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May '07

The Jackson Family
An auction of memorabilia of US pop family the Jacksons is being prepared in Las Vegas. Over 1,100 lots including rhinestone-studded costumes, platinum records, faded documents and other mementoes will be auctioned at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The items owned by Universal Express, the Florida luggage transport company, are expected to fetch millions of dollars from bidders from around the globe on May 30th & May 31st.
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Courtney Love
Courtney Love has reacted angrily to a new advertising campaign for Dr Martens boots, which features Kurt Cobain wearing a pair in Heaven. David Suddens, boss of footwear brand Dr. Martens has apologized to Courtney Love for featuring her late husband. Sex Pistol Sid Vicious, Joey Ramone from The Ramones and Clash's Joe Strummer are other three dead rockers in the advertising campaign which has only been run in the UK.
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Green Day
Green Day stunned fans on the finale of talent show American Idol Wednesday night with a performance of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero." The punk trio's surprise appearance on the hit show was to help promote a new album of Lennon covers, 'Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.'
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Iggy Pop
A garden inspired by Iggy Pop has claimed a top award at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. The "Lust For Life" exhibit, with it's centrepiece, an arc of water that spouts in rhythmic time to the beats of Pop's landmark song was entered by The Children's Society and took a silver medal in the Best Chic category at the prestigious horticultural event. Iggy has revealed his delight at the news, admitting he feels highly honoured to have been chosen to represent the worthy charity in the annual competition.
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Barbra Streisand
Last week in Italy, consumer groups Codacons and Adusbef protested Barbra Streisand tickets as "absurd and shameful" with ticket prices ranging from just under £100 to more than £600, calling on authorities to deny Streisand use of the 24,000-seat stadium. As a result Barbra Streisand has cancelled her concert in Rome next month
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Britney Spears
Britney Spears stormed off a busy jet plane, delaying the flight from Los Angeles to Florida for almost one hour - wait for it - because the aircraft's seats were not made of leather. Tony Sanchez told UK Sunday newspaper The News Of The World (May 20th), "The plane was about to taxi to the runway when Britney got up. She said, 'I don't want to fly on this plane - it hasn't got leather seats.' Then there was a further delay as her bags had to be found and taken off."
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Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper traded booze for birdies, and he writes about saving his life through golf in his just-published memoir, "Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock 'n' Roller's 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict" (Crown). "I traded one bad habit for another habit, only this habit (golf) was a lot healthier," says Cooper, who went through rehab in the late '70s and early '80s but has been clean and sober since 1983 and has counseled other celebrities about kicking their addictions.
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Busta Rhymes
34 year old Busta Rhymes was arrested on a drunken driving charge early this morning (May 3) in New York, marking the latest in a series of recent legal troubles for the rapper. Officers stopped Busta at about 12:40 a.m. because the sport utility vehicle he was driving had overly tinted windows, Sgt. Mike Wysokowski said. He said officers then smelled alcohol on the rapper's breath.
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Brandy
Singer/actor Brandy was sued for negligence and wrongful death by the husband of a waitress who was killed in a freeway crash involving the entertainer. Marouane Hdidou filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He seeks unspecified damages. His wife, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died on Dec. 30 in a crash on the San Diego Freeway. A California Highway Patrol report said a Land Rover driven by 28-year-old Brandy Norwood failed to slow in traffic and was going 65 mph when it struck the back of a Honda driven by Aboudihaj. The Honda hit another vehicle, slid sideways and struck a centre divider, then was hit by a car driven by 50-year-old Mallory Ham of Simi Valley, the report said.
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Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is to embark on her first-ever tour of Continental Europe this summer, and take in her first U.K. dates since 1994. The European tour, which will feature a 58-piece orchestra, begins June 21 at Vienna's Schloss Schonbrun.
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April '07
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg has been refused entry into Australia because of his extensive criminal record, the immigration minister said today (April 26). It's the second time this year the rapper has been barred from entering another country.
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Bobby "Boris" Pickett
69 year old Bobby "Boris" Pickett, who sang and co-wrote the Halloween anthem "Monster Mash" which topped of the charts in 1962, making him one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia today (April 25). ~ Full Tribute
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Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson and his tour manager, David Anderson, were $1,024 each and put both on probation for six months (April 24) after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession in St. Martinville, La. Willie and tour manager David Anderson, along with Nelson's sister, Bobbie Nelson, and two drivers, were issued citations on Sept. 18 after state troopers said they found marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms on the country legend's tour bus during a commercial-vehicle inspection on Interstate 10. As part of a plea agreement, the citation against Bobbie Nelson was dismissed.
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Aretha Franklin
Auditions for singing and non-singing parts in a musical production based on music legend Aretha Franklin's autobiography have been scheduled for May 1-3 in suburban Detroit. The musical based on the 1999 best-seller "Aretha: From These Roots" is tentatively set to premiere in Franklin's hometown of Detroit in March 2008. The 65-year-old vocalist will help choose the performers who will portray her at various ages, relatives, close friends, background singers and musical colleagues including Sam Cooke, Dinah Washington, Smokey Robinson and pianist Art Tatum.
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Don Ho
Donald Tai Loy "Don" Ho, Hawaiian musician and entertainer died in Waikiki from heart failure, he was 76 ~ Full Tribute
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Trey Anastasio
Phish frontman, 42 year old Trey Anastasio pleaded guilty, April 13 to a felony drug charge in Fort Edward, N.Y., avoiding jail time in a plea agreement that drops more serious charges and orders him into a drug court program. He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, admiting that he was in possession of Vicodin, Percocet, heroin and Xanax when he was pulled over in a Dec. 15 traffic stop in Whitehall.
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Bono and the Edge
A Spider-Man Broadway Musical, Marvel Studios is putting the pieces together for a musical on the Great White Way starring the popular superhero Spiderman , which will be directed by Tony winner Julie Taymor, with U2's Bono and the Edge creating new music and lyrics for the project. Auditions are taking place, and a reading is scheduled for the summer. No dates for a Broadway opening have been set.
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Guns N' Roses
A New Jersey company claims Guns N' Roses owes it $107,000, plus interest, for handling gear and other services during the band's 2006 tour. Repeated requests have failed to bring payment, according to a lawsuit filed in state Superior Court for Essex County by Speed of Sound, of Irvington. The lawsuit was filed April 11 against GNR, three companies affiliated with the band that handled tour arrangements, and members of the rock group, including singer Axl Rose.
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Ozzfest Tour
Ozzfest Tour will cost fans nothing to attend, but those who purchase Ozzy Osbourne's first new studio album in six years, "Black Rain," will now have a better shot at getting in the door. The initial pressings of "Black Rain" will contain a code that will give fans first crack at scoring a ticket to Ozzfest. "Black Rain" will arrive May 22 via Epic. Specially marked copies of the new set will be available at participating retailers. Fans will be able to use a code found within the album's packaging to redeem two Ozzfest tickets via a special Web site starting June 8th four days before they're made available to the general public.
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Velvet Revolver
After scrapping the original May 29 release date, Velvet Revolver has settled on July 3 to unveil its second RCA album, "Libertad." Impacting in mid-May, the first single from the set will be "She Builds Quick Machines," one of the four new tracks the group has been playing of late during shows in South America.
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March '07
Paul McCartney
After weeks of speculation, Paul McCartney is now officially the first artist signed to Hear Music, a new joint label formed by Starbucks and the Concord Music Group. The as-yet-untitled album is due in early June
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Sir Elton John
Sir Elton John's career-spanning catalog of more than 30 albums will be available as digital downloads for the first time from March 26. Apple's iTunes Music Store will have the exclusive through April.
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Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers, the Scottish pop group of the 1970s, accused Arista Records in a lawsuit yesterday (March 20) of failing to pay millions of dollars in royalties over the last 25 years. The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan seeks unspecified damages on behalf of six band members, including bassist Alan Longmuir and drummer Derek Longmuir, brothers who started the group in Edinburgh in 1967.
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones will appear on June 10 to headline at the Isle of Wight Festival, according to reports. The Stones have not played a U.K. festival since the Knebworth '76.
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Traveling Wilburys
"Traveling Wilburys Volume 1" and "Traveling Wilburys Volume 3" will be available on June 12th, together in one package with bonus tracks and a DVD of rare footage, as a deluxe linen-bound edition, a vinyl set and a digital bundle. The DVD boasts a 24-minute documentary and five music videos.
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Reading and Leeds Festivals
American alternative rock acts Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins will headline Britain's annual Reading and Leeds festivals this summer. Many other bands, including Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, Fall Out Boy, Bloc Party and Nine Inch Nails, will make up the performers for the twin three-day festival, which begins Aug. 24.
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held last night (March 12) at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel. R.E.M., Van Halen, Patti Smith, the Ronettes and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were enshrined this year.
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R.E.M.
R.E.M.'s original foursome has recorded a cover of John Lennon's "#9 Dream" as the centerpiece of the charity album "Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur." The song will be released to U.S. radio outlets today (March 12) and to digital retailers tomorrow, while the album is due June 12 via Warner Bros.
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Brad Delp
Boston vocalist Brad Delp, who sang on classic rock staples like "More Than a Feeling," "Don't Look Back" and "Long Time," was found dead at his southern New Hampshire home yesterday (March 9). ~ FULL TRIBUTE
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Eddie Van Halen
Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen has entered a rehabilitation facility for undisclosed reasons, casting further doubt over the band's intended summer reunion tour with David Lee Roth, which derailed last month. "I have always and will always feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best," the guitarist wrote on Van Halen's Web site.
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Courtney Love
A Santa Ana, Calif., drug rehabilitation center has sued Courtney Love, claiming the singer has repeatedly refused to pay her $181,000 bill for her stay there a year and a half ago. The lawsuit, filed March 1 in Orange County Superior Court, said Love paid $10,000 when she entered Beau Monde, an oceanfront retreat in Newport Beach in August 2005, but she still owes $181,286.
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John Popper
Blues Traveler singer and harmonica player John Popper was arrested near Ritzville, Wash., after the vehicle he was riding in was clocked going 111 mph, the Washington State Patrol said yesterday (March 7). Popper, 39, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 90 near the Spokane/Lincoln county line, the Washington State Patrol said. Inside the black Mercedes SUV, officers found a cache of weapons and a small amount of marijuana.
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Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix's family filed a federal lawsuit yesterday (March 6) over the use of the guitar legend's name to market a brand of vodka. The family claims in the lawsuit that companies owned by Seattle businessman Craig Dieffenbach used trademarked material to market Hendrix Electric Vodka and other products.
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Sean "Diddy" Combs
A lawsuit has been filed against Sean "Diddy" Combs, alleging the music mogul punched and pushed the plaintiff and his girlfriend at a Hollywood nightclub. Gerard Rechnitzer is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit, which was filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
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Jarvis Cocker
Former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker will release his first solo album, "Jarvis," April 3 in North America via Rough Trade. The set features contributions from former Pulp bandmates Steve Mackey and Richard Hawley and was recorded in roughly 13 days in Sheffield, England. The vocals were then tracked in Paris.
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Angela Hacker
Angela Hacker took the crown in the fifth season of "Nashville Star" last night (March 1) in Nashville. The Muscle Shoals, Ala., native won out over her brother Zac and David St. Romain of Baton Rouge, La. With her victory, Hacker wins a deal with Warner Bros. Nashville and a new Chevy Silverado. Warner plans to release Hacker's debut album to stores April 3.
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Kelis
Kelis was charged early Friday with trying to disrupt an undercover police operation by screaming racial profanities and rushing toward two female officers posing as prostitutes, Miami Beach, Fla., authorities said.
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Kelis Rogers-Jones
Kelis Rogers-Jones, 27, was detained at 4:30 a.m. and charged with the two misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence, a Miami Beach police arrest report said. The singer was released on $1,500 bond hours later, Miami-Dade County jail spokeswoman Janelle Hall said.
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Foxy Brown
Foxy Brown, warned by a New York judge that her next probation offense would be her last, was allowed to remain free yesterday (March 1) after she pleaded guilty to violating probation by leaving New York without permission. She was arrested during a fracas at a beauty supply store in Pembroke Pines, Fla., on Feb. 15. Police charged her with resisting an officer and simple battery.
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Arctic Monkeys
Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys cemented their status as Britain's hottest young band at the NME Awards tonight (March 1) at London's Hammersmith Palais, when they won two categories.: best album for their debut "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and best music DVD for "Scummy Man."
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February '07
Billy Thorpe
Australian rock icon Billy Thorpe died earlier today (Feb. 28) at Sydney's Vincent Hospital, after suffering a heart attack. He was 60.
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Tibet House Benefit
Michael Stipe, Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Ray Davies were among the featured performers at the 17th annual Tibet House Benefit at Carnegie Hall last night (Feb. 26) in New York. Debbie Harry, Ben Harper, Laurie Anderson and Icelandic band Sigur Ros were also on the bill. Last night's benefit coincided with the Tibetan New Year
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James Blunt
Police are investigating reports that James Blunt ran over someone's foot as he was leaving a party, then drove off, Los Angeles authorities said Tuesday. The alleged victim told police his foot was injured at a party Saturday around 1:50 a.m. (Feb25), "James was leaving a party and his car was swarmed by paparazzi," Blunt's publicist Sheila Richman said. In a statement, she said the singer was driving at "2 mph" and that he was "trying to navigate his car through all of the people."
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Van Halen
A prospective Van Halen tour with original frontman David Lee Roth has derailed. Insiders close to the situation say a tour is still in the works and will happen. (Feb 24)
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American Idol
The first 4 singers of `American Idol' were voted out of the 24 semifinalists; they were Amy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo, Paul Kim and Rudy Cardenas. (Feb 22)
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Beanie Sigel
A judge extended Beanie Sigel's supervised release after he was questioned in federal court about a positive drug test and association with convicted felons. Sigel was sentenced in October 2004 to 12 months and a day, plus two years of supervised release, on gun and drug charges. (Feb 21)
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James Brown
The six adult children of singer James Brown have agreed with his partner, Tomi Rae Hynie, on where the entertainer will be buried, an attorney for the woman said yesterday (Feb. 20) Hynie's attorney, Robert Rosen, said the resting place is being kept confidential at the request of Brown's children. Rosen said the burial may take place in the "next few days."
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Aerosmith
Aerosmith will take a break from working on a new studio album to tour Europe this summer for the first time since 1999. The trek begins June 6 in Randers, Denmark, and will run through July 12 in Moscow. Beforehand, the group will play in Dubai and Mumbai, India.
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Al Gore
More than 100 of the world's biggest names in music, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi and Keane, will appear in a series of concerts to highlight the threat of climate change. Former US vice president Al Gore announced that the 24-hour Live Earth event will feature star-studded concerts in London and six other cities around the world. The other cities involved will be Shanghai, Johannesburg, Sydney and locations to be announced in Japan, Brazil and the US. There will even be a concert in Antarctica.
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Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol have joined the charity arena. Following the release of their single Open Your Eyes, Jonny Quinn and Gary Lightbody have released a letter urging their supporters to join Save the Children's recent campaign. The initiative aims to remind world leaders that they must fulfil the rights of the poorest children round the world. The letter reads: "Hi, Jonny and Gary here from Snow Patrol. In the Make Poverty History campaign we all made our voices heard in our millions. But how come children are still dying in their hundreds every day because they can't afford to go to the doctor?... The letter continues to remind readers about the G8 summit on June 2, "where we can all unite to send a message to Europe and the G8, telling them that enough is enough and the world can't wait".
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Tony Wilson
Factory Records founder Tony Wilson is battling kidney cancer, but that isn't stopping him from moving forward with plans for the 2007 editions of his long-running In the City music seminars in London and Manchester, England. His illness has forced the postponement of a planned Perth edition of In the City later this year, which he hopes to stage in 2008. But Wilson talks excitedly about In the City New York, which will be held June 13-14 and feature showcases by up-and-coming U.K. bands and industry panels.
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Phil Spector
The murder trial of music producer Phil Spector will be televised, a judge ordered today (Feb. 16), saying it is time for the justice system to get beyond the O.J. Simpson trial.
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Madonna
Madonna says she is not content to be the Queen of Pop - she wants to be like Gandhi. The singer adds peace campaigners John Lennon and Martin Luther King to her roll call of individuals she emulates. Madonna said: "For me the best thing in the world is to see something or hear something and go 'damn, I wish I did that, damn, I wish I could do that. That's inspiring'."
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Britney Spears
Britney Spears has turned skin head! Britney grabbed an electric clipper and shaved her own head at a San Fernando Valley salon, before going to her tatooist to have pair of tiny pink and red lips tattooed on her wrist.
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Brit Awards 2007
Take That took best single, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers were double winners
FULL WINNERS LIST
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Wham!
The duo, Wham! may reform for a special gig at Wembley Stadium. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, haven't performed together since 1986, but look set to get back on stage for a one-off spectacular. George and Andrew are currently in talks. Andrew pulled out of appearing at one of George's concerts last year after being struck with stage fright.
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Grammy Awards 2007
Music greats such as Joan Baez, the Doors and the Grateful Dead won lifetime Grammy achievement awards yesterday (Feb 10)
FULL WINNERS LIST
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Jadakiss
Jadakiss, the rapper who wrote controversial lyrics about U.S. President George W. Bush and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on New York, has been indicted on gun and drug charges. Using his real name of Jason Phillips, Jadakiss entered a not guilty plea yesterday (Feb. 8) to charges of possessing a loaded handgun and marijuana in White Plains, N.Y.
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R. Kelly
R. Kelly missed a Chicago court appearance on child pornography charges yesterday (Feb. 7) after undergoing surgery for a burst appendix, his lawyer said. Attorney Terence Gillespie said the 40-year-old R&B singer underwent surgery Sunday, shortly after being admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Gillespie said Kelly was in good condition and was expected to be released from the hospital later today.
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Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, the big-voiced singer whose string of hits made him one of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s, died yesterday (Feb. 6). He was 93. Laine died of heart failure at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, Jimmy Marino.
FULL TRIBUTE
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Phil Spector
Phil Spector will receive $900,000 from a former assistant who he claimed embezzled thousands of dollars from him. California Superior Court Judge Mark Mooney signed the judgment yesterday, Feb. 5th, making official a deal reached in October between the famed record producer and Michelle Blaine. Spector claimed in his September 2005 lawsuit that Blaine took $425,000 from his pension fund without his permission and did not repay him $635,000 she used to buy a Costa Mesa home.
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Apple Corps Ltd
Mac computer and iPod maker Apple said today, Feb. 5th it settled long-simmering trademark issues with the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. company about the use of the name "Apple" and apple logos. The new settlement replaces the companies' 1991 agreement, and gives Apple Inc. ownership of all the trademarks related to "Apple." In addition, Apple Inc. will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for their continued use.
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Joe Hunter
Joe Hunter, Motown's first bandleader and a three-time Grammy winner with the Funk Brothers, has sadly died. He was 79. Hunter was a diabetic, but the cause of his death on Friday was not immediately known, his son, Joe Hunter Jr., told the Detroit News.
FULL TRIBUTE
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January '07
Van Halen
Van Halen have confirmed the rumour that their original singer, David Lee Roth, is rejoining the band. Once replacement Sammy Hagar had bowed out, a reunion always looked likely. Fans of their earlier work will be delighted. Eddie Van Halen's 15-year-old son Wolfgang replacing Michael Anthony on bass.The band will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March.
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Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses will play their first-ever African shows when they headline My Coke Fest 2007. The rock group tops a bill that so far includes Evanescence and Hoobastank at Johannesburg's New Market Racecourse on April 27 and Cape Town's Kenilworth Racecourse on May 1.
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Babyshambles
Pete Doherty's Babyshambles have signed a long-term deal with record label Parlophone. The band's debut, The Blinding EP, was a critical success and a follow-up is expected. The label stated that Doherty is "one of the best songwriters of his generation", echoing plaudits from fans and press.
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Beyoncé
Beyoncé and her brand new film Dreamgirls are looking hot favourites to receive a golden statuette, with three nominations for best song. The lady herself is nominated for Listen, while American Idol's Jennifer Hudson is nominated for the show-stopping Love You I Do.
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James Brown
The woman who claims to be James Brown's fourth wife wants half of the singer's estate and to be allowed back into the South Carolina home she was locked out of soon after his death. Tomi Rae Hynie's lawyer said she filed a petition in Aiken County, S.C., probate court yesterday (Feb. 1), claiming that she is the surviving spouse of the singer and entitled to part of his estate, according to court documents obtained by the Associated Press.
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Hammersmith Palais
Long-standing music venue the Hammersmith Palais, London, is on borrowed time, as the local council has given the go-ahead for it to be demolished. Over the years, the Palais has played host to the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols and Justin Timberlake, among many others.
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Kiss
Kiss has partnered with comic book production company Platinum Studios to create a new comic-book entertainment company called the Kiss Comics Group. This is not the first time there have been comics featuring the members of the band, but it will be the first time that Kiss -- under the banner of Kiss Catalog Ltd., run by original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley -- will produce its own comic-book-based characters.
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Galstonbury
Michael Eavis has let slip a number of bands confirmed for the three-day Galstonbury music fest. Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and Bjork are set for the Pyramid stage, while Eavis also strongly hinted that The Who might call it a day at the legendary Somerset setting.
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The Who
Brit rockers The Who have been given an outstanding achievement award by ITV's South Bank Show for their role as pioneers of rock. Amy Winehouse was also a winner in the pop category, beating Arctic Monkeys and Jarvis Cocker to claim the gong.
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Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is back in the United States after living in Bahrain, France and Ireland. He emerged with his spokeswoman today (Jan. 26) to confirm to the Associated Press that he is back after more than a year in self-imposed exile following his acquittal in a high-profile child molestation trial that ended in June 2005.