Archive for the ‘Singers’ Category

Pete Doherty is Free

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Pete Doherty walked out of Wormwood Scrubs prison in West London early Tuesday morning waving a certificate in the faces of reporters outside prison gates that claimed that he was drug free. Try not to laugh out loud. When asked if he got high in jail, he said “Well, I knew it was going to be a bit rough to start with, with the overcrowding and the medical facilities although they do their best - they are good, they can’t really cater for the average junkie…” So that’s a yes then. He also said he was buzzing to be free saying “I feel great — I’ve walked out and I don’t feel like I want to score. I want to go for a nice walk in the park instead.” This makes my eyes roll.

Avril’s Apology

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Avril Lavigne hasn’t been known to be very caring of her fans but she still bothered to talk about her recent performance cancellation on her official blog. The singer and so-called songwriter said “I am at home right now taking it easy. I have been sick this whole tour, and now I have lost my voice. I have never canceled a show in my whole career and just had to for the first time ever. I am so sorry! I have been on the road for 60 days straight. I have had the flu 3 times and I never get sick, it just keeps going around. I think I am just run down.” She also talked about canceling other appearances like Jay Leno and Ryan Seacrest’s shows. Trust us Avril, whatever you have, whether the flu or a massive hangover, we would much rather you just stay home.

Snoop in the UK

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Snoop Dogg may soon be allowed to head into the UK. The British government’s decision to ban the legally troubled rapper has just been overturned by an immigration appeals judge. How much trouble does a guy doing soap operas these days pose anyway? The overturning of the decision was due to the fact that it may not be Snoop who’s to blame for the trouble that led to his ban from the country. After reviewing tapes of the brawl that Snoop allegedly sparked at Heathrow airport, the judge ruled that the brawl was “precipitated by decisions made by British Airways staff and police.” The footage even shows that Snoop was pushed twice by an officer but never retaliated. The government agency trying to keep Snoop out of the country has until Wednesday to decide whether to appeal.

Levert Unclaimed

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The Cuyahoga County Coroner reveals that the body of Sean Levert remains unclaimed. According to the coroner, the body is still a so-called guest at the Coroner’s office while Levert’s wife tries to decide whether to hold a private or public service. The 39-year old former singer died late last Sunday after being restrained in a Cleveland jail. Since his older brother, fellow singer Gerald, died last year, Sean had been trying to get the band back together – most likely for a tribute to Gerald. Now that Sean has passed, maybe the rest of the band can pay tribute to both fallen brothers.

Corinne Bailey Rae’s Husband Found Dead

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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.

Avril no thief

Avril no thief

A pair of U.S. songwriters who accused Avril Lavigne of ripping off one of their tunes now say the songstress did nothing wrong.

Last summer, Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer alleged that Lavigne’s boppy track “Girlfriend” sounded suspiciously like the Rubinoos 1979 single, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.”

On Tuesday, Lavigne’s record company Nettwerk issued a statement from Dunbar and Gangwer in which the two men said: “We are satisfied that any similarities between the two songs resulted from Avril and Luke’s use of certain common and widely used lyrics.”

I hope they apologised too!

Avril Settles Issues

Avril Settles Issues

Avril Lavigne has been accused of stealing songs many times by many artists. But it seems that the Canadian singer and so-called songwriter wanted to make a fresh start in 2008 because she has just settled a plagiarism lawsuit brought against her by the band the Rubinoos, who claim that Avril’s song ‘Girlfriend’ sounded way too much like their song ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’.

The terms of the out of court deal are confidential. However, I can pretty much guarantee that Avril had to fork over some cash. Now I wonder if she would fork over money to Peaches and Chantal Kreviazuk and whoever else.

Crisco Adler Makes Good Music

Crisco Adler Makes Good Music

No, there’s nothing wrong with your computer. I really did entitle the post with that. Crisco Adler is the unnamed half of Shwayze. Like the so-called producer, Shwayze hails from Malibu, California. His music could best be described as the love child between indie and hip hop. Shwayze does the raps while Crisco sings the hooks.

I’m really hesitant to say it and fear future humiliation but it’s really good. It’s different, fresh and fun. I guess you really just have to get over the Crisco thing. So it’s a great big help that the music only takes Shwayze’s name and not his.

Raz B Takes it Back

Raz B Takes it Back

Last week, B2K’s former member Demario ‘Raz B’ Thorton accused his former manager of sexual abuse. But now, he is saying that he made the whole thing up. He posted a statement on YouTube, much like he did with the accusation, apologizing for the accusations he made about Chris Stokes saying that the allegations were not true. I guess he got scared of Stokes’ initial response of seeking legal action against him.

Stokes has since released another statement saying “I’m happy that Demario ‘Raz B’ Thorton and Ricardo Thorton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying. I have always supported my family and have always been a stand up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light.”

Celine Dion Takes a Bow

Celine Dion Takes a Bow

Celine Dion was photographer with her 6 ½-year old son Rene as she waved goodbye during the final run of her Las Vegas show ‘A New Day’ at The Colosseum at the Caesars Palace on Saturday night.

Since the show opened in March 2003, nearly 3 million people have watched the 39-year old songstress perform 717 live shows. Gross ticket sales have totaled a cool $400 million. For those that missed the show, you can still catch it on the newly released five-hour double DVD ‘Celine Dion: A New Day – Live in Las Vegas’.

Celine will be kicking off the North American leg of her concert tour next month.

Rihanna’s Bad look is Good

Rihanna’s Bad look is Good

At her sold out Wembley gig last night, Rihanna proved she can hold her own against any of the strong female legends of pop as she rocked the stage in some very hot outfits.

The performance certainly drove away any ‘teen-pop’ image she may have been carrying. With awesome stage presence, powerhouse vocals and moves that would have Beyonce shaking in her boots; the fans went nuts.

I doubt the many changes of PVC bondage outfits harmed the effect either.

Kenny and Lance Raise Eyebrows

Kenny and Lance Raise Eyebrows

From one artist’s raised eyebrows to another, here’s a glimpse of your future.

Country crooner turned roasted chicken king Kenny Rogers, along with his taut face, visited Lance Bass and his overdone eyebrows backstage at ‘Hairspray’ on Broadway. I never knew Kenny Rogers was an NSYNC fan much less a Broadway fan.

I wonder if Lance thought “this will one day be me” when he looked at Kenny’s face. It could happen you know. I mean, only time will tell if Lance will morph into one of those men who look like Kenny Rogers. I think he will. He’s already got the raised eyebrows down pat.

Madonna Gets Inducted

Madonna Gets Inducted

There are some things that are inevitable and you know should happen and would happen. It’s just like Madonna being announced to be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee on Thursday. I think she’s a shoe-in because she’s pretty much the ultimate icon and the most influential woman in pop music.

Madonna was one of five acts chosen for induction at the annual ceremony which will be held on March 10 in New York City. The other artists are John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.

Congrats!

Welcome Back Janet Jackson

Welcome Back Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is officially back and she is on fire! The youngest Jackson singer is ready to toss her hat back in the ring of the music industry with a new album coming out next year. The lead single has already leaked on the internet and it is hot!

‘Feedback’ is the name of the comeback song and here’s some feedback for her, it’s absolutely great! It’s not retro, it’s not futuristic – it’s just now. It’s current, it’s fresh and it’s fun. It’s a classic ‘Janet’ song. It’s also quite smart of her to lead the album with a dance track too.

Mary J. Blige - Come To Me (Peace) Live On CNN - Video

Mary J. Blige performed on Thursday night at “CNN Heroes: All Star Tribute”. She sang “Come To Me (Peace)”, a new song from her upcoming studio album entitled “Growing Pains”

Bow Wow Gets Hospitalized

Bow Wow Gets Hospitalized

Rapper Lil Bow Wow, oh wait, I meant Bow Wow. He’s not so little anymore. Anyway, the rapper was rushed to a Cincinnati hospital on Thursday night after he came from a performance there.

His record label issued a statement saying that the 20-year old rapper is suffering from ‘stress and exhaustion’. They also said that while his tour with Chris Brown, Sean Kingston and Soulja Boy prepares to take the stage in Chicago, he won’t be able to make it. The Sony rep does say that “He loves them and will be sure to come back to Chicago soon!”

Madonna Gives Candy

Madonna Gives Candy - New Album

It’s been reported that Madonna’s next studio album, her last with new material under Warner Bros., will be released in April of 2008 and will carry the title ‘Licorice’. The disc reportedly features collaboration with Kanye West and Pharell amongst others. There’s no word whether a tour will follow but it doesn’t hurt to pray for it.

However, not long after news broke out, Madonna’s publicist Liz Rosenberg has denied reports that the Queen of Pop’s new album will be called ‘Licorice’ and that it’s coming out in April. Music industry insiders are not buzzing that the disc will be called ‘Give It To Me’.

Rapper Gets Shot

Rapper Gets Shot

Rapper Spice 1, a legend in the Bay Area, is in critical condition after being shot in the chest. The Hayward California Police Department is saying that the rapper, whose real name is Robert Green Jr., was seriously injured but that the injury is not life threatening.

Police are saying that there is currently no suspect regarding the shooting and no arrests have been made. Investigation on the who’s, how’s and why’s regarding Spice 1’s shooting is currently going on.

Spice 1 has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the rap industry, including Method Man, 2Pac and Ice-T.

Britney Spears Almost Gets Replaced

Britney Spears Almost Gets Replaced

Britney Spears is quickly getting known as someone who likes to bail and she almost bailed on her music video shoot for ‘Piece of Me’. That is, until her record label planned to use the dancers and location for her video for a younger rising star.

Page Six is reporting that the pop wreck was supposed to show up at Social Hollywood to shoot her new video but was hours late. When it looked like she was going to be a no-show, Jive decided to refit the set for another act’s video shoot – Samantha Jade’s ‘Eyes on Me’. When Brit got wind of what was going on, the Post says that she finally showed up – twelve hours past call time.

Ozzy Cleans House

Ozzy Cleans House

It was a high-end yard sale for Ozzy Osbourne fans this weekend. They showed up in droves to place their bids on items such as a bat coat, skull sneakers, and many other items belonging to the famous Osbourne family.

The sale was run by Julien’s Auctions. Owner of the company, Darren Julien, told reporters that it was a mix of heavymetal fans and art lovers lining up to bid on the items. “For the most part, the metalheads were outbidding the art crowd.”

The items were sold from the Beverly Hills mansion that formerly belong to Ozzy and Sharon. For the most part, the items that were featured on MTV’s “The Osbournes” were in higher demand that other items. Among the items selling were a coat decorated with bats for $3300, sneakers with skulls on them for $2625, a pair of Ozzy’s sunglasses for $5250, and an oversided coffee mug that Ozzy often carried on the show for $1625.

Those who were interested in art looked for items such as a sculpture by Edouard Drouot, which sold for $10,500.

Julien predicted that the auction would bring in about $350,000. At the end of the sale, they made about $800,000. The family is donating the proceeds to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

That’s one heck of a yard sale! I could sell the contents of my entire home and probably not make that kind of a bundle. Kudos to the Osbournes for donating the money to a worthy cause.

Osbournes

Keyshia Cole is Late for Thanksgiving

Keyshia Cole

Keyshia Cole is about a week late for Thanksgiving. And I think she has the roles confused. She’s supposed to eat the turkey and not be the turkey. Who the heck told her that it was okay for her to wear what looks like feather fluff? Her stylist needs to be fired!

The R&B singer looked like the stuffed bird that got away from the Thanksgiving dinner table when she was at the taping of BET’s 106 & Park on Wednesday. It’s like a cross of Bjork’s legendary swan dress and the Olsen twins wardrobe from a couple of years ago.

Birdman Gets Caged

Birdman Gets Caged

16 people were arrested in Kingsport, Tennessee earlier this week facing drug and possible gun charges. Among them was rapper Birdman whose real name is Bryan ‘Baby’ Williams, one of the founders of Cash Money Records..Birdman was in an RV that was spotted by police as it made an improper lane change. When police approached the RV, the smell of marijuana came from the inside where they found around a pound of pot as well as 2-23 carbine assault rifle, 9mm handgun and magazine for .45-cal handgun. The rapper, his wife, brother and 13 other people were charged with possession of over ½ ounce of marijuana. All 16 people arrested were said to be employed in some way with Cash Money Records.

Kylie aims high

Kylie aims high

After a long absence Kylie Minogue is struggling to regain her place on the celebrity podium. Not only is she planning a long and fantastic European tour the next year, but she will also appear on the stage of the honorific Nobel Prize concert to celebrate the winners of 2007. She will be performing for Nobel Prize winners: the climate chance panel of the United Nations and ex-vice president Al. Gore. The prize is offered to the combined parties for their united effort in trying to wake the world up and realize an inconvenient truth: the global warming that is threatening to destroy our planet and our race along with it.

Kylie will join on the stage various celebrity females like Annie Lennox and Alicia Keys. It seems like on December the 11th only women are worthy to honor the giving of a Nobel Prize, as all singers will be members of the beautiful sex.

Amy Winehouse Cancels Tour

Amy Winehouse Cancels Tour

Can you say pathetic? I can understand love struck but this is just dumb. Amy Winehouse has cancelled her UK tour and all promotional appearances through 2008 because she’s too upset about her husband Blake Fielder-Civil being in jail. Professionalism is definitely not in her vocabulary.Wino released a statement on Tuesday saying “I can’t give it my all onstage without my Blake. I’m so sorry but I don’t want to do the shows half-heartedly; I love singing. My husband is everything to me and without him it’s just not the same.”

The few shows she has done have been slammed by critics and fans. It at least saves everyone else and they get refunds too.

Baby Boom - Usher

Baby Boom

There appears to be congratulations in order for singer Usher and his wife; as their first child arrived into the world at 9.30pm on Monday (26-11-07). Originally, they named baby son, Usher. Usher Raymond V to be precise.

So is that like calling him Junior? Well, if so, little Jr. was a healthy 7lb 9oz; and the couple are overjoyed. “We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son. What a blessing!”

I have to say it’s lovely and refreshing to not be writing about crazy stars doing drug related, alcohol related or generally weird related things for once. I have already mentioned this week the planned wedding of Kanye West and his girlfriend; and now the happy family here. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy… until tomorrow when someone is bound to have done something stupid. Again.

Baby Boom - Usher

Kevin DuBrow dead

Kevin DuBrow dead

The 80’s nostalgia ends up tragically as the lead sing of Quiet riot has been found dead in his home.
Police discovered his lifeless body after performing a search once they got phone calls announcing he was missing. Friends and family are devastated, and former band members show their grief.

The band was currently active, singing from time to time and releasing albums once in a while, so the relationships between him and his colleagues were still good. No one seems to know what happened, but as in most cases when it comes to musicians, I suspect it was a suicide. As police didn’t reveal many details about his death, or the causes, I can’t assume anything or imagine the circumstance. But I think that if they would have found signs of unusual presences in his home or burglar steps they would have announced that.

Kanye’s Mom Laid to Rest

Kanye’s Mom Laid to Rest

After a rollercoaster ride of emotions, rapper Kanye West finally buried his mother, Dr. Donda West, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma earlier this week.

The ceremony was held at the True Vine Ministry church which could hold up to 2,500 people. The funeral was attended by members of the music industry as reported by AccessHollywood.com. Beyonce and Jay-Z attended the services where John Legend and Anita Baker performed in honor of Donda.

Kanye reportedly broke down inside the church as he was giving his eulogy and talking about his mother. He said, he wanted her to not “rest in peace, but rest in paradise.”

Prosecutor Says This Isn’t T.I.’s First Time

Prosecutor Says This Isn't T.I.'s First Time

Apparently rapper T.I. likes to play with guns - even though he’s been told not to many times.T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, is currently facing federal charges in relation to his October 13 arrest. He was arrested in Atlanta, just a few hours before he was scheduled to perform at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He was allegedly attempting to purchase unregistered machine guns and silencers.

His official charge is possession of unregistered guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He managed to make bond and is currently serving under house arrest.

Convicted felon, you ask? Well, let’s review the laundry list of T.I.’s previous run-ins with the law. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, he was involved in three other instances of unlawful possession of guns.

The first incident was on December 22, 2001. He was carrying a concealed 9mm pistol and told police his name was Douglas Morgan. He managed to get out of this one without a criminal conviction.

The second time was November 1, 2002, less than a year later. He was carrying a 10mm pistol. Guess he hadn’t learned his lesson yet.

The third incident occurred when a search warrant was issued for his Fulton County home on December 18, 2004. Police found a gun with attached silencer, ammunition, and pictures of T.I. holding weapons. Again, this incident did not bring a criminal conviction.

Part of this newest charge is possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Seems T.I. was arrested for selling crack in Atlanta when he was just 17 years old. He was given seven years of probation for that offense, which he violated, so he was then sent to jail.

It seems to me that his problem isn’t just playing with guns; it’s listening to authority.

Beyonce at AMAs

Beyonce at AMAs

Bobby Brown may be going through a career change by trying to make it in country but did you ever fathom that Beyonce could do that same?

In a surprising move, Beyonce put a sweet country twist to her massive hit ‘Irreplaceable’ and even brought in Sugarland country crusaders Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush at the 2007 American Music Awards.

Beyonce was also recognized with the International Artist Award of Excellence. It’s a huge achievement because not only is she the first female artist to ever receive it but she also joins a list of legends including Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees and Aerosmith.

Alicia Keys is 4 for 4

Alicia Keys is 4 for 4

Out of four albums released over the span of her career, all four have debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. Her most recent album was released last week, entitled As I Am.

A #1 debut is not her only Thanksgiving blessing this week, though. Keys has already sold 742,400 copies and is her highest performing debut yet. Her first album Songs in a Minor (2001) sold 235,800 copies while her sophomore album The Diary of Alicia Keys sold 618,300. Unplugged (2005) sold approximately 196,000 copies. This year, her closest competition was Josh Groban’s Neel, a Christmas themed album, which hit #2 with around 223,000 copies.

This recent increase in album sales has shown us that it is indeed beginning to look at a lot like Christmas. And a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised to find a copy of the R&B songster’s latest gift in their stockings!