Pamela Anderson at the VMAs on Sunday
Photo: Associated Press

Pamela Anderson is like the Switzerland of rock and roll exes.

When it comes to Sunday's skirmish between ex-husbands Tommy Lee and Kid Rock during Alicia Keys' performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, she is "staying out of it" (see "Kid Rock, Tommy Lee Battle At VMAs — Watch The Video").

The blond bombshell visited "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Wednesday, according to People magazine, and was asked about the rockers' public punch-fest. She said she isn't choosing sides and wasn't even present for the scrap, which security guards quickly broke up. "As soon as I left, meow!" she said. "They all went after each other."

DeGeneres pointed out that, during Anderson's previous appearance on the program, she had said Lee and Rock didn't get along. "Can ya tell?" Anderson quipped. DeGeneres was also curious about Anderson's seemingly cozy relationship with Lee, with whom she has two children, Brandon, 11, and Dylan, 9. During the VMAs, Anderson was seen playfully sitting on Lee's lap.

"He pulled me on his lap and spanked my butt," she revealed. "What are you going to do? Boys."

Anderson said she wasn't sure what inspired her more recent ex, Kid Rock, to punch her first husband, at which DeGeneres speculated, "Could it have been over me?" Anderson added that she'd like to distance herself from the growing feud and that she has moved on relationship-wise. She said she's dating a professional poker player, although she wouldn't identify him by name. "I fell in love," Anderson cooed. "It's so romantic. It's romance."

Lee has spoken out about the incident (see "Tommy Lee Explains His Side Of The VMA Scuffle, Apologizes To Alicia Keys"), apologizing to Keys for the mishap and referring to Rock as "Kid Pebble." Rock — who ran into Anderson on the red carpet before the show (see "Kid Rock And Pamela Anderson Run Into Each Other On VMA Red Carpet — Awwwk-Ward!") — was cited by Las Vegas police for misdemeanor battery after the incident and will need to return to Vegas for a future court date. If convicted, he faces a $500 fine and up to six months behind bars.

For his part, Rock was interviewed on Los Angeles radio station KROQ on Thursday morning (September 13). "[Lee is] doing what he does best: talk," Rock said. "This was a situation that was unavoidable. This has been a lotta years of very disrespectful things. I'll tell you, the last contact I had with him was when me and Pamela were going through our divorce. He picked up her BlackBerry and started e-mailing me a lot of horrendous things. And I said to him ... 'I will see you again, that's all I have to say.' It had absolutely zero to do with Pam. The best thing I did was file for that divorce. I was in love with her, I went through it, and thank God I got out of it."

In a separate Lee development, the drummer quit Mötley Crüe amid a lawsuit against the band's manager, although he has since said he hopes the bandmembers can work the situation out on their own (see "Tommy Lee Quits Motley Crue Amid Lawsuit Against Band's Manager").

Wait — don't cash out on the VMAs just yet! From Britney's sultry comeback performance to the big winners, you saw it all — well, almost everything! Get yourself even richer with our wall-to-wall show coverage, party reports, videos and loads more at www.VMA.MTV.com. For reports, photos, video and much, much more from previous VMAs, dive into the VMA archives.

• Kid Rock And Tommy Lee Have It Out!

• Pamela Anderson And Tommy Lee's Whirlwind VMA Weekend

• Pamela Anderson
• Tommy Lee
• Kid Rock
• Alicia Keys

Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta performs in West Hollywood, California, on Wednesday
Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage.com

Fall Out Boy made a surprise appearance Wednesday night at West Hollywood, California's Key Club for the Snakes on a Plane: The Album release party — which actually went down a day after the record came out. Front-row attendees sang along to hits like "Dance, Dance" and "Sugar, We're Goin Down," but unfortunately didn't get a chance to hear any new material. FOB bassist Pete Wentz told the crowd, "We're here in L.A. recording our new album, so if you see us on the street, give us a high-five." The packed house was also treated to Cobra Starship's first-ever show, with the band's Midtown frontman Gabe Saporta welcoming William Beckett from the Academy Is ..., the Sounds' Maja Ivarsson and Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy for a rendition of "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)," their collaborative theme song to the movie. The concert also featured performances by the Sounds, the Academy Is ..., Gym Class Heroes and Jack's Mannequin, all of whom contribute to the soundtrack. ...

Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock got married for a third time on Thursday (August 17), The Associated Press reports. A judge performed the ceremony at midnight at Tootsies Orchid Lounge in Nashville, and Rock hopped onstage at the club to belt out covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Hank Williams Jr.'s "Family Tradition." ... System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian will be joining the Wu-Tang Clan for their shows Friday in New York, Saturday in Philadelphia and Sunday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Odadjian, who has been collaborating with the RZA in the studio in recent months, will play bass during the entire set. ...

Mel Gibson pleaded no contest to his drunken-driving misdemeanor in a Malibu, California, court on Thursday, AP reports. The deal will require the actor/director to undergo alcohol rehabilitation, pay a fine and be on probation. The arraignment had been slated for September but was moved up at the request of Gibson's attorney, and a judge agreed. ... Jennifer Lopez won't get her day in court after all. Lawyers in a dispute between the singer/actress and ex-husband Ojani Noa over his proposed tell-all book said the issues between the exes will be settled through arbitration instead of before a judge, according to an AP report. Lopez filed suit on April 10 and obtained a temporary restraining order barring Noa from publishing intimate details of her sex life in a book titled "The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller." ...

In more court news, Pete Doherty was charged with seven counts of drug possession on Thursday, according to AP. The Babyshambles singer/guitarist, who was arrested by London police last week, is currently in police custody and will appear in court Friday. The charges include possession of cocaine and diamorphine, and also pertain to two previous arrests. ... Haley Joel Osment is in deep water too, AP reports. The 18-year-old actor, who crashed a car in July, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, marijuana possession and driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .15 percent or greater. He's also facing a vehicle-code-infraction charge for being underage and driving with a BAC level of .05 or higher. Osment will be arraigned September 19 in Glendale, California. If convicted, he could face up to six months in county jail. ...

Ricky Martin will be honored as the 2006 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. A tribute dinner is scheduled for November 1 in New York. ... Jurassic 5 are headlining the Re-Boot & Rock the Beach concert on August 27 in Venice Beach, California. The show will follow a special clean-up-the-beach day sponsored by Heal the Bay. ... Jagged Edge are releasing "Seasons Change" featuring John Legend as their next single. "The first thing that sticks out in my mind about John Legend is just how humble he is and how easy he was to work with," Brian "Brasco" Casey said. ...

Philadelphia police just aren't buying Beanie Sigel's story. Authorities say they have doubts about the rapper's claim that he was robbed and shot a block from his boyhood home three months ago, AP reports. "No one believes him. We don't believe he was shot where he said he was shot," Detective Tracy Byard told the Philadelphia Daily News. "There's a million-and-one holes in his story." Sigel told police that on May 25 he was boxed in by two cars and robbed by several men, who then shot him in the shoulder. But police say there were no witnesses in the area who heard any gunshots and no shell casings recovered. Byard said Sigel argued with investigators when they questioned his story and tried to photograph his wound at the hospital. The MC's attorney chalked the doubts up to his client's prior criminal history, which includes a year in prison on a gun charge and a recent acquittal on an attempted murder charge. ...

The initial performers have been announced for the annual New York indie-rock CMJ Marathon, which will run from October 31 to November 5. Acts include seminal female punk trio the Slits, recently re-toasted proto-metal-rockers Blue Cheer, outre rapper Madlib and theatrical synth-poppers the Knife. Hot Chip, the Black Keys, Deerhoof, Blonde Redhead, the Boy Least Likely To, Joseph Arthur, Cold War Kids, Silversun Pickups, Professor Murder, Keren Ann and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin will also perform. ... French-Canadians love music festivals too. Pop Montreal, now in its fifth year, has announced initial performers for this year's four-day extravaganza, which will run from October 4 through 8. Bands include Regina Spektor, Tapes 'N Tapes, Harvey Danger, Beirut, Akron/ Family, Vitalic, plus tons of homegrown talent, including Gonzales, Mocky, the Besnard Lakes, Montag, Sunset Rubdown, Land of Talk, Islands and Tokyo Police Club. ... Angels & Airwaves frontman Tom DeLonge has welcomed a new addition to his family, People reports. Jonas Rocket DeLonge was born to the singer/guitarist and his wife Jennifer on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles. ... Jennifer Aniston wants to set the record straight: She is not engaged to Vince Vaughn. "It couldn't be more of a 'No,' " the actress told the magazine. "I'm not engaged and I don't have a ring and I haven't been proposed to," she said. Aniston, who calls the stories "insane," explained her relationship with Vaughn: "We're just being. We're just having a good time."

08.16.2006

The Smashing Pumpkins have entered a recording studio with producer Roy Thomas Baker, according to a post on the band's Web site. Baker produced Queen's A Night at the Opera, which included their classic "Bohemian Rhapsody," and also has the Cars, Journey and Cheap Trick on his lengthy résumé. The band announced in April that it had reunited, though Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin are the only members who have been confirmed for the comeback so far. ...

Wondering how Kevin Federline and Britney Spears have kept their relationship alive? Chalk it up to patience — on his end. "She thought she could play me," he explains of their early days in GQ's September issue, on newsstands Tuesday. "She was playing games, testing me to see where my head is at, see if she could get away with this or that." Federline said he stuck it out through the relationship's rocky start and proved to his future wife that he was interested in the woman, not the fame. The dancer-turned-rapper also revealed to GQ that he toilet-papered 98 Degrees' tour bus, aced the GED — "Not that it's the hardest thing in the world" — and has a collaboration with Britney recorded and ready to roll. "After she has the baby and gets skinny, we're gonna hit 'em with this sh--," he said. And speaking of baby number two, Britney told People magazine for its issue hitting newsstands Friday that she hadn't planned on having her next child so soon. "It just kind of happened," she told the magazine. Laughing, she added, "I'm going to wait a while for the next [one]!" ...

Authorities in Düesseldorf, Germany, are on the lookout for any controversial religious content in Madonna's concert on Sunday and will determine whether the performance is covered under laws protecting artistic expression, The Associated Press reports. But rather than send a representative to the show to see for themselves, prosecutors plan to rely on media reports. Madonna, who wears a crown of thorns and hangs from a mirrored cross during one part of her Confessions show, was blasted over the same performance earlier this month in Rome. ... Two more Guns N' Roses dates have been set in stone, with more gigs expected to be booked and announced over the next few weeks. Guns will perform at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco on September 20 and 21, in addition to their previously announced shows at the Joint inside Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel & Casino scheduled for September 16 and 17. ...

Nominations for the seventh annual Latin Grammy Awards will be announced September 26 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The awards ceremony will broadcast live on Univision from New York's Madison Square Garden on November 2. ... The New York Mets are commemorating the 41st anniversary of the Beatles' legendary concert at Shea Stadium on August 23 with a performance by 1964: The Tribute, a cover band that will play before the 7 p.m. start and between innings of the Mets/ St. Louis Cardinals matchup. ... Ben Folds is releasing a rarities compilation this fall called Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP, a reference to the Internet EPs he released in 2003: Super D, Sunny 16 and Speed Graphic. Select songs from those EPs as well as B-sides, covers and soundtrack contributions will be included. ...

Saturday Night Wrist, the Deftones' long-awaited fifth studio LP, has been set for an October 31 release. The album — which features guest appearances by System of a Down's Serj Tankian and Giant Drag's Annie Hardy — will boast a dozen tracks, including "Hole in the Earth," "FM," "Beware," "Cherry Waves," "Mein," "Interlude," "Tilde," "Rats," "Pink Cell Phone," "Combat," "The Earth" and "Comanche." ... Head Automatica have canceled the second leg of their Popaganda Tour because — as they state in a press release issued this week — they'll "be linking up with another band for the months of October and November." Details on that tour will be announced shortly. Refunds for all tickets purchased for the September 27-October 21 shows can be obtained at point of purchase. The band apologizes "for any inconveniences these cancellations may have caused" and thanks fans "for their continued support." ...

When they wanted a remix of "Easy," the first single from the forthcoming Barenaked Ladies Are Me LP (due September 12), the Ladies counted on their fans. Now the band is calling on its faithful to do the air-guitar thing and create a video for the disc's second single, "Wind It Up." Download the track from MySpace.com/BarenakedLadies, play a mean make-believe six-string over it, fill out an entry form on BNLMusic.com and post your clip on YouTube. The Ladies will pick their favorites to appear in the "Wind It Up" music video. The group has also posted multitrack versions of "Wind It Up" and "Bank Job" for remixing, with two more songs to come. Select remixes will appear on an upcoming digital EP, with proceeds going to charity. ...

Attendees of the Fashion Rocks pre-party, set for September 6 at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York, will hear Elton John's The Captain & the Kid performed live by the singer more than two weeks before its September 19 release. Tickets to the event — which will also feature a post-concert cocktail reception and an auction — range from $500-$1,000, with proceeds benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. ... With this summer's Warped Tour behind them, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have teamed up with the Eagles of Death Metal for a fall tour that kicks off in Philadelphia on October 12. The trek will make a total of 19 stops and wraps up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on November 19. ... Calling all Juggalos: The Insane Clown Posse will hit the road this fall for a 26-date jaunt that will conclude with a Halloween show in Detroit. The first date is set for September 29 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band will be touring in support of its latest studio offering, The Tempest, which is set to drop September 19.

• Fall Out Boy
• Pamela Anderson
• Kid Rock
• Jennifer Lopez
• Cobra Starship

Diddy
Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images

Diddy goes to great lengths to preserve his sexy, but he told MTV Europe recently that he isn't concerned that Justin Timberlake is moving in on his territory with "SexyBack." "I'm a big fan of Justin's and he's allowed to use my catchphrase 'sexy' and run with it," Diddy said. "I mean, I got it from somebody else, so it's all good." It may be all good, but it's not all equal. "I am the king of the sexy, Justin," Diddy noted. "Let's not get it twisted." ... Diddy and Cassie will be among the artists helping to kick off the 2006-07 NFL season in a two-city celebration as the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field on September 5. Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts will perform in Pittsburgh, while Diddy and Cassie will take the stage in Miami. The 30-minute pre-game show will air September 5 at 8 p.m. on NBC. ...

Ozone Magazine's years of having a heavy buzz in streets of the South culminated Sunday night at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida, when the publication held its first-ever Ozone Awards. Among the big winners were Lil Wayne, who won Lyricist of the Year; DJ Drama, who took the Mixtape DJ of the Year honor; and UGK, who won a Legends Award. Bun B and Pimp C also made history by performing together for the first time since Pimp C was released from prison several months ago. Another highlight was an all-Miami set during which Rick Ross performed "Hustlin' " and "Chevy Ridin' High" with Dre of Cool & Dre fame. The finale featured Ross, Trick Daddy and Pitbull performing "The Future of Dade" from DJ Khaled's Listennn: The Album. Trick ended by saying that he ran the state of Florida and everyone else is his protégé. Other performers included Shawnna, Ludacris, T-Pain and headliner Lil Wayne. David Banner co-hosted the show alongside Trina. "I'm proud that we were all able to come together this weekend without any major drama or violence and everybody just had a good time," Ozone Publisher Julia Beverly told MTV News. ...

Kid Rock, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger are among the superstars who duet with Jerry Lee Lewis on the rock and roll trailblazer's new album, Last Man Standing, due September 26. Others lending their voices to the classic songs include Jimmy Page ("Rock and Roll"), Bruce Springsteen ("Pink Cadillac"), Neil Young ("You Don't Have to Go") Don Henley ("That's What Makes the Irish Heart Beat") and Little Richard ("I Saw Her Standing There"). ...

JoJo, Ashley Parker Angel and Lucas Grabeel from "High School Musical" will perform at Miss Teen USA 2006, which NBC will air at 8 p.m. ET on August 15. Damien Fahey from "TRL" and Shaun Robinson from "Access Hollywood" will host the event live from Palm Springs, Florida. ...

Jennifer Lopez is adding a new scent to her fragrance collection. Live Luxe, described as a "multifaceted concoction" that celebrates J.Lo's passion for dance, combines fruit notes (including peach and pear), a floral base (freesia, muguet and honeysuckle) and a musk/vanilla/sandalwood finish. The fragrance will be available in stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.K. and Spain this month and goes worldwide in September. ... Although they keep on rocking — and marrying — Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson have set aside their Mr. and Mrs. Rock titles to go by Mr. and Mrs. Richie. The couple recently celebrated the second of their four planned weddings with a courthouse ceremony in Detroit. "It's official," Anderson posted — alongside the Detroit Tigers logo — Saturday on her Web site. "Just left the courthouse! Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have left the building. ... Off to honeymoon in Detroit! Go Tigers!" ...

A Raleigh, North Carolina, woman who penned an unauthorized book about "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken has filed a lawsuit against the singer, claiming he slandered her and tried to cripple sales of her book. According to The Associated Press, 50-year-old Jeannie Holleman claims she's a lifelong friend and neighbor of a Raleigh family who took Aiken and his mother, Faye Parker, in when Parker left her abusive husband. For Holleman's book, "Out of the Blue: 'Clay' It Forward," the author combined interviews from the family, along with her own recollections and stories from Aiken's fans. The suit, filed Friday, claims that Aiken, his mother and others tried to stymie the book's sales by denying they knew her and calling her stories lies. The filing further alleged that one of Aiken's bodyguards manhandled Holleman during a fundraiser in Hawaii. The suit seeks $260,000 in damages, and seeks a court order that would require Aiken to retract his statements about the book or endorse it on his Web site. Holleman also wants Aiken to pen an introduction to "Out of the Blue" and offer it for sale at his concerts. "As a so-called 'celebrity,' I have become used to scurrilous allegations and untruths being made about me and my work," Aiken said in a statement Monday (August 7). "I have always taken the path of not reacting to these matters and have accepted them as, somehow, coming with the 'job.' However, I cannot, and will not, stand by when these attacks are made on my family and my charity. So, I have instructed my attorneys to not only vigorously dispute the claims that have been made but to also pursue all possible remedies against those involved in the perpetration of these untruths." ...

Jack's Mannequin singer and cancer survivor Andrew McMahon is launching a fall tour to benefit his Dear Jack Foundation, which funds cancer research. Copeland, Daphne Loves Derby and the Hush Sound will join Jack's on the 17-city Tour for the Cure, which kicks off September 6 Tucson, Arizona, and wraps up October 12 in Sacramento, California. ... Zach Braff has directed the video for singer/songwriter Joshua Radin's "Closer," which he shot at the Hollywood Bowl. The song is featured on the soundtrack to Braff's new movie, "The Last Kiss." ... Following a solo acoustic tour this month that includes several opening dates for the Foo Fighters, Frank Black will take a band out on a full tour to promote his double album, Fast Man Raider Man. The trek begins October 1 in Tempe, Arizona (after September 29 and 30 dates opening for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) and ends November 19 in Anaheim, California. ...

A biopic about late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence is in the works, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Music-video director Nick Egan (Kylie Minogue, Sonic Youth) has been working with writers Chester Hastings and Dean McCreary on the film, titled "Slide Away." Hutchence, who died in 1997, was friends with Egan, who directed several INXS videos. There's no word yet on when the film will surface. ... Duran Duran are creating their own "virtual universe" within the online game "Second Life." The five bandmembers have commissioned custom avatars that will live on a luxury island featuring in-world concerts. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes called the game a "new frontier where dreams have become reality" in a statement, and compared this move to Duran Duran's embracing of music videos in the medium's early days. " 'Second Life' is the future right now, offering endless possibilities for artists," Rhodes explained. The project launches in September and the band says fans can expect a "Second Life" concert in the coming months.

08.04.2006

She'd spent a year as the winner of "American Idol" and was about to receive a college degree from Northeastern State University, but May was a month of dread for Carrie Underwood, who was certain her big graduation day would be a disaster. "I was like, 'People are going to boo me,' " the singer told Teen People in the magazine's September — and final — issue. Underwood, who said a story in a student newspaper claimed she was getting too much attention, got through the ceremony to receive her degree without a boo — "I was just another graduate." And while the triple-platinum country singer says she'd enjoy working in small-town broadcast journalism, a shorter career jump to a more pop sound is not in her future. "What could I bring to that market? I don't dance. I'm not a tummy show-er. ... I felt I fit in the country world, where I don't have to change." Teen People's final issue, which also features the new cast of "Laguna Beach," is on newsstands Friday (August 4). ...

Jennifer Lopez will not be appearing in the forthcoming Hollywood remake of the TV soap "Dallas," her spokesperson confirmed. J. Lo had signed on for the role of booze-swigging Sue Ellen Ewing opposite John Travolta, who will play conniving oil tycoon J.R. Ewing. ... Nelly Furtado has picked her next U.S. single. "Maneater" will be the second track from Loose to hit the airwaves. ... Only four dancers are left standing in Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" competition — two were eliminated this week following a performance by Omarion — and next week, a winner will be crowned. Ciara and Fergie will appear on Thursday's finale, performing "Step Up" and "London Bridge," respectively. Tickets for the "So You Think You Can Dance Tour," which kicks off September 12 in Seattle, go on sale August 12. ...

The video for "Lose Control" is set in a nightclub, so rather than deck out a soundstage, Kevin Federline went straight to the real thing when it came time to shoot the clip. Federline took over the Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on July 29 for a 15-hour shoot, reports In Touch magazine, which has a behind-the-scenes look at the production in its August 14 issue. After the work was done, Pure's late-night crowd was treated to a preview of "Lose Control" — which the DJ played three times as Federline sang along. "The single is really high energy," he told the magazine. "It's a great song to perform." ...

A release date has been set for Rob Zombie's remake of the horror classic "Halloween," but fans of the rocker's flicks will need to wait awhile before the film hits the screen. Zombie's "Halloween" is scheduled to open October 19, 2007. ... Ohio punk foursome Dead Poetic's forthcoming album, Vices, will feature a very special guest on the track "Paralytic" — Deftones frontman Chino Moreno, who also co-produced two songs for the effort. Vices will be in stores October 31. ... Actress Monica Keena has been missing from "Entourage" this season, but she has a new hot chick to play. Keena will voice a character in "The Sopranos" video game, due in November. ...

It's been known for some time that Modest Mouse were working on their new album with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, but what's news to us is the fact that Marr is now apparently a full-fledged member of the band. A spokesperson for the band's label, Epic Records, confirmed that Marr had joined Modest Mouse and will tour with them in support of their upcoming album, tentatively titled We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The band (including Marr) recorded the new album at Sweet Tea studios in Mississippi, the same place the group recorded its breakout 2004 album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News. The new Modest Mouse LP is tentatively due this fall. ... Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" was featured on the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" in May — with the line "Would you lie with me and just forget the world?" pointedly playing as a surgeon lies in a hospital bed alongside the dead body of a beloved patient — and the song quickly became a hit on iTunes. Now there's a mash-up of sorts posted on ABC's Web site, pairing the track with scenes from the series. The free video will be posted at ABC.com through August 14. ...

The Clash bassist Paul Simonon has confirmed that he'll be collaborating with Blur/ Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong, and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen in a new band that has yet to be named. According to BBC News, the group will be releasing an album, called The Good, the Bad and the Queen, January 2007; Gnarls Barkley's Danger Mouse — who is also Albarn's partner in Gorillaz — is producing the disc, which has been in the works for the last two years. ... On August 15, the Sex Pistols will reissue Spunk, which originally came out as a bootleg in 1977. The disc features the original demos recorded with bassist Glen Matlock, who was fired and replaced by Sid Vicious before the band recorded Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. ...

Sorta-industrial Canadian grinders Death From Above 1979 have called it a day. Bassist/keyboardist Jesse Keeler broke the news via a post on the band's official Web site, writing, "I'm sure most of you assume the band isn't happening anymore, since there are no shows, no work on a new album, etc. I wanted to let you know that your assumptions are correct. We decided to stop doing the band." Keeler goes on to say that he and drummer/vocalist Sebastien Grainger actually decided to split about a year ago, but they opted to finish their busy tour schedule — which included a slot opening for Nine Inch Nails and the Queens of the Stone Age — and then break up. "We started as a punk band with pop aspirations and we met every goal we set for ourselves," Keeler wrote. "A few weeks ago, the album [their 2004 debut, the thundering You're a Woman, I'm a Machine] finally went gold in Canada and that was the final mark I really wanted to reach." ...

Unlike most best-of collections, Unwritten Law's forthcoming retrospective will feature fresh new takes on some old songs. The band re-recorded 17 tracks for the disc, The Hit List, which is set for release September 26. The collection will also feature some unheard, unreleased studio cuts. ... Melissa Etheridge and her band will be auctioning off autographed instruments used during their summer 2006 tour to benefit the Breast Cancer Care and Research Fund. The auction, hosted by GivingWorks.eBay.com, kicks off Friday with a new instrument added each week this month. ... Doug Fieger, lead singer of the Knack, underwent successful surgery to remove two brain tumors Thursday, The Associated Press reports. He is expected to have a full recovery. The Knack's upcoming tour — which included an August 11 stop at the Corbin Music Festival in Corbin, Kentucky — has been postponed.

• Diddy
• Cassie
• Ludacris
• Lil Wayne
• Jennifer Lopez

Christina Aguilera
Photo: Ellen von Unwerth

Christina Aguilera wants to open up a shelter for victims of domestic abuse, she told Seventeen for the magazine's September cover story. She said she's already working a lot with a domestic-violence and child-abuse shelter in Pittsburgh, mostly by donating her personal belongings. "Some of these women leave their homes without anything," she said. "They just grab the kids and get out of the situation. And so a lot of these women have nothing, and they have to start from scratch." But beyond helping provide necessities, the singer says, it's also important to help rebuild their self-esteem — "because it's really broken after they've been beaten down for so long." Aguilera addresses the theme of domestic abuse on several songs on her new album, but her next single is more of a feel-good number called "Candyman." ...

After collapsing on the set of "Georgia Rule" and going to the hospital for heat exhaustion on Tuesday, Lindsay Lohan reported back on the set on time on Thursday (July 27). "We're hoping she remains on schedule for the rest of production," a rep for the movie said. ...

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson won't be getting married just once, but four times. Anderson told The Associated Press that she plans "to get married a few times this month to the same guy." The couple are expected to tie the knot on Saturday in St. Tropez, France. Then, Anderson said, they'll do it again in three additional ceremonies, in Malibu, California; Rock's hometown of Detroit; and again in Nashville. There's no word yet on when the three subsequent ceremonies will take place. ...

Jessica Simpson will help welcome new co-host Rosie O'Donnell to "The View" when the show resumes live taping on September 5. Simpson will be the first guest on the program. ... What do Madonna, Muhammad Ali and Zakk Wylde have in common? They're all participating in a Grammy charity auction on eBay. Madge and Wylde are putting up signed guitars and Ali is contributing signed sports memorabilia to the Gibson/ Baldwin Night at the Net auction, which ends Thursday. The benefit is raising money for MusiCares, which offers emergency financial assistance and addiction-recovery programs to musicians. ...

"American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks has obtained a temporary injunction preventing his former producer from releasing a song Hicks wrote and recorded nearly 10 years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The order will delay the release of "The Fall" by William Smith Productions for at least 10 days. Hicks claims the song proposed for release is an unfinished version. ... Busta Rhymes will perform Thursday night on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." ... Outkast held a listening party for their long-delayed album Idlewild at the London Eye Tuesday night, according to the New Musical Express. The party was followed by an afterparty, held on a cruise liner called the Silver Sturgeon, that was attended by both Andre 3000 and Big Boi. The album, which features 25 tracks (including interludes), is slated for release on August 22, with the film of the same name coming three days later. ...

Looks like ex-Power 105 New York radio personality Star is off the hook. The New York DJ (real name Troi Torain) was fired for making racist and sexually threatening comments about DJ Envy's wife and daughter, but the criminal charges will be dropped in six months if he completes three days of community service and steers clear of the 4-year-old girl, Reuters reports. ... Ever since Haylie Duff joined the cast of "Hairspray" last week, ticket sales have gone through the roof, reps for the show say. Pre-Haylie, the show was at 88 percent capacity, and now, with the actress taking over the part of Amber Von Tussle, the show is at 98 percent capacity, with the gross up by $90,000 ...

Can't wait for the next Harry Potter movie or book? Worrying whether Harry won't find all the Horcruxes? Scared that Snape is only pretending to have gone over to Voldemort's side but Harry won't see through the double-agent bit? Need to hear what the experts think about all this? Then listen to Scholastic's "Think You Know Harry Potter?" podcast series, in which webmasters from the Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet discuss the series with one of the Potter editors before live audiences across the country. Among other things, they'll discuss various theories about what they think will happen in book seven — including who lives and who dies. For information on subscribing to the podcast feed, go to Scholastic.com/HarryPotter/podcasttour/index.htm#listen. ...

The New York Post reported Thursday that Eddie Van Halen is teaming up with porn director Michael Ninn to write and perform two songs for a film called "Sacred Sin." Van Halen told the Post he's not concerned about the implications. "I'm working with a friend — very simple. I like his work. Michael Ninn is like Spielberg to me: the imagery, the way he makes things look just sensual," he said. Van Halen's publicist had no comment on the matter. ... Prince and his second wife, Manuela Testolini Nelson, are divorcing, according to People magazine, which said the sealed documents were filed on May 24 in Minnesota's Hennepin County District Court. Testolini Nelson, 29, is a former employee of Prince's charitable foundation who owns a company that makes a line of designer candles. The couple married in 2001. ...

The oft-delayed Alice in Chains retrospective collection The Essential Alice in Chains has been pushed back to a September 5 release. ... Rob Zombie is squeezing three headlining dates into his upcoming fall run with Godsmack and Shinedown. Zombie will hit New Haven, Connecticut, on September 5; Cincinnati on September 11; and Boise, Idaho, on September 26. ... Slipknot turntablist Sid Wilson plans to release his first-ever solo effort, The New Leader, August 29 under his alias, DJ Starscream. Several tracks from the LP can be found over at Wilson's MySpace page.

07.26.2006

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee is looking to take a behind-the-scenes role on a different type of stage. The singer is co-producing "Red Herring," a drama focusing on death-row prison inmates that will be presented as part of the 10th annual New York International Fringe Festival. "As soon as I read this play, I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of," McPhee said in a statement. "Audiences know me best from 'American Idol,' but my passion has always been theater." "Red Herring" runs at the Connelly Theatre from August 12-26. ...

Not even Lindsay Lohan can escape the heat. The singer/actress collapsed on the Encinitas, California, set of her new movie "Georgia Rule" on Tuesday, and was then rushed to a nearby hospital, according to a witness. Her spokesperson chalked up the collapse to the actress being overheated and dehydrated. "She is OK, she is fine," Leslie Sloane Zelnik told MTV News. ...

Avenged Sevenfold have booked nine North American dates for September — which will be the band's first post-Ozzfest gigs. Just three of the shows will be happening in the U.S., with the remainder scheduled for Canada. Those States dates are September 7 in Anchorage, Alaska; September 13 in Fargo, North Dakota; and September 15 in Des Moines, Iowa. ...

Scarlett Johansson is getting quite a kick out of her new fashion promotion. The actress has teamed with Reebok to craft her own women's shoe, Scarlett "Hearts" Rbk, which the company's press release describes as "a fashion-forward, athletic-inspired footwear." The kicks debut in the spring, when Johansson will be featured in a new Reebok ad campaign. ...

The Rolling Stones, already in the midst of the highest-grossing tour of 2006, will kick off the second North American leg of their A Bigger Bang world tour at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on September 20, according to an announcement on the group's Web site. A yet-unannounced group of "young, contemporary opening acts" will be on the bill for the shows, which will primarily hit stadiums and some arenas in New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The band is also playing some smaller markets on the 17-date jaunt, such as Wichita, Kansas; Missoula, Montana; El Paso, Texas; and Boise, Idaho. The shows are scheduled to wrap up with a November 18 date at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. ...Oasis will release a two-CD greatest-hits album on November 21 titled Stop the Clocks. The 18-song compilation will feature B-sides chosen by the bandmembers, such as "Acquiesce" and "Half the World Away," as well as such well-known hits as "Supersonic" and "Wonderwall." ...

Time Inc. announced Tuesday that it is killing the eight-year-old Teen People magazine in the wake of a glut of other titles offering celebrity news and a hard downturn in ad sales. The final issue, with "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood on the cover, will hit newsstands on August 4, according to The New York Times. The magazine's Web site will continue to be updated with new stories. ... A 40-year-old, never-before-released song by Jimi Hendrix, "Station Break," will be offered for sale at an October 26 intellectual-property auction in New York. The sale includes the copyright and original reel-to-reel recording of the song, laid down in a 1966 session early in the guitar god's career. ...

Ballroom dancers and professional ice skaters have done their part to find new talents in celebrities, and now singers are stepping up to the challenge. Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Macy Gray, Brian McKnight and Smokey Robinson are among the singers who will team up with famous people not known for their singing skills — for "Celebrity Duets," a Fox series that debuts August 29. ... Donnie Wahlberg will play an undercover CIA agent in the miniseries "The Path to 9/11," a dramatization of events detailed in the 9/11 Commission Report. The movie stars Harvey Keitel and airs September 10 and 11 on ABC.

R.E.M. have compiled their 1980s I.R.S. Records output in CD and DVD anthologies due September 12. And I Feel Fine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 will come out in two versions: a 21-track single-disc collection and a two-CD edition with an extra disc of rarities, including previously unreleased mixes and live recordings. The DVD, titled "When the Light Is Mine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987," features 11 music videos — including clips for "Radio Free Europe" and "The One I Love" — along with TV and film performances and interviews. ... Kylie Minogue is launching a new fragrance, but if you want to smell like the dance diva, you may have to make use of your passport. Coty Inc. signed the singer to develop a line of fragrances set to launch this fall in Australia, the U.K. and Ireland, with distribution throughout Europe and Asia to follow. The company describes the scent as "multi-faceted," to reflect Kylie's personality. ...

R&B legend Stevie Wonder was named as one of the recipients of the National Civil Rights Museum's 2006 Freedom Awards on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Wonder was honored alongside the founder of Doctors Without Borders and civil-rights leader Joseph Lowery. ... Now that you've got Jay-Z and Jessica Simpson on your cell phone, how about a ringtone or two by Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock? Jazz label Blue Note has released two dozen jazz classics through its Best of Blue Tones series, and is planning more in the future. ... Dick Clark, creator and host of the long-running music TV program "American Bandstand," will be honored as part of the 58th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Barry Manilow, who performed and co-wrote the "Bandstand" theme song, will perform a special musical tribute to Clark. The Emmys, hosted by Conan O'Brien, air August 27 on NBC.

• Christina Aguilera Performs In London, 07.20.2006

• Christina Aguilera
• Lindsay Lohan
• Slipknot
• Rob Zombie
• Jessica Simpson

Eve poses in support of HIV Testing Day
Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage

Nelly Furtado might be a "Promiscuous" girl, but that doesn't mean she can't be safe, too.

Furtado, along with several other entertainers who play with risqué imagery and lyrics, hopes sexy subject matter can also be educational — especially this week, since National HIV Testing Day is Tuesday (June 27).

"When I was a little kid, Salt-N-Pepa's 'Let's Talk About Sex' came on the radio, and my mom was like, 'What's this?' " Furtado recalled. "And with my song, 'Promiscuous,' certain moms and dads are going to hear it and ask, 'What's this?' And kids are going to ask questions about sex. It can only encourage the conversation."

Eve hopes that the conversation goes even further — that talking about sex and its possible repercussions will lead people to protect and test themselves. "In my perfect world, people would hear about this and go out and get tested," Eve said. "People would start talking about it and stop being scared."

Granted, HIV can be a very scary topic: Over 39 million people worldwide are living with the deadly virus, and an estimated four million more became infected last year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. "What I find the most alarming is that every 15 seconds, someone is infected with HIV," Avril Lavigne said.

An estimated 250,000 Americans are unaware of their own HIV infections. But knowing whether you're one of the infected helps you get treatment and helps stop the spread of the disease.

The process of getting an HIV test is as easy as asking your doctor for one, going to a clinic, or using an at-home kit. Rapid HIV antibody tests can generate results in five to 60 minutes with a simple finger-stick blood sample. And if you're nervous about needles, you can even get tested by swabbing the inside of your gums.

"It's quick and easy and it can make a difference," said Pamela Anderson. "I have Hepatitis C, and there's no cure for Hepatitis C or AIDS, so it's really important to stop the spread of the disease since there is no cure."

"The reality is that people get sick," Furtado added. "But Magic Johnson showed that it's not the end of your life, but the beginning of awareness. When Magic contracted HIV, that was a pivotal point in AIDS awareness. It showed that anybody could get this disease."

"Somebody close to me was infected with AIDS, and I actually watched them die," Kelly Rowland revealed. "That was painful to watch, and I think that once you see something like that, it definitely becomes real — it definitely becomes something that you want people to know about."

Today, thousands of HIV-counseling and testing sites, state and local health departments and community-based HIV/ AIDS service providers are holding health fairs, hosting special testing-related events and operating extended hours. At some clinics, the tests are free or can be paid for on a sliding scale, based on income.

"You know, I've been through a lot of situations in my life where my behavior put me at risk by intravenous drug use and unprotected sex," Dave Navarro said. "Especially starting out back in the late '80s when awareness wasn't so great about this disease. But it was there, and we didn't know a lot about it. I've been saved by the grace of God, and for whatever reason, I'm still here. And if we're going to survive as a people, we need to share information. The coolest thing that you can do is get educated, get protected, get tested."

"I waited a while before I had sex," Furtado said, "because sex is serious. There are serious consequences. But at the same time, you can't expect people not to have sex. Love happens, and experimentation happens. And the more we talk about sex, the more awareness there will be. It doesn't have to be a mystery."

To get an HIV test in your area, check out think.mtv.com or call (888) BE SAFE 1.

• Avril Lavigne, Joel And Benji Madden, Pink And More Support National HIV Testing Day
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• Nelly Furtado
• Eve
• Dave Navarro
• Pamela Anderson
• Avril Lavigne

Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

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