Lacey Schwimmer and Lance Bass
Photo: ABC/Kelsey McNeal

Lance Bass cannot believe he is one of the four remaining celebrities in the running to win the seventh season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." Sure, he spent a good part of his early career dancing in 'NSYNC, but Bass insists that his previous training didn't give him an advantage on the show.

"I can't believe we're still standing, but everyone is so good this season. These next few weeks are going to be insane," he told MTV News during rehearsals with his partner, "So You Think You Can Dance" alumna Lacey Schwimmer. "These judges are so wishy-washy. ... This season they're really hard-core, but I think it's to bump you to the next level. They're just pushing us to be better.

"My 'NSYNC training has not helped me at all for 'DWTS,' " Bass declared, though he's following in the footsteps of other ex-boy-banders turned accomplished "DWTS" contestants Drew Lachey, Joey McIntyre and Joey Fatone. "With 'NSYNC — I was going to say, 'It's all hip-hop,' [though] it didn't look like hip-hop. I've had a lot of hip-hop training, but with ballroom, it's more posture and lines. ... I'm more ghetto, and ballroom is more vanilla. I've had to learn how to be vanilla."

Bass also did some training to go into space, before his mission failed in 2002. Did any of that come in handy for the dance competition? "I don't know how much it helped me for 'DWTS,' " he said. "The physical training has definitely helped me, 'cause I'm used to all the cardio that we're doing, but we put in crazy hours in the studio."

Of course, Bass has also gotten some help from his 'NSYNC pal Fatone, who competed in the fourth season of "DWTS." "Joey has given me some good advice. I'll take all the advice I can get. I usually don't listen to Joey," he joked, "but in this case, I do. He came in second place, so he's one you listen to."

At the end of the day, though, Bass is continually surprised by the accomplishments he's making as a dancer on the show. And, he's not ashamed to admit it. "I watch on TiVo, and I think, 'Who is that guy?' " he said. "I'm impressed with myself, 'cause for that one moment, I looked damn good."

• *NSYNC
• Lance Bass

Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer
Photo: MTV News

Lance Bass is ready to party like it's 1999.

That means several things for the boy-bander-turned-"Dancing With the Stars" contestant. For one thing, he would be more than happy to hit the road with his old bandmates in 'NSYNC.

"There's always a possibility for a tour or reunion. It's something that we really haven't discussed yet," he told MTV News. "But it's something I would love to talk about. I think it's maybe needed in the next year or so, and I think our fans would love it, 'cause we never got to say goodbye. I want to do the Boyz II Men thing, where we just sit on the stools," he joked.

And it wouldn't be like the good old days if former tourmate Britney Spears weren't about to put out fresh music. Bass is all about her return. "I am totally stoked to see Britney come back," he said. "I think it's going to be one of the biggest comebacks you've ever seen. It's not even a comeback — she's always been around — but I think, personally, she's ready to explode again."

Bass thinks this is a good time for Spears to return to the spotlight because, he says, it's as good a time as ever to be a pop artist. "Everyone wants to have fun with music again, and she always makes it fun," he said. "I think the last two years was a just a scam, so that she can make a huge comeback. I want to believe it was a big old punk on us."

There is, of course, a huge resurgence in pop music right now, with Miley Cyrus, the "High School Musical" gang and the Jonas Brothers topping the charts. And seeing the Jonases reign as pop gods is déjà vu for Bass.

"It's funny to see what they're going through now, 'cause it totally reminds me of my 'NSYNC days. I know exactly what they're going to do," he said. "I can warn them. And it was funny to see all the people around them [when the JoBros were on 'Dancing With the Stars'], 'cause they were all the exact same people who worked with us. It was the first time I got to see them perform, and I was really impressed. They're really good kids."

Bass does have some simple advice for the trio, being that he's been there and done that himself: "As long as you keep it in the family and have fun and keep it down-to-earth, they'll be just fine."

He added that if 'NSYNC were to try and make it in today's pop-music world alongside the Jonas Brothers, he has no doubt they'd once again be a hot pop commodity. "We'd be leading the pack right now. I think 'NSYNC would definitely fit in today's music scene," he said. "And with Britney coming back and Christina and Eminem ... we're going to have a whole late-'90s resurgence. It's going to be great."

But at the end of the day, Bass is ready to try something new. Although he'll be busy with the "Dancing With the Stars" tour in the winter, he admits that he's not afraid to go out on a limb — which is why he's done everything from pop music to Broadway to movies to, of course, an attempt at space travel.

"I like to challenge myself, that's for sure. I get bored very easily, which is why I like to do things out of the ordinary, like going to space," he explained. "I don't know what's next. Who knows, but [I'll] definitely not retire. I think I want to try the TV thing after this and try some acting."

• Lance Bass
• *NSYNC
• Britney Spears
• Jonas Brothers

Lance Bass
Photo: MTV News

For years, including during the height of 'NSYNC's success, Lance Bass lived in constant fear that a secret he had been suppressing since childhood would eventually come out — and with devastating results. Bass, who last year revealed he is gay, had previously been worried that the news would cripple his career and tarnish 'NSYNC's squeaky-clean image.

"I was petrified of people finding out," he told MTV News' John Norris during a recent interview. "At the time, I thought it would be the end of the world. Now, in hindsight, I wish I would have come out at that time, because I would've loved to see what the reaction would have been."

Because of his fear, Bass kept his sexuality private. In fact, Bass was so timorous about the world finding out he was gay that he had friends, employees and others close to him sign non-disclosure agreements. Bass says not even his best friends in 'NSYNC knew he was gay, and that his days in the closet were riddled with guilt.

"I was embarrassed," said Bass, who is currently acting in "Hairspray" on Broadway as part of a six-month run. "The embarrassment wasn't that I was gay, it was that, 'I've known you for this long, and I have been hiding this [secret] from you.' I felt like I had to lie to my friends."

The band's publicists, managers and record label suggested the members never be seen with women — or, for that matter, with a cigarette or beer in their hands. But no one ever expressly advised Bass against coming out — that's because no one knew, he said. Not long after the band's career took off, however, one incident reaffirmed Bass' position that coming clean could crush his dreams, the singer remembers.

"There were many times, early in our career, where there were a lot of questions about everyone else's sexuality, so when you're talking with the other guys, you see how they really react," Bass said. "One time, we questioned Chris [Kirkpatrick], because he had a gay friend, and the reaction was we'd be doomed if anyone knew about it. That set it straight in my head that I would never be able to talk about it or tell anyone, and I would just have to hide it."

Even as his bandmates would make the occasional wisecrack about gay people — "That's just what guys do to establish their masculinity," he said — Bass kept quiet and "tried to cut it off in my life, those feelings."

But Bass also suspects there were times when his bandmates might have wondered if he were gay: "When you're best friends with someone and you don't have a girlfriend for four years, and you're not seen with anyone, you sort of start figuring it out," he said.

After 'NSYNC went on hiatus back in 2002, Bass — who had been told the band would return to form following Justin Timberlake's stint as a solo artist — still didn't want to come out. But last summer, following considerable speculation about Bass' sexuality thanks to numerous paparazzi snaps of him frequenting gay clubs and bars, he emerged from the closet, with a little help from People magazine. Now Bass feels liberated, he says.

"I never thought I'd be talking about my life in such intimate detail with anyone," he said. "So, when I did come out and kind of accepted it, and shared it with the world, and saw how greatly it was accepted, and how a lot of people were relating to the stories — I'd have people come up to me, telling me, 'Because of what you did, I had the courage to come out to my family' — it was such an encouraging experience, I wanted to share my life story with other people, to see if it could help others."

And Bass is trying to do just that with his new tell-all book, "Out of Sync: A Memoir," which hit stores Tuesday (October 23). Beyond charting Bass' rise to fame as a member of 'NSYNC, as well as the band's decline, his childhood, his experiences training to be a cosmonaut in Russia, the autobiography chronicles his struggle to keep his personal life shrouded.

"If [I hadn't come out,] I might still be miserable and hiding things," he said.

But while Bass is happy to be out of the closet, that doesn't mean he's going to start outing others, even if his book's publisher tried to get him to do so.

"I know plenty of people in the industry that are in the closet and not wanting to share that personal detail of their life," he explained. "And I understand that. It's a very scary thing, especially when new artists are about to break, or actors are taking straight roles — you're afraid the audience won't buy it. The publisher and a lot of people wanted more dirt [in my book], because controversy sells. To me, it's not about selling a book — I just wanted to share my story, without hurting anyone's feelings or throwing anyone under the bus. There's lots of things I could definitely say, and point the finger at people, but I wanted this to be a positive book, and my life up to now has been very positive. I'm happy with every aspect of my life, and I don't want to complain about anything I've ever done."

In the book, Bass also discusses coming out to his family and friends, and the reactions they had to the news. In one anecdote, he recalls how best friend Joey Fatone learned his secret: He attended one of Bass' house parties and stumbled upon his pal sitting in a closed room with his boyfriend sitting across his lap.

"He walked in, and was like, 'Oh, sorry,' and walked out," Bass recalled. "And I was going, 'No — it's OK, Joey.' He knew from that moment on — that was the day I told him."

Bass said he thinks people will be surprised when they read his tome, which he said answers a lot of questions 'NSYNC fans have been asking him for years.

"I definitely think people will be surprised at a lot of things in the book," he said. "No one has really seen the true me. I think a lot of questions will be answered to a lot of fans, because I get a lot of questions every day. This is my answer time."

Bass told MTV News he has a new goal for next year: to prove that you can be openly gay and still have a career in show business.

"People have said for so long that you can't be successful in this industry and be out and gay, and I think that's a bunch of bull," he said. "It's never been tested before. But I plan to test it next year. I have a show that I am developing, which will be a music show based around out gay and bisexual guys [who will come together to form a boy band]. I will be casting it, and it should be fun. I want to test that theory out and do a cultural experiment, to see if it works."

• Lance Bass
• *NSYNC

Jessica Simpson (file)
Photo: MJ Kim/ Getty Images

Jessica Simpson gets physical in the new issue of InStyle, breaking out her trainer's plan to "get your best body now!" But she turns inward as well, telling the magazine for its November issue — which hits racks Friday (check out the full cover here) — that, "I was the princess in the fairy tale — then reality came crashing in, and I learned that isn't always how life works." She insisted that "I am in complete control of my life" after going through her divorce with Nick Lachey and, while she didn't call out ex-boyfriend John Mayer by name, she did reveal, "I've had my heart broken since my divorce. That's OK. I believe you fall in love more than once and get your heart broken more than once. Trust me, I have cried myself to sleep." ...

Kanye West isn't exactly the kind of guy who needs an ego boost, but Jennifer Lopez and Pharrell puffed him up a bit anyway in recent interviews with MTV Europe. J. Lo says she finds West "to be a very smart businessman" and that his album faceoff with 50 Cent was "clever." "I think it's fun for publicity. ... It was really about a healthy competition between two amazing artists," said the singer — whose new album, Brave, unfortunately hasn't been faring too well in record stores. Pharrell is cheering West's Graduation — when asked if he's happy for West's success, the super-producer replied, "Absolutely. That album is a classic: flawless production; lyrically, he absolutely, absolutely took himself to another level. ... He is in the clouds with that album." ...

While he was at it, Pharrell also championed an entirely different musical act — Swedish garage-rockers the Hives, who he teamed with for their November 13 release, The Black and White Album. "Those are my guys," he said. "[They're] fun, they're smart, they have a great image, they love music." Pharrell, who knows a thing or two about turning the knobs, said he actually picked up a few tips from Hives frontman Pelle Almqvist. "Forget about it. He knows everything. I'm in the studio learning things from him." ...

While 50 may still be stinging from the aforementioned chart battle, he's reportedly moving on to something else — a new G-Unit project. The group has pegged December 18 as the release date for their sophomore effort, Shoot to Kill, and Funkmaster Flex will premiere the first single, "Wanna Lick" (featuring Lil' Kim), Friday on Hot 97, according to XXL magazine. "Cancel Christmas, it's over," 50 told the mag in regards to the much-anticipated release. ...

Sorry, Mariah fans — looks like her new album isn't coming out this year after all. While her record label confirmed that her yet-untitled follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi would be dropping December 4, a label representative now says Carey is still recording and the date has not been solidified. ... Wyclef Jean helped rake in almost $250,000 as part of a charity-poker event he co-hosted Tuesday at the Vail ski resort in Colorado. Jean performed a handful of tunes as well, including renditions of two traditional songs, "La Bamba" (Mexico) and "Guantanamera" (Cuba). Thrice, Joey Fatone, Boyz II Men and others attended the Vail Hold'Em Poker Event for Your Cause, which involved celebrities competing to win money for their charities of choice. ...

Alicia Keys, KT Tunstall, Earth, Wind & Fire, Annie Lennox, Juanes, Junoon and Melissa Etheridge will perform at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert slated for December 11 in Norway. Al Gore picked Etheridge for the event, which will serve as a salute to him and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for their efforts to raise awareness about climate change. Gore and the panel won the Nobel Peace Prize last week. ... Speaking of Lennox, she got an unusual scare at her Tuesday concert in Boulder, Colorado, when a man wearing a gas mask and a cape turned up in the crowd toward the end of her show, according to "Access Hollywood." The singer reportedly dropped the mic and booked it backstage without addressing the crowd, though she returned to the stage after the man was removed. "That was really freakish and disturbing, whatever the hell it was. He owes me and my band a f---ing apology," Lennox lashed out on her blog. The man's name hasn't been released, since he has not been charged with a crime, and it's unclear if he will be, as he didn't actually get onstage. ...

Are Rihanna and Josh Hartnett an item? One would be led to think so after seeing the "30 Days of Night" actor's Thursday appearance on "The Morning Show With Mike and Juliet." When the hosts asked him to address rumors that he's dating Rih Rih, he started smiling and stuttering heavily. "No, no, come on, you guys," he said. "We weren't supposed to talk about these sort of things, were we? I thought we were going to come out here and talk about the movie. ... I can't really respond to things like that, because if I start responding to them, then everybody wants a response on everything." ... Francis Ford Coppola unleashed: The director is ripping into two of his "Godfather" actors, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, as well as Jack Nicholson, telling GQ that the Oscar-winners have become too apathetic. "They all live off the fat of the land," the esteemed director said, adding that he doesn't know "what any of them want anymore." The interview is featured in GQ's November issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday. ...

Radiohead will be chasing Rainbows — well, technically, their new album, In Rainbows — with an international tour next year, Billboard.com reports. The band is reportedly planning to hit the tarmac in May and continue playing sizeable venues through the end of the year. The trek would be unusual given that frontman Thom Yorke has voiced his distaste for international touring in the past, and the band played only select shows in the U.S. and Europe in summer 2006. ... Bruce Springsteen continued to speak out about his political beliefs at his Thursday night show at New York's Madison Square Garden, sounding off about wiretapping and infringements on the Bill of Rights. He also made an elliptical reference before performing the title track to his new Magic LP, saying the song was "not about magic but about tricks." Bono, Jon Stewart, James Gandolfini and R.E.M.'s Mike Mills were in attendance, RollingStone.com reports. ...

Josh Homme says Queens of the Stone Age could "blow through a whole record quick" with their new roster, according to Billboard.com. "Queens sounds better than it ever has live, but we're trying to figure out how to tour and how to [write and record], 'cause I think for everyone right now, the idea of creating something is even more enticing than going on the road," he told the site. In addition to Homme, the QOTSA lineup includes multi-instrumentalist Troy Van Leeuwen and drummer Joey Castillo, who joined the entourage in 2002, and two musicians who hooked up with the band earlier this year — keyboardist Dean Fertita, who has also toured with the Raconteurs, and Wires on Fire bassist Michael Shuman. ...

Johnny Marr, former guitarist for the Smiths and current axeman for Modest Mouse, has a new handle: professor of music. Manchester, England's University of Salford has given Marr the honorary title and tapped him to host workshops on music composition and performance, according to U.K. newspaper The Guardian. ... If you thought the Led Zeppelin roller coaster being constructed for the Hard Rock Park was out there, wait till you hear what else is in store: a mock Mount Rushmore sculpture called "Mount Rockmore" and featuring the likenesses of Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley. The 50-acre park — located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — is set to open in the spring. ...

John Goodman left the Promises Malibu Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility in Southern California — the rehab center where Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan also stayed — after being treated there for an undisclosed reason and undisclosed period of time, The Associated Press reports. The actor "took the necessary steps to remain sober the rest of his life," according to a statement issued by his publicist, Stan Rosenfield. Goodman earned an Emmy Award this year for his part in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." ...

Joey Bishop, a comedian who was a member of Frank Sinatra's famed Rat Pack, died Wednesday night in Newport Beach, California, of multiple causes, AP reports. The actor, who appeared in the original "Ocean's Eleven" movie, was 89. ... AP also reports that Deborah Kerr, an actress who appeared in "The King and I" and "From Here to Eternity," died Tuesday in England after battling Parkinson's disease. She was 86.

10.17.07

C-Murder will be tried a second time on a second-degree murder charge, The Associated Press reports. A trial date has been set for February 11. The rapper, who was born Corey Miller, stands accused of the shooting death of 16-year-old Steve Thomas at a Louisiana nightclub on January 12, 2002. His 2003 conviction was tossed in March 2006 after prosecutors withheld criminal background information on witnesses from Miller's attorney. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence without parole. ...

What would a day be like without Britney Spears news? Legal representatives for the singer and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, were present at an ex-parte hearing called by his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan on Wednesday (October 17), according to Us Weekly. Commissioner Scott M. Gordon sealed the courtroom for the one-hour Los Angeles Superior Court meeting, which pertains to the former couple's child-custody dispute. Spears and Federline were not present for the one-hour meeting in Los Angeles Superior Court but are required to be in court for a hearing on October 26. Relatedly, Spears is apparently making no secret of her distaste for Gordon, Us Weekly also reports. The singer was heard griping about Gordon at a department store in Beverly Hills late last week, allegedly ranting to her assistant, "I hate my judge. He is so mean. Just an old fart. He told me I was being catty with him, but he was being catty with me and paid me no respect at all. ... His job is to sit there and tell people what to do. And that's just so sad, because he gets off on it." She was also heard singing Rihanna's "Umbrella" while shopping in the store. The magazine also reports that Spears was seen wearing a zip-up jacket with the phrase "F--- Off Lover Boy" while driving in Malibu on Tuesday. ...

Well, maybe Brit should have listened to Lance Bass. He's speaking up about the troubled singer, telling GQ that he's been trying to get through to her. "I tried. I tried. She's my neighbor in Beverly Hills [California]. She lives next door. I tried to get in touch with her — I wanted to be that friend to help her. I don't think she's having any of her old friends anymore," he told the magazine for its November issue. Equally revealing, Bass said he disclosed to the pop star that he was gay years before he came out in public. He said he reached out to her after her quickie Vegas wedding in January 2004. "I felt bad for her," he said. "I knew she was about to go through a lot of crap. I felt the need to share something. So I sat her on my bed, and I'm like, 'Well, I'm gay!' " ...

"Hannah Montana" fans, get ready to see your hero in a whole new light — she's hitting the big screen ... and in 3-D! The upcoming movie "Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" will get the 3-D treatment for a theatrical release that will play in theaters from February 1-7, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be shot during various stops on her 54-city tour, which starts Thursday in St. Louis. ...

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington broke his arm on Sunday during a concert in Melbourne, Australia. The band's Web site features a video showing the frontman's limb in a cast. Despite the injury, Bennington continued to perform with the Park, for their entire set. ... My Chemical Romance have booked a special gig at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey, for October 24. Tickets for the sold-out show went for $100 apiece, with all proceeds going to charity. In other MCR news, RollingStone.com reports that the band has put the finishing touches on a yet-untitled DVD surrounding its recent tour. The disc, reportedly due out early next year, will feature the group's full performance of The Black Parade in Mexico City. ...

Kanye West gave a surprise performance at a launch event for T-Mobile's Sidekick LX at Griffith Park in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. He played a batch of Graduation songs, after which DJ AM and Steve Aoki did some spinning. A slew of celebs turned out for the event: Nick Cannon, Bow Wow, Shia LaBeouf, Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, Carmen Electra, Jack Osbourne, Wilmer Valderrama, JC Chasez, Frankie Muniz and, yes, even Chris "Leave Britney alone!" Crocker. ...

Rivers Cuomo has let slip what fans can expect on his just-announced demos compilation release. He told RollingStone.com that the release will have about 18 songs, including his original demo for Weezer's "Buddy Holly" — and, get this, a cover of Ice Cube's "The Bomb." He also said he'll be unveiling songs from an unfinished space-rock concept album. ... Apparently everyone in Kid Rock's camp isn't sharing in his Rock N Roll Jesus SoundScan spoils: His longtime manager, Ed "Punch" Andrews, has decided to retire, according to Billboard.com. Rock has reportedly found a replacement in Vector Management, which handles Bon Jovi, among others. ...

In September, Robert Plant dismissed a potential Led Zeppelin tour that would be held after their reunion gig at the O2 Arena in London on November 26 — but is Jimmy Page leaving the door open? He hinted as such in an interview with Canada's Winnipeg Sun, saying, "Let's do the O2 show, shall we? And then we'll speak to you afterwards." But, he added, "That's what we have on our horizon at this point. I know you want to hear other answers, but I'm afraid that's all I can give you." The guitar god was less vague about the prospect of new Zep material, saying he would be "really surprised" if there wasn't any. "We're musicians ... as we're playing we'll probably be coming up with all manner of things," he said. Bassist John Paul Jones also spoke with the newspaper, saying, "Basically, we are concentrating on this show. That's where all the energy is going. I mean, who knows, but one step at a time." ...

Cat Power, a.k.a. Chan Marshall, will take on Bob Dylan's "I Believe in You," James Brown's "Lost Someone," Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" and other classics on her second covers album, Jukebox. The January 22 release — which was previously titled Covers II, according to Billboard — also features a pair of originals: "Song to Bobby" and a new version of one of her older cuts, "Metal Heart." One would expect Marshall to perform the Dylan tune when she salutes His Bobness at an upcoming event called "I'm Not There: In Concert a Celebration of Todd Haynes' Film." My Morning Jacket, Calexico and Mason Jennings have also been tapped for the concert, which will take place November 7 at New York's Beacon Theatre. The movie, which stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and others, is due in theaters November 21. ...

Ryan Adams can't get enough of "October Road," apparently. The mercurial singer/songwriter's music is featured in the TV drama and its ad bumpers, and now he's ganging up with the cast for his new video. Adams plans to shoot a clip for "Follow the Lights" — a song included on his Tuesday EP of the same name — Sunday in Los Angeles, and it's due to premiere January 7 during the first episode of the show's second season. The collaboration marks the first time the cast of an ABC show has gotten together to take part in an artist's music video. ...

From the "Man, please don't do this" file, it seems George Lucas is entrenched in one of two planned "Star Wars" TV projects, a live-action spinoff, the Los Angeles Times reports. Lucas told the newspaper he has "just begun work" on the series, which, as he previously told MTV News, will be set between "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and the original "Star Wars." He reiterated to the Times that the spinoff will focus on minor characters from the series, not Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. He also joked that the series would be about "the life of robots." ... Bleeding Through singer Brandan Schieppati has teamed with Bad Religion drummer Brooks Wackerman, No Use for a Name guitarist Dave Nassie and ex-Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn to form a new band called the Innocent. The thrash-metal act has been working on material but there's no word yet on when it might record and release an LP. ...

For the second time in a month, Apple Inc. has done something it's not known for: dropped its prices. Effective immediately, the price for songs on iTunes without copy protection will drop from $1.29 to 99 cents. Apple started selling some DRM-free songs in May at a premium price. ...

Elliott Smith's girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba, cannot collect on the deceased indie-rock icon's estate even though he allegedly said he would make sure she was financially set for the rest of her life, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Chiba had sued Smith's estate in 2004, arguing that he had promised her as such and that, because they had lived together — and shared their earnings and property equally — she was entitled to a portion. But a split California appellate court ruled Tuesday that while she did have a "cohabitative agreement" with Smith, Chiba — who had been seeking more than $1 million — also had a recording management agreement and acted as an unlicensed talent agent. If she appeals, a state Supreme Court review could be possible.

• Jessica Simpson
• Jennifer Lopez
• Pharrell Williams
• Kanye West
• The Hives

Snoop Dogg
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Snoop can breathe a little easier — for now. On Monday (December 4), a superior-court judge in Santa Ana, California, postponed the rapper's felony weapon-possession arraignment until January. The charges — not to be confused with the ones surrounding Snoop's arrest for gun and drug possession last week — stem from a September incident at John Wayne Airport, where he was caught carrying a collapsible baton in his luggage. Snoop showed up to court Monday with three guards and his defense attorney, but he signed a waiver that will free him up from having to appear at most of the "non-substantive" hearings. He could face up to three years in prison if convicted. ...

A teary-eyed Jessica Simpson quickly left the stage Sunday night at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., after singing Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," The Columbus Dispatch reports. Simpson's performance — which the reportedly silent audience did not applaud — was part of a tribute event honoring the country legend, Steven Spielberg, Smokey Robinson and others. Simpson ended the song abruptly by saying, "So nervous," and appeared to still be crying when she returned to the stage with other singers later in the show, according to the paper. The tribute will be broadcast December 26 on CBS. ...

Madonna's Confessions road trip is heading to a new venue — fans' homes. A to-be-named tour DVD will hit U.S. stores January 23. ... Lance Bass and Reichen Lehmkuhl have broken up, according to People magazine. Bass revealed his relationship with the "Amazing Race" winner when the 'NSYNC singer announced to the magazine in July that he's gay. ...

Police shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old who had been accused of robbing a student of two PlayStation 3s the day the console was released, AP reports. Peyton Strickland was shot Friday in New Haven County, North Carolina, after police had been sent to arrest him at a house the student shared with three roommates. One of the roommates said Strickland was unarmed but may have been holding a video game controller when police bashed in the door to the house. Authorities said Monday that the shooting will be investigated. ...

Paris Hilton has backed out of an appearance at the Billboard Music Awards on Monday because she's not into cracking on her pals. Hilton's spokesperson, Elliot Mintz, told AP that his client wasn't happy with some of the jokes that had been written for her. "Some satirical references ridiculed some of her peers," he told the wire service. "Paris did not want to say anything that could appear hurtful or embarrassing about people she knows." The awards show, which airs Monday on Fox, will not have a host, according to a network representative. ...

During a pretrial hearing last week, Jennifer Lopez's first husband, Ojani Noa, revealed plans to fight the singer's efforts to thwart his tell-all memoir. AP reports that Noa told the court he regrets agreeing to a preliminary injunction that bars him from "criticizing, denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging or causing disparagement" to his ex. "I want to fight this thing to the end," he declared. Lopez filed the suit against Noa in April and successfully obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting him from publishing details about the couple's most intimate moments. Noa said the book would concentrate on his experiences, and said Lopez "was only a part of my life, but I was going to talk about my other girlfriends as well." Lopez and Noa married in 1997 and divorced 11 months later. ...

Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson has responded to claims made last week by Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes regarding the band's departure from GN'R's current tour. Hughes had said that Stinson tossed his bass down in disgust during a November 24 gig in Cleveland, when frontman Axl Rose called the Eagles the "Pigeons of Sh-- Metal." Hughes also said Rose then picked up the instrument and hurled it at Stinson. "Eagles of Death Metal were a suggestion of mine a while ago," the GN'R bassist wrote. "Turns out they were the wrong band for our crowd. They were booed and did not play for as long as they were scheduled to. As for all of the inaccuracies that have been said since, I would like to say that's all they are — inaccuracies. In the past, I have thrown my bass. I have never thrown it at Axl or anyone else in the band, nor has anyone thrown my bass back at me ... yet. Axl has been a dear friend to me for nine years. We have no problem communicating and wish that people would stay the f--- out of sh-- they don't know anything about." ...

In related news, organizers of a guns-for-Guns N' Roses ticket exchange program in Oakland, California, said the event was a success, with more than three dozen guns being turned over in exchange for goods worth an average of $100, including tickets to the band's December 15 gig. The handguns and rifles collected during Saturday's event will be transferred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, to be melted down and converted into manhole covers. ... All-female metal band Kittie have been forced to change the name of their record label to X of Infamy, following the arrival of a cease-and-desist letter issued by attorneys representing Kiss. The Canadian band's label was originally dubbed Kiss of Infamy, which, according to Kiss' lawyers, is "confusingly similar" to their client's moniker. Kittie will release their new LP, Funeral for Yesterday, February 20. ...

If you had told somebody 40 years ago that a copy of The Velvet Underground & Nico would have ever fetched $110,000 ... well, let's just say you never would have. But that's what a rare vinyl item by the band is going for on eBay — dwarfing ever so slightly the 75 cents it was purchased for at a New York street sale in 2002. The acetate is being considered the only surviving copy of the first "finished" version of the debut album Andy Warhol brought to Columbia Records. The auction ends Friday. ... Devendra Banhart popped up at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre late last week to join his bandmate Noah Georgeson onstage. Georgeson opened for Joanna Newsom and performed in support of his own Find Shelter. ...

Despite plenty of bloggerati rumors to the contrary, Los Angeles duo Giant Drag haven't broken up — but things are going to be a whole lot different from now on. According to a spokesperson for Interscope Records, drummer/synth player Micah Calabrese has left the band, but guitarist Annie Hardy will soldier on as "the writer and face of Giant Drag." The band's most recent album was 2005's critically lauded Hearts and Unicorns. ... A West Virginia concert promoter has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Slipknot, claiming the Iowa metal act bailed on a 2001 concert he organized. The suit claims Slipknot was scheduled to perform November 27, 2001, at the Huntington Civic Center, but canceled the appearance when a family member of one of the rockers fell ill. The complaint — which names all nine members of Slipknot as defendants — alleges that the band was aware that promoter Don Maynard "expended a significant amount of time, energy and money promoting the show based on the contract and that he would suffer damages as a result of the defendants breaching the concert contract." Maynard is seeking $72,000 in damages.

12.01.2006

Lindsay Lohan, who has caught a lot of flak for her alleged partying ways, has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings of her own volition, her publicist told The Associated Press Friday (December 1). "She started attending some, and I think it's a positive thing," Leslie Sloane told AP. "My biggest fear is who's the big idiot to out which [chapter] she goes to. It's no place to go and feel safe. No one judges her, and it's going to be a slow process. But, to me, the fact that she's seeing that there's something not right makes her smarter than the next person." ...

"American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee will appear at the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade, airing January 1 at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. George Lucas is the Pasadena, California, event's grand marshal. ... Jay-Z is a very interesting man — just ask Barbara Walters. The rapper joins actor Patrick Dempsey, retired tennis pro Andre Agassi and Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour among those profiled by the reporter in her interview special, "Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006." It will air December 12 on ABC. ...

Three 6 Mafia have settled a lawsuit filed by a Pittsburgh teenager who claimed he was severely beaten during an August 2003 concert by the group. In the suit, Ramone Williams said he suffered a fractured jaw after he was thrown to the floor, hit with a chair and kicked in the face while Three 6 performed their song "Let's Start a Riot." The settlement was reached last month, and details were not released. ... Fall Out Boy are calling on their fans to help design the cover for the iTunes pre-order version of their upcoming Infinity on High album. Amateur artists can submit their potential covers through the band's site, FallOutBoyRock.com, and FOB will choose their favorite. Submissions are being taken until December 31, and the winner will be revealed when the album becomes available for pre-order on iTunes on January 16. ...

Nirvana's MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video — for "Heart Shaped Box" in 1994 — will be up for bid beginning Tuesday on ItsOnlyRockNRoll.com. The Moonman is expected to fetch $5,000. A signed Beatles album from the collection of George Harrison's sister; Bob Dylan recordings from 1961; and a hat belonging to Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger will also go up on the block. The auction ends December 16. ... With the Eagles of Death Metal out, Guns N' Roses have called on Helmet to open for them for the remainder of the Axl Rose-fronted band's current tour, which rolls into Ames, Iowa, on Friday. The trek runs through December 20 in Universal City, California; Sebastian Bach and the Suicide Girls are also on the bill. ... Beyoncé will be up and at 'em early on Monday, performing at New York's Rockefeller Plaza as part of NBC's live "Today" broadcast. Her performance is scheduled to air between 8 and 9 a.m. ET. ...

Joining the Killers and others, the Arcade Fire are becoming the latest band to give music for Bono's [RED] charity campaign. The anti-corporate indie-rock group is donating "Rebellion (Lies)" for a (Product) [RED] ad campaign that is tied to companies like Motorola, Converse and the Gap. "To some people this seems crass and capitalistic," frontman Win Butler wrote in a post on the band's site, "and I sympathize with that position, but in the first week of the campaign, they have raised enough money for 10,000 women to have antiretroviral drugs for a year ... money and medication which wouldn't have been there without a program like this." Bono's [RED] campaign aims to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa through the sale of branded merchandise. ... Kevin Lyman's Taste of Chaos Tour — which some like to call "The Winter Warped Tour" — will hit the road for a total of 39 dates this winter, it was recently announced. The trek — which starts February 15 in Seattle and wraps April 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia — will feature 30 Seconds To Mars, the Used and more. For the full list of dates, check out TasteOfChaos.com ...

Want to hang out with Metallica? Now you've got a shot. To celebrate Tuesday's release of their DVD "The Videos 1989-2004," Metallica are giving fans a chance to win a two-night stay (including hotel and travel expenses) in San Francisco, where a lucky fan will meet the band and tour their headquarters. Ten others will win a copy of the DVD. The contest ends December 31. Visit Metallica.com for additional details. ... An auction featuring the paintings and personal effects of late Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett raised more than $230,000 for children's educational programs. Items under the gavel at the U.K. auction included 10 paintings by the reclusive musician, a pair of his bicycles, a leather armchair and his artificial Christmas tree. Barrett, who all but disappeared from public life after parting ways with Pink Floyd in 1968, died in July at his home in Cambridge, England, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. ...

Starsailor lead singer James Walsh is doing a week of solo acoustic shows beginning Thursday in Seattle. The trek will also hit San Francisco; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Austin, Texas. ... Brian McKnight's 10th album, aptly titled 10, is due Tuesday and will feature collaborations with Jill Scott and country group Rascal Flatts. "We're friends, so we got together to see what we'd come up with and we came up with a pretty good tune," he said of the latter act. ...

Celebrity photo agency X17 filed a copyright-infringement suit against Mario Lavandeira — better known as Perez Hilton — in federal court Thursday, accusing the blogger of using images owned by X17 without permission. A statement issued by the photo agency claims that the success of PerezHilton.com is "due in large part to the quality and quantity of celebrity images he posts on the site, many of which are owned by X17." Lavandeira, who has not commented on the claims, told gossip site TMZ.com that he has not been served with the suit. "My lawyers and I will address the situation when we have the opportunity to review the materials." A group of seven additional photo agencies — including Splash News and World Entertainment News Network — sent the blogger a cease-and-desist notice earlier this week, urging him to stop posting photos without permission and to pay a licensing fee for prior use to avoid further legal action.

• Snoop Dogg
• Jessica Simpson
• Madonna
• Lance Bass
• Paris Hilton

Justin Timberlake
Photo: MTV News

Although an 'NSYNC reunion is looking less and less likely, the group's two most prominent members are collaborating.

Justin Timberlake, whose second solo album FutureSex/LoveSounds is due September 12 (see "Justin Previews New Tracks At Hollywood Show With Help From Will.I.Am, Timbaland"), is among the producers contributing to JC Chasez's sophomore effort.

"He and I have written three or four songs now that I kind of put a producer hat on for, which was an honor, because in my opinion, he had the best voice out of all of us," Timberlake revealed recently. "Out of all the boy bands, call 'em what you will, he was the one that could out-sing all of us. ... And I've known him since I was 10, so it was fun to sit behind the board and push him."

Chasez has described the yet-untitled follow-up to Schizophrenic, due in early 2007, as more focused (see "JC Chasez Promises Next Solo Outing Will Be Less Schizophrenic"), and Timberlake is proud to take some credit for that direction.

"I remember our conversations about it, I said, 'You're too talented for your own brain,' " Timberlake recalled. "I think that when you have that much talent and you can sing so many different styles, you want to sing all of them. And so what we did in the studio is, I really feel like we zoned in on a specific thing for him and it really came out. Not only do I really think they're good songs, good pop records, but they build a character for him."

While Schizophrenic merged genres from R&B to electronica to rock, the new album is solely "pop-alternative," as Chasez has dubbed it.

"You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't give it a specific style, you give people too much room to compare you to everyone else," Timberlake said. "And I definitely saw that with the first record."

			All Eyes On: Justin Timberlake See Justin dish on sexy new tracks, how he should have handled the Super Bowl incident and much more.

Along with candidly discussing Chasez's music, Timberlake also opened up about fellow 'NSYNC star Lance Bass, who recently announced he is gay (see " 'NSYNC's Lance Bass Reveals He's Gay: 'I'm Not Ashamed ... I Don't Think It's Wrong' "). Timberlake said he breathed a sigh of relief for his friend.

"I think Lance is one of the greatest people I know, and I'm just happy that he had self-acceptance over this because I'm sure it's hard," Timberlake said. "The guy grew up in the Bible Belt, you know, so just as his friend, you want that for him. You want him to be OK and live his life. I think that a lot of the boy bands, and they date back, you know, a little ways, I think that they all sign up for a certain thing and — this might be me assuming too much — but I think that a lot of them buy into that illusion as well. Especially when you have to live it and it's not who you really are. So I'm happy for him."

Timberlake also addressed the recent interview he did with the U.K.'s Observer Music Monthly magazine, in which he said he's taken drugs and that "nicotine is more addictive than heroin."

"I'll just say this, and I'm not attacking anyone, but the interesting thing about a lot of magazine interviews that you do is that you get asked questions, and you get asked them a specific way, and you have a specific way [of answering], like we're having a conversation, and you make a statement like, 'It's a proven fact that nicotine is more addictive than heroin,' " he explained. "And then you keep going through the conversation and then they ask you another question and you say, 'Look, I'm not here to preach to anybody, I just say don't do anything in excess, don't get carried away with anything.' The next thing I see is like, 'Heroin is safer than cigarettes.' And I'm like, 'Who in their right mind would think that?'

"The thing you have to realize and not get bent out of shape about is the press is gonna say what the press wants to say," he continued. "And they're gonna make a big deal out of the things they want to make a big deal out of. I know what I said. I know how I said it. If the conversation was printed there would be no room for misquote or error. But you can't worry about it. At the end of the day, who cares? The only thing I care about is that I can get my music out."

Timberlake cares enough that he does not discuss current or past relationships with the media, although he has publicly wished the best for Britney Spears.

"I get approached a lot in print interviews about her," Justin said of Britney. "It's such a part of my life that was so long ago to me that I prefer not to talk about it anymore because it's giving it too much weight. And again, it's like the comment I made in the U.K. press, it's always misconstrued. But the truth of the matter is, I really do wish her well and I do want to see her win."

For more on Timberlake, including his explanation for not re-forming 'NSYNC, check out "Justin's Future Shock." Or look for Justin on the road through September 1.

Justin Timberlake tour dates, according to Jive Records:

• 8/17 - Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Tea Room
• 8/19 - Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theatre
• 8/20 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
• 8/22 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
• 8/24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 8/25 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 8/26 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 8/31 - New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
• 9/1 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

• Justin Timberlake Live At The House Of Blues In Anaheim, CA 08.10.2006
• Justin Timberlake Live In London, 07.13.2006

• Justin Timberlake
• Britney Spears
• Lance Bass
• JC Chasez

Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: Bad Boy

A special task force formed to further investigate the March 9, 1997, shooting death of Notorious B.I.G. has reinstated a $50,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to a conviction, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson. LAPD Chief William J. Bratton assigned the six senior homicide detectives to the case in an effort to clear Los Angeles in a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city by the rapper's mother, Voletta Wallace, who contends officers conspired in the shooting. The investigators are using a video filmed by tourists minutes before the shooting to gather more potential witnesses to interview. ...

Mel Gibson has entered rehab following his arrest Friday for driving under the influence, CNN reports. On Monday, The Associated Press reported that the official report on the actor/director proved that he had in fact made anti-Semitic remarks and threatened a deputy, as had previously been reported online. While Gibson has yet to be formally charged, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department sent prosecutors their case on Monday, which also states Gibson had a tequila bottle in his 2006 Lexus when he was pulled over. A tentative arraignment date has been set for September 28. ...

Britney Spears has been saying for over a year now that she needs to start her own magazine to combat tabloid rumors, and now hubby Kevin Federline is singing the same tune. Just one month after the Mrs. told Matt Lauer on "Dateline" that she needs to go into publishing so she can say "the real deal," K-Fed is thinking about starting up a magazine called The Real. In a cover story in this week's issue of the New York/ New Jersey magazine Steppin' Out, Mr. Spears claims that he's "serious" about the venture, which would "tell the truth about not just mine and Britney's life ... but everybody!" (Peep K-Fed pics from the magazine right here.) "It's not just us; everybody has been lied about in the tabloids," he continued. "Everybody has false truths and false images and false stuff perceived on them. Maybe not as much as me and my wife get. But everybody has it. You know? I think a magazine like that, if there were just one magazine like that, would attract all the stars. I think they would want to go to that magazine and tell the truth!" K-Fed's so fired up about the idea, he insisted, "I'm not kidding. This is something I want to do for real." ...

Beyoncé doesn't like the speculation that she timed the release of her new album B'Day to interfere with a new album out by former Destiny's Child singer LeToya Luckett — she says it's just not true. Responding to an item in New York's Daily News, Beyoncé insists in a statement that making her album available for preorders before the September 5 release had nothing to do with Luckett's releasing her debut solo album LeToya last week. "I have enormous respect and admiration for LeToya as an artist and as a businesswoman and I wish her incredible success," Beyoncé said. "LeToya and I have known each other since childhood and, because of all we've been through, I know that we both really care — and want what's best — for each other. ... It makes me sad that people are trying to stir up a controversy where there is none." Beyoncé's father/manager Mathew Knowles called it "standard practice" for upcoming albums to go on pre-sale well in advance of an in-store date, and said he was "shocked and amazed that this is even an issue." Meanwhile, Beyoncé's got backup coming from her boyfriend Jay-Z, who will join the star during her performance of "Deja Vu" at this year's Fashion Rocks concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall on September 7. ...

Shots were fired in an Atlanta club Monday morning (July 31) at a party hosted by rapper/producer Jermaine Dupri. A gunman opened fire inside the crowded Atlanta Peach Ballroom after trying to steal another man's gold chain, according to DeKalb County Police Department spokesperson Herschel Grangent. The alleged thief pulled out a gun and fired an undetermined number of times, injuring two women who sustained gunshot wounds to their legs while a third cut her arm trying to flee the scene. Grangent said a male victim was taken to an area hospital shortly after the incident with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his chest. Police expect to interview him Monday. It is unknown if Dupri was at the club during the party, which was the culmination of a series of events sponsored by the producer's So So Def label over the weekend. Grangent said no suspects were in custody at press time and there were no other reports of problems at any of the other Dupri-sponsored events. ...

How is Lance Bass doing following his big announcement Wednesday? Reichen Lehmkuhl spoke to "Access Hollywood" on Friday, and said his boyfriend Bass is "happier than he has ever been. It has been a long ride and it's a huge relief and I couldn't be happier for him and I couldn't be more proud of him." The former U.S. Air Force captain and "Amazing Race" winner said he's not concerned about Bass' professional life suffering due to his announcement that he's gay. "I think it is always best in your career to be honest. He is going to have more support and more happiness and more freedom than he had ever before, and it is going to be a liberating experience. I guarantee it." ... Janet Jackson has changed the title of her album from 20 Years Old to 20 Y.O. The disc is due September 26. ... The wait for Kelis' follow-up to her 2003 LP Tasty is nearly over. Kelis Was Here is set to hit stores August 22. ...

30 Seconds to Mars have been added to the Warped Tour lineup. Jared Leto's band will play seven shows as part of the tour beginning Tuesday in Buffalo, New York, and ending August 12 in Toronto. ... Boy George will report to New York's sanitation division on August 14 for five days of work, AP reports. The ex-Culture Club singer was ordered to perform community service after pleading guilty to reporting a false incident earlier this year. ... The Mars Volta have parted ways with drummer Jon Theodore, but have not offered an official explanation for his departure. He's been replaced by Blake Fleming (Laddio Bolocko, Dazzling Killmen), who helped found the Mars Volta in 2001 — hanging around just long enough to record a handful of demos. The band also revealed that guitarist and original At the Drive-In member Pablo Hinojos-Gonzalez would be expanding his onstage duties to include "sound manipulation skills" for the Volta's upcoming tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. ...

The Melvins will be hitting the road in September in support of their forthcoming album A Senile Animal, which is slated for an October 10 release. The band is teaming up with Big Business for the trek, which kicks off September 6 in Sacramento, California, with 17 additional dates scheduled through a September 28 show in Chicago. ... Despite the near ubiquity of MySpace, video-sharing site YouTube is actually tops when it comes to daily visitors. According to new data from Internet analysis company Alexa, YouTube had a 3.9 percent share of global Internet visits a day in July, compared with 3.35 percent for MySpace. In the U.S. alone, YouTube's user base has grown 297 percent this year, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, while its reach — defined as the number of users per million who visit the site — rose 155 percent in the past three months, versus a 9 percent increase for MySpace.

07.28.2006

While it's probably better they didn't face off in a popularity contest, President Bush got his picture taken with the "American Idol" finalists on Friday (July 28), The Associated Press reports. Bush also gave the singers a brief tour of the Oval Office, in between meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and top U.S. high school students. The Idols gave Bush an engraved harmonica, while victor Taylor Hicks also gifted Bush with a black T-shirt reading "Soul Patrol." ...

Lindsay Lohan collapsed on the set of "Georgia Rule" earlier this week, but the chief executive of the Los Angeles company producing the movie doesn't believe it was due to exhaustion, TheSmokingGun.com reports. In an angrily worded letter that was sent to the singer/actress and obtained by the site, James G. Robinson wrote to Lohan that he is "well aware that your ongoing all-night heavy partying is the real reason for your so-called 'exhaustion.' " Robinson alluded to possible legal action in the reprimand, saying her behavior has "resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage." "I urge you to take this letter seriously and conduct yourself professionally," the letter concluded. ...

Mel Gibson has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, CNN reports. The actor/director was pulled over early Friday in Malibu, California, after sheriffs caught him speeding. Gibson was charged with a misdemeanor and posted a $5,000 bond. ...

Killers frontman Brandon Flowers can talk trash with the best of them and has done so consistently over the last year about emo bands like Fall Out Boy and, most recently, Panic! at the Disco. But on the verge of a new album, Sam's Town, it seems Flowers has had a change of heart. "I'd like to take it all back," Flowers recanted to AOL Music. "These people are just doing what they want to do, just like I am. I'm actually a nice person and I love people. I just am opinionated and sometimes jealous. It's not something I'm proud of." A devout Mormon, Flowers said he was particularly ashamed of his comments about Panic! at the Disco — a band he dissed without ever having heard them. "I don't even know what their music's like or if I would even like it," he said. "That made me feel even worse, to think they could have been fans of ours and I hurt their feelings. That's just stupid." ... On a related note, Panic! have been forced to cancel their show Friday night at the Premier in Seattle due to a death in the family. No other information was available, but a Panic! spokesperson said they promise to keep fans updated on the situation. ...

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was rated PG-13, but next year, Daniel Radcliffe will be engaged in some R-rated activities. The 17-year-old actor will appear in the nude as part of "Equus," a London production that will mark the actor's theatrical debut, AP reports. Radcliffe will play a "troubled stableboy" who, at one point in the play, "is required to simulate sexual ecstasy while riding a horse naked." Wand-erful. ... Owen Wilson has responded to Steely Dan's complaint that his new comedy "You, Me and Dupree" ripped off the band's "Cousin Dupree," a song about a depraved couch-surfer. "I have never heard the song 'Cousin Dupree' and I don't even know who this gentleman, Mr. Steely Dan, is," Wilson said in a statement released by his spokesperson, according to The New York Times. "I hope this helps to clear things up and I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, 'HEY 19,' " he added, referring to the band's song "Hey Nineteen." ...

Tool have added eight stops to their forthcoming North American run with Isis, which will kick off August 6 in Fresno, California. Those new dates are: September 9 (Phoenix); September 26 (Pittsburgh); September 30 (Washington, D.C.); October 2 (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania); October 3 (Manchester, Connecticut); October 5 (Hartford, Connecticut); October 6 (East Rutherford, New Jersey); and October 7 (Wantagh, New York). ... The head-butt seen 'round the world — French football superstar Zinedine Zidane being sent off for ramming Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the recent World Cup final — has spawned a chart-topping hit in France. According to the Associated Foreign Press, the song "Headbutt" — created in 30 minutes by three despondent French fans — has been the most downloaded track in France in the last two weeks with over 80,000 downloads. The track's lighthearted lyrics poke fun at French striker David Trezeguet, who missed a crucial penalty kick and Zidane's vicious head-butt, which earned him a red card and a career-ending exit from the game. ...

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Buckethead will be out on the road starting September 13 in Lawrence, Kansas, for a 28-date U.S. trek. The guitarist will pass through Detroit, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans and Houston before wrapping things up in Anaheim, California, October 29. ... More details have surfaced regarding Papa Roach's forthcoming LP, The Paramour Sessions. The disc will contain 13 fresh tracks, including "The World Around You," "I Devise My Own Demise," "Roses on My Grave" and "... To Be Loved," the album's first single. Look for it to land in stores September 12. ... Canadian singer/songwriter and sometimes producer Howie Beck will release his self-titled third album September 12. Guests on the 13-track disc include Nada Surf frontman Matthew Caws, Ed Harcourt and Broken Social Scene-er Feist. A tour of select U.S. dates is expected in the fall.

• Kevin Federline In "Steppin' Out" Magazine

• Notorious B.I.G.
• Beyoncé
• Jermaine Dupri
• *NSYNC
• Lance Bass

Lance Bass
Photo: Thos Robinson/ Getty Images

Lance Bass is definitely not alone.

The day after the 'NSYNC singer publicly revealed that he's gay, fans have voiced overwhelming support for him. "I'm not ashamed," he told People magazine in the issue that hits newsstands Friday (see " 'NSYNC's Lance Bass Reveals He's Gay: 'I'm Not Ashamed ... I Don't Think It's Wrong' ").

And as far as fans are concerned — at least, the ones who've written to You Tell Us — they're cool with it. Bass' announcement has shocked many, eliciting cheers — and a few tears — from supporters.

(Click to read fans' reactions.)

"As an 'NSYNC fan for eight years — literally half my life — I was shocked when I heard the news, and I did cry," said Taylor, 16, of Richmond, Virginia. "But even while I was crying, I knew I loved Lance all the same, just in a different way now. I support him completely, and as much as I admired him before, I respect him immeasurably now."

"It is a little jarring to see someone I had a major crush on when I was in junior high come out of the closet," agreed Rebecca, 20, of New York, "but going by the articles and the things he's said, he's really happy now, and that's all that matters. I'm really happy that Lance is able to finally be himself without having to hide anything."

For some fans, the time may have come for them to stop hiding as well.

"I just want to let him know that what he has done has encouraged me not to hide anymore either," said Paul, 19, of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

"I think that it was really a good thing to come out like Lance Bass did," wrote another reader, Hansel, 23, of Ozone Park, New York. "He is brave. ... I'm myself bisexual and I'm proud of it, but my parents don't know."

One gay teen who has already come out was impressed by someone of Bass' stature making such a declaration.

"I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Lance Bass, an international star, to come out," said Jarrid, 17, of Jonesboro, Georgia. "As a gay teen, I know that each of our own cases seems to be the worst and hardest there is, but the fact that he did it on such a large level, I truly admire him for doing this. Hats off to you, brother!"

A large number of readers said they believe Bass' announcement will not only spur others to admit to being gay, but it will make homosexuality more accepted in American culture. For one reader, though — Erin, 22, of Fort Wayne, Indiana — the news is having a much more personal impact.

"Lance Bass' story makes me so very happy," she wrote. "I am the daughter of a homosexual male. It kills me that my father had to hide who he truly was for 15 years. It makes me happy to see that Lance is happy and comfortable enough to tell the world who he is. In today's world, gay is becoming a norm. While many in the world may not agree, if we could all take the approach of Lance's grandmother, who loves him and accepts him no matter what, maybe we can become a more accepting world too."

A few readers, however, expressed discomfort over Bass' announcement. Some, such as Kyle from Texas, cited their religious views.

"I cannot believe America is letting this immoral thing come in," he wrote. "Lance [said] God is OK with [his sexuality]. Except if they read their Bibles they would see that in Exodus it says that it is an abomination for man to lay with mankind."

A larger number said Bass could have come out sooner.

"It's no big deal anymore that Lance is gay. If that's what makes him happy, then so be it. Why keep it such a secret?" said Nelson, 21, of New York.

Another New Yorker, Armando, 23, voiced a different type of criticism: "I'm happy for Lance that he came out, but for him to make a stereotype by labeling others like him 'SAGs' (straight-acting gays) is really uncalled for. Gay is gay, so why all the labeling of what type of a gay man one is? Keep the labeling to food and clothes and not a person's sexuality."

By and large, however, Bass has a wealth of fans who approve of the singer's decision. "I love this story," wrote Mona, 15, of Austin, Texas. "I think it's fantastic because it shows that Lance is happy with himself and that he is comfortable with who he is. It shows that it is OK to be gay and that there is nothing wrong with it."

• Lance Bass Reveals He's Gay In "People" Magazine

• *NSYNC
• Lance Bass

Lance Bass
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

After years of speculation, Lance Bass has confirmed the rumors and told People magazine that he is gay.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed — that's the one thing I want to say," the 'NSYNC singer told the mag in the issue that hits newsstands Friday. "I don't think it's wrong. I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."

(Click to see Lance on the cover of People.)

The rumors started during 'NSYNC's heyday (the group is currently on hiatus) but heated up in the last few months as he was spotted frequently with gay-rights activist and reality-TV personality Reichen Lehmkuhl, who won the $1 million prize on "The Amazing Race 4" with his former partner Chip Arndt. Lehmkuhl has since appeared on other reality shows such as "Fear Factor" and hosted a talk show on the now-defunct Q Television.

After tabloids and gossip sites started tracking Bass and Lehmkuhl's public appearances together, Lehmkuhl responded in mid-April by posting on his Web site that he likes to keep his personal life private. "As for the rumors about me and Lance, please continue to remind people that things that I do not discuss anymore, such as the private and personal relationships that I have, are just that — private — unless I choose to open up with details to my family and close friends for reasons of support and love," he wrote. "I wish people could allow that part of me for, well, just me and who I choose to share my life with and love ... and to leave it well enough alone."

Despite this wish, Bass told People that the rumors about the two being a couple were "really starting to affect my daily life," so he decided to come forward and confirm that they're in a "very stable" relationship. "Now it feels like it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God, so there's nothing else that I worry about."

It also helps that Bass no longer feels compelled to hide his private life to protect his bandmates, since the band has been on hiatus for four years. When 'NSYNC were in full swing, he worried that coming out would hurt the band. "I didn't know: Could that be the end of 'NSYNC?" he told People. "So I had that weight on me of, like, 'Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did ... I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said [that I was gay], it would overpower everything."

Bass said he's known that he's gay for his "whole life ... from childhood on," but struggled because he knew it would be "something that I would have to hide my whole life." Bass hid it from his bandmates — who suspected anyway "because we were like brothers," he said, and they wondered, " 'Why aren't you hitting on women all the time and acting like a rock star?' Because I was a good Christian boy, that's why."

Their suspicions were also complicated by the fact that Bass was dating women until he was 22 (he's now 27). "I've definitely, you know, been with women," Bass said. "And I've had great relationships with them where I was definitely in love. It's just I grew to a point where deep inside I knew that I could never truly have a relationship with a woman. I don't know if they ever suspected. It was never brought up."

"He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone," Joey Fatone told People. "I back him up 100 percent."

"I've know Lance for more than 10 years," JC Chasez told MTV News. "We have been through so much together. He is family and I support him unconditionally."

Fatone was the first 'NSYNC bandmate Bass told about being gay, after Fatone walked in on Bass and a male date at his house in Orlando, Florida. Fatone's response at the time? "Dude, I don't care," Bass recalled him saying. Chris Kirkpatrick found out last summer and JC Chasez three months ago.

"Very few people have the guts to come up to you and say, 'Hey, are you gay?' " Bass said. "I'm pretty sure they all knew and they probably all talked to each other, but they had the respect to let me tell them. I haven't had the conversation with Justin [Timberlake] yet. I know he knows, but I've never really sat him down and said it." I will be calling him."

"Lance is one of my great friends," Timberlake told MTV News Wednesday (July 26). "I support him and wish him all the happiness in the world."

Telling his bandmates has been easy, but telling his family was another matter. His sister became pale and started crying when he told her, while his mother "broke down." "The worst part about it was my mom found out not from me," Bass said. "She found out on the Internet, and that's what just killed me. ... It destroyed her for a little bit." His father, in the meantime, was concerned about diseases, telling Lance that "It's much easier for gay people to get AIDS," and "Statistics show that these relationships don't last. You know it's not going to last." "I was like, 'Dad, wow!' "

In Bass' hometown of Clinton, Mississippi, where his mother is a middle-school teacher and his father works in real estate, being gay is "not looked at very highly," he said. But as worried as he was that his grandparents would take it even worse, his maternal grandmother, who was told last week, handled it "so well," he says. "She was like, 'You know what? I may not agree with it, but I love you just the same and you're welcome in my house anytime.' "

For now, Bass and Lehmkuhl are "taking it one day at a time," since the relationship is only a few months old. They met because Lehmkuhl was Bass' real-estate agent, and the two became friends, then lovers. "This is a huge turning point in my life and also in his life too," Bass said. Eventually, Bass would like to have a family and hopes to have his own kids as well as adopt.

"I want people to take away from this that being gay is a norm," Bass said. "That the stereotypes are out the window ... I've met so many people like me that it's really encouraged me. I call them the SAGs — the straight-acting gays. We're just normal, typical guys. I love to watch football and drink beer."

And if people ask him now if he's gay, Bass said he plans to respond, "No, I'm also gay." Meaning that it won't define him — just the part of himself that he doesn't have to hide anymore.

[This story was originally published at 1:07 pm E.T. on 07.26.2006]

• Lance Bass Reveals He's Gay In "People" Magazine

• *NSYNC
• Lance Bass

Shakira on the set of her "La Tortura" video shoot
Photo: Chris Militcsher

The prosecution is wrapping up its case against Michael Jackson in what's expected to be the last week of testimony against him. The singer's lawyers argued in and out of court on Monday, trying to convince the judge not to allow the testimony of Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe (they lost that one), and fighting with each other outside of court. Neither Thomas Mesereau nor Brian Oxman would comment on their argument, but it was later learned that Oxman would no longer be on the defense team as of Thursday. In the meantime, another one of the "Neverland 5" — former employees who claim they witnessed Jackson molesting various boys and lost their jobs after testifying before a grand jury — took the stand. Kassim Abdool testified that he witnessed Jackson kissing the 1993 accuser. ...

An airborne bottle cut rock band Kasabian's set short Friday night at the Academy in Glasgow, Scotland, after an audience member pitched the projectile at guitarist Sergio Pizzorno's head, leaving him with a sizable gash that required six sutures. In a statement, Pizzorno said it was "a shame the actions of one person put an end to our best gig all year" and recommended that those who see the band live in the future, should they feel the urge to throw anything, "throw bras and knickers from now on." ...

For Shakira's new video for the dancehall-flavored "La Tortura," she worked with director Michael Haussman (Kanye West, Madonna) to create a combative moment in a couple's relationship. Filmed in an art deco building, her significant other, played by Alejandro Sanz, sings about his "transgressions" en Español while Shakira fires back that she won't forgive him. The clip debuts Tuesday at 6 p.m. on MTV, while her album, Fijacion Oral Part 1, is due June 7. ... Ricky Martin, moved by his visit to the tsunami-ravaged villages of Southeast Asia, is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to help build and restore 224 houses in Thailand's Pang Nga province. A donation from the Ricky Martin Foundation will help more than 1,000 people move out of temporary shelters and overcrowded camps. Work is expected to begin this month and be completed in March 2007. The singer's spokesperson said Martin will make another trip to lend a hand in the rebuilding process. ...

You Hear It First band and Fred Durst protégés Ringside will open for Weezer from April 26 in Vancouver to May 14 in Atlanta. The tour marks the first outing for the duo of singer/songwriter Scott Thomas and producer/actor Balthazar Getty. ... Claymates can now show their admiration for Clay Aiken every time they make a purchase. MasterCard affiliate Myplash (short for "my plastic cash") just released an Aiken debit card, as well as a Simple Plan edition, and will continue putting music celebrities on their cards. ...

Two months after 32-year-old Tracey Gardner-Tetso failed to meet up with friends at a Mötley Crüe concert in Washington, D.C., the band is stepping up to match the $10,000 reward put up by the Victims' Rights Foundation. "We hope our involvement helps brings more attention to this case and anyone with information will step forward," bassist Nikki Sixx said in a statement. Tetso is white, 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds and has long blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen driving a 1996 black Pontiac Trans Am with tinted windows and Maryland plates LRN 534. The car was found March 17th in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Anyone with information should call police at (410) 407-2020. ... Tupac's mom, Afeni Shakur, is happy that T.I. and Lil' Flip have resolved their beef and said it's a "wonderful lesson" for the rest of the rap community. "It's been nearly 10 years since everything between Tupac and Biggie, and rappers today are paying a lot of lip service to the lessons they learned from that tragedy," she said in a statement, "but how many of them are actually showing it in their actions? I'm proud of the way T.I. and Lil' Flip have settled their differences." ...

Get ready to call Lance Bass' bluff — the 'NSYNC singer is going to put on his game face during a no-limit round of Texas hold 'em on "Poker Royale: Celebrities Vs. Poker Pros." Also playing for a chance at a $50,000 prize are actresses such as Jennifer Tilly and Mimi Rogers and poker champs such as Scott Fischman and Kenna James. The seven-episode series debuts May 6 at 9 p.m. ET on GSN. ... Faith Evans' songs from her album The First Lady are now available as ring tones on Virgin Mobile. The ring tone for her first single, "Again," will be exclusive for one month, while the "Goin' Out" and "Tru Love" will be exclusive for two months. ... Fantasia will be the opening act for soul singer Kem for three weeks beginning June 8 in St. Louis and wrapping up July 1 in Atlanta. The "American Idol" winner's new single, "Free Yourself," was the most added song at urban mainstream radio last week. ...

Patti Smith, Nellie McKay and Huey Lewis are joining the Jammys lineup, which already includes Sinead O'Connor with Burning Spear. Mavis Staples and Phish bassist Mike Gordon have also been added to the bill. The jam-music awards show takes place Tuesday at New York's Madison Square Garden. ... Dark Star Orchestra co-founder Scott Larned, 37, died Sunday from heart failure, the band announced on its Web site. As keyboardist for the world's preeminent Grateful Dead cover band, who specialized in re-creating entire Dead shows onstage down to the smallest musical detail, Larned's demise eerily follows that of three actual Grateful Dead keyboardists: Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (1945-73) and Brent Mydland (1952-90), who died while they were still members of the group, and Keith Godchaux, who left the band in 1979 and died in 1980. ...

04.22.2005

On Friday (April 22), three days after guitarist Bryan Ottoson's body was discovered on the band's tour bus, American Head Charge posted a statement on their Web site about their bandmate's passing. "Bryan was a vital member of our group and a key songwriter on The Feeding," the statement reads. "It is our intention to honor his memory by rejoining Mudvayne, one of Bryan's favorite bands, on the current tour. Words cannot convey the depth of our sadness, but we want our fans to be able to hear the music Bryan loved so much. He'd be pissed if we didn't continue on. We will return on the Lubbock, Texas, date on April 29. Chad Ottoson, Bryan's brother, states that the Ottoson family firmly stands behind [American Head Charge]'s decision to carry on in Bryan's name." A spokesperson for American Head Charge said the group is currently working to find a replacement guitarist and will make a decision by Monday. Meanwhile, a public memorial service for Ottoson will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Thomson Dougherty funeral home on Park Avenue in Minneapolis. ...

Lindsay Lohan's Los Angeles home was robbed while she was in New York shooting "Just My Luck," according to Los Angeles police. More than $10,000 worth of TVs, DVD players and other electronic equipment was stolen from the singer/actress, while her liquor cabinet and closet were also raided. Police are investigating. ... When you have the #1 album in the country, you have to celebrate correctly. So Mariah Carey partied up at Cipriani's in New York Thursday night with the likes of Jay-Z, Ice-T, Memphis Bleek, Kanye West, P. Diddy, L.A. Reid, Jermaine Dupri and Christina Milian. (Click for photos from the party.) ...

Hip-hop's favorite ex-pimp, the Archbishop Don "Magic" Juan, is launching a clothing line called the Bishop. Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon and Omarion are among the celebrities who have previewed the line in videos and magazines. Although the archbishop is known for his flashy suits, the line is actually composed of T-shirts and hats. ... Modest Mouse will hit the road in May and June for an 18-show tour with recently reunited indie darlings Camper Van Beethoven. The trek kicks off with two shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 25-26 and wraps with a June 20 show at Central Park's Summer Stage in New York. ...

Emo heartthrob Chris Carrabba's Dashboard Confessional have enlisted producer Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel) to help them with the recording of the band's fourth full-length — the follow-up to 2003's A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. ... Courtney Love's making a comeback — or at least her comic manga series is. The next installment of "Princess Ai," called "Lumination," features the Courtney-based character facing a group of assassins and crowds of protesters as she continues searching for her identity. The title will hit in July. ...

Kinks frontman Ray Davies, who is currently on tour, failed to testify against the man who allegedly drove the getaway car for the gunman who stole Davies' female companion's purse at gunpoint and shot the singer in the leg during a January 4, 2004, attack in New Orleans. The defendant was released Wednesday after the prosecution dismissed charges, The Associated Press reports. The district attorney for the case said Davies had informed them of his unavailability until December. The DA said they plan to reinstate charges once the singer returns and is able to testify against the accused. ... Mathew Knowles' Sanctuary Urban Group will release an album of unreleased music from the late Rick James on August 2. The record will include a duet with Ty James, Rick's daughter. ...

Fugees rapper Pras shot a video in Los Angeles this week for his new single, a cover of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Maria Menounos of "Entertainment Tonight" is featured in the clip. ... After playing God on "Joan of Arcadia," Wyclef Jean is going in a completely different direction for his next TV guest-starring role. The Fugee will play a gang leader named Marcel on "Third Watch," in an episode called "End of Tour" that airs April 29 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. ...

Damon Dash, who produced the Kevin Bacon drama "The Woodsman," will next produce "Shadowboxer" with Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Mirren and Macy Gray. "It's about a hit man and a hit woman, one being the stepmother and one being the stepson, so you've got your very different situations," Dash said. "It's a very well-written script, another piece of art." ... Jermaine Dupri is taking his position as head of urban music at Virgin Music So So seriously. On July 19, JD will flex his executive as well as artistic muscles with the release of a compilation of So So Def artists called Young, Fly and Flashy Vol 1. The first single is a Dupri record called "Gotta Getcha." Other performers on the record include Daz, Pastor Troy, and newcomers T. Waters, Young Capone and Johnta. ...

Looking for a slightly funkier Passover experience? Then you may want to pick up DJ So Called's new album of Yiddish rap and hip-hop klezmer stylings, The So Called Seder: A Hip-Hop Haggadah. Hasidic reggae beat-boxer Matisyahu guests on the LP, as does Mr. Bungle's Trevor Dunn and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Killah Priest. ...

• Michael Jackson
• Kasabian
• Shakira
• Ricky Martin
• Weezer

Justin Timberlake Celebrates Opening Of Southern Hospitality Restaurant In New York

• Justin Timberlake
• Lance Bass

Jessica Biel, Adam Sandler, Katharine McPhee, More At The "I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry" Premiere

• Lance Bass
• Katharine McPhee

Mandy Moore, Justin Timberlake, Gwyneth Paltrow, More At Sundance 2007

• Nick Cannon
• Diddy
• The All-American Rejects
• 30 Seconds To Mars
• Lance Bass

Lance Bass Reveals He's Gay In "People" Magazine

• *NSYNC
• Lance Bass

Madonna, Samuel L. Jackson, Sting, Korn's Jonathan Davis, More Show Off Their Kilts

• Mary J. Blige
• Rod Stewart
• Sting
• Dropkick Murphys
• Christina Aguilera