBI reports on which the story was based. The supposed FBI reports and lawsuits Sabatino says he filed were apparently created in the Allenwood Federal Penitentiary in White Deer, Pennsylvania and can’t be found in the bureau’s database. The writer, Chuck Phillips, couldn’t be reached for any comment but the paper has announced that it would be investigating the supporting documents.
George Michael’s Farewell
Mar 25, 2008 Concert Tour, George Michael
George Michael is reportedly heading back to the US for what people say may be his farewell tour. The singer himself refers to it as a “rounding off” of his career’s first phase. He says “I don’t want to do anything on this scale again. No more stadiums. I’d like to be the Tony Bennett for my generation. It’s the end of a certain era, and I’m not sure how much I really want to be a part of what’s next. So, it’s a kind of a way of saying thank you to everybody before I move on.” This will be the British crooner’s first trek across the US in seventeen years!
Bob Marley’s family in licensing row
Mar 24, 2008 Bob Marley, Books, Hit Songs, Legends, Reggae
Bob Marley’s family are snubbing music licensing requests for a biopic on the legend because they are planning to release a competing documentary.
The adaptation of Marley’s widow Rita’s book ‘No Woman, No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley’ is currently in production by The Weinstein Company, but now the reggae hero’s family are refusing to license any material.
The family have sided with director Martin Scorsese, making a documentary together with the Marley-owned Tuff Gong Pictures, says the Hollywood Reporter.
The family members involved in the Scorsese project claim they were unaware the Weinstein biopic would be unveiled so soon and believe that its projected late-2009 release date would interfere with the documentary’s February 2010 release – timed to coincide with Marley’s birthday.
Executive producer, Ziggy Marley, says, “The Weinstein project has put our documentary into jeopardy. All our efforts and support are currently directed toward the documentary. We believe that this project is the best way to represent our father’s life from his perspective, and any other film project pertaining to our father will be empty without his music to support it.”
The Marley family’s lawyer Terri Dipalo denied that this was the latest move is a negotiating tactic to compel the Weinsteins to buy Marley music rights.
Corinne Bailey Rae’s Husband Found Dead
Mar 24, 2008 Corinne Bailey Rae, Drugs, Singers, Soul Music
The body of 31-year old saxophonist Jason Rae, the husband of soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, was found on Saturday. The Daily Mail is reporting that Corinne was not in the apartment when her husband’s body was found. Reports also say that Jason was found dead from a suspected drug overdose. A man was also arrested under suspicion of supplying the drugs to Jason but that man has since been released on bail. Jason was the saxophonist for the Haggis Horns, an eight-piece live funk extravaganza who combine funk, soul, hip hop and afrobeat with jazz virtuosity. My condolences go out to the family.
Barely Tell Them Apart
Mar 24, 2008 FUN, Motley Crue, Rock, Rocker
With matching black shag hairdos, his and hers rocker eyeliner and the oh so overrated wearing of black nail polish to show your edginess, 49-year old Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, more famously known as Nikki Sixx can be barely told apart from his 26-year old girlfriend Katherine Von Drachenberg, more famously known as Kat Von D. And don’t get me started on the tattoos. Considering that the LA Ink star had the name of her now ex tattooed on her skin just after a month of dating, there’s no doubt that this relationship will only last just about as long as a Motley Crue song.
Jay-Z to launch $100m label?
Mar 21, 2008 Jay-Z, Rapper, Record Label
Jay-Z wants $100 million to launch his own record label.
The hip-hop mogul, who recently quit his role as president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Def Jam Recordings, is reportedly asking music labels for the mammoth investment for new project Carter Music Group, but has so far seen his demands dismissed.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: ‘Jay-Z is asking for way too much. He wants a label to give him $100 million for the Carter Music Group and provide for overhead, development and digital investment. It’s crazy. He wants the label to basically be his venture capital fund – but unlike a venture capital, they won’t get 50 per cent.’
A venture capital fund involves the investment of money into smaller companies, which are often thought to carry more risk.
A representative for the ’99 Problems’ rapper branded the reports nothing more than ‘rumours’. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, left Def Jam late last year amid claims he wasn’t making enough money.
Last year, Jay-Z was named the second highest earning musician in the world by business bible Forbes magazine, with annual earnings of $83 million. His other business interests include owning a series of 40/40 sports bars across the US, and a stake in the New Jersey Nets basketball team.
Buffalo Hates Avril
Mar 20, 2008 Avril Lavigne, Concert Tour, Live Music, Tickets Sale
Much like the rest of the world, Buffalo, New York could care less about Avril Lavigne. Ticket sales for Avril’s current tour are so bad already and it gets worse by the day. Tickets for her upcoming show in Buffalo are selling so poorly that concert promoter Live Nation has had to cut down the prices drastically. You can now buy a whopping four tickets for just under $100 just to see Avril in her poorly reviewed show. I say just save your money and donate it to charity. But then again, with the way things are going, Avril can be considered charity already.
Diddy Shot 2Pac
Mar 19, 2008 Diddy, Rapper, Rumor, Scandal, Tupac
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and James ‘Jimmy Henchman’ Rosemond are fuming at LA Times for an article they wrote on Monday which implicated them in the 1994 shooting of rapper 2Pac. The shooting which occurred at Quad Recording Studios in New York 2 years prior his death has never been solved and no charges have been filed. But an LA Times report came out just this week that claims that the FBI has received new info that ties the shooting to two associates of Diddy, namely Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino. Both Diddy and Rosemond have made statements about the article saying it was baseless. Rosemond even adds that he’s consulting with lawyers about making any legal moves. 2Pac has long claimed that Diddy had something to do with his shooting.
Leona Lewis to take US by storm
Mar 18, 2008 Debut, Leona Lewis, New Single, Oprah, iTunes
Oprah Winfrey says Leona Lewis is going to take the US by storm. The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer appeared on Oprah’s US talk show yesterday and blew the audience away with her amazing performance.
Afterwards, Oprah announced: “A star is born!”
Before appearing on the show, Leona – whose single ‘Bleeding Love’ is currently number one in the US iTunes singles chart – spoke of her excitement about meeting one of her idols. She said: “I can’t believe it really, I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’ ”
Leona’s debut album ‘Spirit’ is set for release in the US on April 8, complete with two new bonus tracks masterminded by Akon and Madd Scientist. Earlier this year, Leona was left “overwhelmed” when Whitney Houston said she was a “baby version” of herself.
The British star met her “all-time musical hero” at producer Clive Davis’ Annual Grammy Party in Los Angeles, but could barely speak when she was introduced to Whitney.
She said: “It was amazing, I got to meet my all-time musical hero Whitney Houston – who looked so incredible. Clive introduced us. I don’t think I managed to say much though; I was overwhelmed! I was told afterwards that when I performed she had said to a friend at the record label, ‘My God, she’s a baby me!’ Wow – what a huge compliment!”
The Game is Out
After serving just 8 days out of a possible 60, rapper The Game is out of jail. The rapper, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, walked out of Twin Towers Correctional Facility after serving less than a fifth of his sentence for pleading no contest to a felony charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone. LA Country Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Steve Whitmore said that the rapper was released early due to overcrowding. What? That’s not an excuse! Couldn’t have he been transferred? Justice has not been served yet! Unbelievable. I bet he was just let out because he’s some star.
Snoop Dogg’s One Life
Mar 15, 2008 Remix, Review, Snoop Dogg
To Live, that is. Snoop announced today that he is going to be featured in an extended cameo on his favorite soap opera. For some reason, that just doesn’t fly with us.
Snoop says, “I’ve been a fan of One Life to Live since I was a baby.” So, he’s gonna act on the show and is also going to record a brand new remix of the original OLTL theme song.
Why does he love the show so much? He says, “My momma always had it on the tube in tha crib growing up.”
Janet Jackson Gets Fierce
Mar 14, 2008 Album Release, Diva, Janet Jackson
We all know that Madonna and Janet have a very icy relationship. With the recent release of Janet’s album and Madonna’s promotion of her upcoming album, it almost seems like we have the diva version of Kanye West and 50 Cent. They even have fierce covers to go against each other. Janet brought her own fierceness in the new issue of BlackBook Magazine. The diva was shot by glam master Matthew Rolston for the S&M inspired shoot. Miss Jackson works it in her photos! I wonder if she’s actually into S&M – her pics are too believable for her to not be.
Eminem Gets Sued
Why is it that when you’re pretty much a has-been, that’s when all the crappy stuff happens? Eminem’s record labels are being sued by the producers that first discovered him, claiming that they are owed back royalties. The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court, claims that Aftermath, Interscope and others owe FBT Productions and Em2M LLC in excess of $1 million because Em’s current record label miscalculated the royalties due for them. According to the suit, the defendants even admitted to such last year but have yet to pay. FBT and Em2M are suing for back royalties, damages and attorney fees.
American Idol Pros
Mar 12, 2008 American Idol, TV Show
American Idol contestants Danny Noriega and David Hernandez both had some dark pasts uncovered last week. Danny with his gothic video rants and David with his stripper past. But there are 2 people unconcerned with the issues – Danny and David themselves! Both are said to be unfazed by all the media attention. Danny chalked it up to be young and David remains focused and channels all his energy to his music. Based on David’s current behavior, you wouldn’t even know that there was any scandal surrounding him and doesn’t even appear upset. Such professionals, those 2. Too bad Danny got voted out.
Beyonce Obsessed
Much like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Knowles is focusing on her movie career right now. Variety is reporting that the former Destiny’s Child member has signed up for a new movie called ‘Obsessed’. The 26-year old singer turned actress will play the knockout wife of an asset manager to be played by Idris Elba from ‘The Wire’. ‘Heroes’ hottie Ali Larter will play a temp office worker who begins stalking Elba’s character. Steve Shill will take the director’s helm for the movie. Beyonce will start production for the movie this summer. Also, she’s producing and co-starring as Etta James in Cadillac Records.
He’s loving aliens instead – Robbie Williams
Mar 10, 2008 FUN, Robbie Williams
Pop superstar Robbie Williams claims he has seen UFOs three times.
The Angels singer says he will quit singing to study aliens after his E.T. experiences.
Robbie, 34, said: “I’m stopping being a pop star. I’m going to be a full-time Ufologist.” He says he also believes cult Scientology “exists” and thinks ghosts “are other worlds”.
Robbie “swears” he saw the UFOs; the first when he was a kid in Britain.
His second sighting was above a hotel in Beverly Hills. He said: “I was lying on my sun lounger outside at night. Above me was a square thing that passed over my head silently and shot off.”
Robbie says the third UFO appeared as he stood on his bedroom balcony after writing a song about alien contact. He said: “This big ball of gold light turned up. On my life.”
Robbie based his 2006 Close Encounters concert tour on UFOs. After claiming he also believed in ghosts, he said: “People will think I’m mental, which I am.”