Jessica Sierra
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

After a legal snafu that almost landed her back behind bars, former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra is on her way to a rehab facility in California again. According to Florida Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi, the troubled singer — who was ordered to spend a year in the Pasadena Recovery Center as a result of her recent arrest on disorderly intoxication charges — had her emergency probation transfer order rejected by the California Department of Probation. That resulted in the awkward situation of Sierra, 22, being out of jail but unable to begin rehab. "She was supposed to get on a plane yesterday, but the probation department in California wouldn't accept her transfer on an expedited basis because they take up to 45 days to review requests, so we had the unfortunate situation of a pregnant addict on the streets," Bondi said. Luckily, Sierra was able to get back into court Thursday (January 10), and the judge in the case gave her permission to travel immediately with her dad to Los Angeles and get picked up by a representative from the Center, where she will be allowed to stay until the probation transfer is approved. ...

The fallout from Britney Spears' hospitalization continues, as a Maloof Productions spokesperson confirmed to MTV News that a reality show with former Spears associate Alli Sims is no longer "moving forward." Sims had hoped to do a reality show demonstrating what her daily life is like in Hollywood — including occasional appearances by her cousin, friend and former employer. A source close to the production said nothing had been taped yet, not even a pilot, and that Sims was only in the early stages of talks, with no deal yet struck with the Maloofs, who own the Sacramento Kings and Las Vegas' Palms Casino Resort, a frequent Spears haunt. But right now, the source said, "Britney needs to heal. She doesn't need another reality show." Spears last appeared in the reality program "Chaotic," which featured the early stages of her courtship with Kevin Federline. ...

Mischa Barton has spoken out about her recent arrest for DUI and drug possession. The English actress told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show Thursday morning, "Obviously, I am 100 percent responsible for my actions, and I am really disappointed in myself. I am not perfect, and I don't ever intend to do something that stupid again." The former "O.C." star, who was also arrested for driving without a valid license, added, "I usually try not to get behind the wheel." ... Despite protesting that the case was baseless, Avril Lavigne has reached a settlement with 1970s rock band the Rubinoos over claims that her hit "Girlfriend" plagiarized their 1979 single, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." The Canadian Press reports that a confidential settlement has been reached with the Rubinoos, who have agreed to drop their claims, but that the settlement does not necessarily indicate an admission of copyright infringement. ...

Here's one for the adults — T.I., the Shins and Daft Punk are among the artists participating in this year's installment of Playboy's Rock the Rabbit. The roster of musicians — which also includes Duran Duran, Iggy Pop and Hot Chip — will appear in the magazine's March issue and help create limited-edition T-shirt designs that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Rock the Vote. ... Jennifer Lopez's "Bordertown," which was widely panned by critics who caught early screenings of it, is headed straight to DVD. The film is about a reporter, played by Lopez, who investigates a series of murders of young female factory workers in Mexico. She also produced the movie, which will hit stores January 29. ... Jim Jones, Raekwon, Redman, Green Lantern and Papoose have piled onto Pete Rock's new LP, Billboard reports. The iTunes version of NY's Finest, which is due February 26, will reportedly also have a bonus track featuring Slum Village. Meanwhile, "914" — one of the B-side songs that will accompany the first single, "We Roll" (featuring Jones) — has featured guest spots by Styles P and Sheek Louch. ...

We don't normally report on hairstyles — except when the most famous black beehive in the world suddenly gets chopped and bleached. Pictures are circulating of Amy Winehouse's new 'do, which is a stark change from the style that helped make the soul singer famous. ... "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale is slated to make her feature-film debut in a comedy about a group of teens who defend their vacation home from an alien attack. The Hollywood Reporter reports that production on "They Came From Upstairs" will start next month in New Zealand, with a cast that also includes Robert Hoffman ("Step Up 2 the Streets"), Carter Jenkins ("Viva Laughlin") and Austin Butler ("Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide"). ...

On Thursday, MySpace announced the launch of its new MySpace Celebrity hub, which will feature pop-culture news, blogs, videos and events. Among the 300 celebrities who have profiles on the new hub are Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, "Juno" star Ellen Page, Ashton Kutcher, "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge and Hayden Panettiere. ... Radiohead are taking to the airwaves again, this time to fill in on BBC Radio 1 for host Zane Lowe while he's away on holiday, Pitchfork reports. The band, which webcast live studio performances earlier this year, will be on BBC Radio 1 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. U.K. time on January 17. ... Marilyn Manson and estranged bassist Twiggy Ramirez have made up. According to a statement from the group, Ramirez has rejoined Manson for the band's upcoming North American tour, following the split of bassist Tim Skold. ...

Unreleased tune-age from Feist, Bloc Party, Of Montreal, Deerhoof and Muse is scattered across a new charity release benefiting Energy Action Coalition, which helps support and strengthen the youth clean-energy movement in North America. The Green Owl Comp: A Benefit for the Energy Action Coalition, which consists of a CD and DVD, is due April 8. ... The Fader has an unlikely new executive editor in Chris Richards, who was previously a guitarist/singer for post-punk band Q and Not U. He previously covered music for The Washington Post. ... Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will release their next album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, on April 8, and have revealed the album's track list. The record will feature 11 songs, including "Night of the Lotus Eaters," "Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl)" and "Jesus of the Moon." ...

Some of late Godfather of Soul James Brown's personal possessions are being appraised for auction to help pay some of the state taxes owed by his estate. The Associated Press reports that attorneys would not say exactly what items are on the block, or how much the estate owes in taxes, but some reports said the rights to some of Brown's songs could be among the items up for bid.

1.9.08

Jennifer Lopez says she was pretty sure people had put two and two together about her pregnancy before she formally announced it. "I was on tour with a bubble gut!" the singer/actress recently told Harper's Bazaar for its February cover story. Lopez, who has a new fragrance on the way, also glowed about husband Marc Anthony, saying, "He made me realize you can be an artist, and have credibility and success, without your life being on public display 24 hours a day." The issue hits stands Tuesday. ...

A parole hearing for Michael Derderian — co-owner of the Station nightclub in Rhode Island, where a fire during a Great White concert claimed the lives of 100 people in February 2003 — was held Wednesday evening (January 9), according to The Associated Press, but a decision won't be handed down until January 16. Relatives of some of the victims reportedly challenged Derderian's possible parole at the hearing, calling him a greedy businessman who put money before safety. "Michael Derderian violated a sacred code of ethics by not providing a safe haven for his patrons. In addition, he has shown absolutely no remorse," said William C. Bonardi, who lost his son in the fire, according to AP. Derderian became parole-eligible after serving 16 months of his four-year prison sentence. The fire was sparked by the show's onstage pyrotechnics, which ignited the venue's flammable soundproofing foam. In September 2006, Derderian and his brother, Jeffrey, pleaded no contest to involuntary-manslaughter charges. Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and was spared time behind bars. Daniel Biechele, Great White's tour manager and the man who set off the pyrotechnics, was granted parole from his four-year sentence in September and will be released in two months. The parole board plans to meet privately with Derderian in prison before handing down the decision. ...

Prodigy's prison term on a charge of gun possession has been pushed back to allow doctors time to produce records documenting the Mobb Deep rapper's sickle cell anemia, according to New York's Daily News. The MC (real name: Albert Johnson) was supposed to start a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, for which he was indicted in October, on Wednesday, but a New York judge said doctors need more time to gather medical records, Daily News reports. The judge will reportedly talk to state officials about assigning Prodigy to a prison where he would be able to get easy access to medical treatment for sickle cell anemia, which is an incurable blood disorder that can lead to stroke and organ damage. Earlier this month, Prodigy announced plans to issue his second solo album while behind bars. H.N.I.C. Part 2 is due in March. ...

Radiohead will tour North America soon — we just don't know when. All we do know is where. The band's publicist released a list of the cities Radiohead will hit on their tour, but they've yet to issue the stretch's dates or any venue information. The trek will make stops in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia and San Francisco, among other cities. ... Christina Aguilera will release "Back to Basics - Live and Down Under," a 90-minute DVD chronicling her world tour's stops in Sydney, Australia, in July. The February 5 effort will feature 18 live cuts, including "Ain't No Other Man," "Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" and, of course, "What a Girl Wants." The DVD will also boast interviews with Christina's dancers, husband Jordan Bratman and Christina herself. ...

Justin Timberlake, Johnny Depp and Katherine Heigl came away with People's Choice Awards on Tuesday in a pre-taped program hosted by Queen Latifah. JT nabbed three trophies, while Jack Sparrow earned the Favorite Male Movie Star prize and the "Grey's Anatomy" actress landed the Favorite Female TV Star honor. As for the show itself, it absolutely tanked — 5.3 million fewer viewers tuned in this year than last. ... T-Pain, former Pretty Ricky singer Pleasure, Jazze Pha and Mannie Fresh have lent their skills to Dem Franchize Boyz's second effort, Da Point of No Return. The disc drops March 25 and is preceded by its first single, the wackily titled "Talkin' Out Da Side of Ya Neck!" ...

Kanye West posted a still image of the next video from Graduation, "Flashing Lights," on his blog Tuesday. In the post, 'Ye didn't give many details about the video, though he did write that he recently returned from Denmark, where he met with the director, whom he didn't name. ... Chicago MCs Lupe Fiasco and Rhymefest debated the merits of Democratic presidential hopeful Illinois Senator Barack Obama online recently. In an interview with SOHH.com, Fiasco expressed his dismay over the voting system and revealed that he wasn't going to vote in the upcoming election. If he did, however, he said he would punch his ballet for New York Senator Hillary Clinton. "Obama doesn't really impress me like that," Lupe said. 'Fest countered that his colleague was being irresponsible with his comments. He posted on his MySpace blog that the skateboarding rapper should be a bit more informed when speaking publicly about elections. "Please, do not let your arrogance be the fuel for your ignorance," Rhymefest wrote. ...

Silverstein — who count only vegetarians among their ranks — have been named Best Animal-Friendly Band in peta2's second annual Libby Awards. Scary Kids Scaring Kids, who have previously teamed with peta2; Rise Against; record labels Victory and Epitaph; and the Vans Warped Tour were also recognized for their various furry efforts. ... A pair of Pantera fans are trying to get a life-size statue commemorating late guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott erected in Texas. The Dime Statue in Dallas Foundation has already pulled in more than a grand for the project — go here for more info. ...

PJ Harvey just put out a new studio LP, White Chalk, in October, but that's not stopping the chanteuse from slapping together another one for release this year. She is reconvening with English multi-instrumentalist and songwriter John Parish for a yet-untitled effort that will be the follow-up to their joint 1996 disc, Dance Hall at Louse Point. Harvey has also sketched out five performances in Australia and New Zealand in February, as well as a March 9 show in Rome. ... Broken Social Scene have broken out their plans for a globe-trotting trek that will take them from New Zealand to Australia, Japan, Singapore and, finally, England. In the latter country, the crafty Canucks will play May 16 at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that is being curated by Explosions in the Sky. ...

Yellowcard have been enlisted to perform for U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. The rockers' first-ever tour with the United Service Organizations also sees them signing autographs and hanging out with the troops. "This tour isn't just a treat for them but also for us," frontman Ryan Key said in a press release. ... Less Than Jake want to make sure you haven't forgotten about some of their early releases. The ska-punk band — which has full control and ownership of its back catalog — has formed its own label, Sleep It Off, and plans to re-release a bunch of titles March 18: two albums (1995's Pezcore and 1996's Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand), a rarities comp (2002's Goodbye White & Blue) and a DVD (2004's "The People's History of Less Than Jake"). ... Punk band Anti-Flag have set an April 1 release date for their next album, The Bright Lights of America. The album was helmed by producer Tony Visconti (T. Rex, David Bowie), and it marks Visconti's first foray into punk production. ...

Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones concert flick finally has a name and new release date. "Shine a Light," which had previously been due in late August, will now roll into theaters April 4. ... Forty years ago, Johnny Cash made music history at Folsom Prison. Now, an upcoming tribute hailing the late icon has received the death penalty. Less than 48 hours after promoters announced plans to honor the Man in Black's legacy with a concert marking his Folsom anniversary, the show has been scrapped. Citing security and recording-rights concerns, officials at the California prison shot down the idea Monday night. The event had planned to feature several members of the backing band from 1968's At Folsom Prison, regarded by some as the greatest live album ever recorded.

• Jessica Sierra
• Amy Winehouse
• Avril Lavigne
• The Rubinoos
• Ashley Tisdale

Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Photo: Sean Gardner/ Getty Images

Red Hot Chili Peppers are letting fans create the official video for "Charlie," the next single from 2006's Stadium Arcadium. Entries will be accepted until April 20 via YouTube. The winner will receive a $5,000 prize, along with a trip to meet the band during its July 6 tour stop in Paris. Check out Contest.WarnerBrosRecords.com/RHCP for full contest rules. ...

Paula Abdul will return to QVC to promote her jewelry line on Friday. The "American Idol" judge will sell her accessories collection — which features charms, earrings, pendants and bracelets with inspirational words and symbols — from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Beginning at 11 p.m. on QVC.com, fans can interact with Abdul during a one-hour live online chat. Her 18-track Greatest Hits: Straight Up! collection — including "Forever Your Girl," Cold Hearted" and "Rush, Rush" — will be released digitally and on CD on May 8. Six of Abdul's music videos will also make their digital release debuts that same day. ...

Daughtry, Three 6 Mafia, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, Hinder, Social Distortion, Chevelle, Gym Class Heroes, Godsmack, Papa Roach and Guster are on the lineup for the 2007 Beale Street Music Festival. The Memphis event will run from May 4-6. ...

Snoop Dogg was detained in Stockholm, Sweden, early Monday (March 12) — following a Sunday night performance with Diddy at the Globe Arena — when police pulled over the car he was riding in and determined that Snoop and a female companion showed signs of drug use. The Associated Press reports that authorities also found a small amount of narcotics in the car but said it was unclear whether the drugs belonged to the rapper. Drug tests were administered and Snoop Dogg was questioned before he was released Monday morning. Results are due in two to three weeks, according to a Swedish police spokesperson, and Snoop could face a fine if the test shows that he was using illegal drugs. A spokesperson for Snoop confirmed the rapper was not charged and will continue with his tour dates. ...

Mary J. Blige and Jamie Foxx took home the top awards Saturday at the 21st annual Soul Train Music Awards, with Foxx bagging best male album for Unpredictable and Blige winning best female album for The Breakthrough. (Click here to check out pictures from the show's red carpet.) Other winners included Jay-Z (Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video for "Show Me What You Got"), John Legend (best male single, "Save Room"), Beyoncé (best female single, "Irreplaceable"), Gnarls Barkley (best single by a group/duo for "Crazy"), Jennifer Hudson (Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year), Ne-Yo (Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist for "Sexy Love"), Webstar & Young B (Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut for "Chicken Noodle Soup") and Babyface (Career Achievement in Songwriting). The show will air in syndication between March 17-25. ...

The Hives are still hard at work on their forthcoming album, which doesn't have a title or release date yet. The Swedes are fine-tuning the material at their practice space and plan to hit a Mississippi studio soon to begin tracking. "Some of the stuff is bloody brilliant," the band said in a statement. "Leaving out the sh-- parts is the main plan. It will make for a killer record. We take our time only so you will have the best record possible. ... Our fingers are itching and we can't wait to record this chunk of songs and meet you again. We can't wait for you to hear it either." ... Daft Punk have announced the details of their first North American tour in nine years. The seven-show run kicks off in Los Angeles on July 21 and hits Berkeley, California (July 27); Seattle (July 29); Denver (July 31); Toronto (August 5), Montreal (August 7); and Brooklyn, New York (August 9). Sebastian and Kavinsky will open all dates on the tour, while the Rapture will perform at all but the L.A. show. In related news, French electronic masters Air are coming back to North America for the first time in more than three years. The duo land April 21 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and head home May 10 in New York. ...

More than two months after his death, soul icon James Brown's body is finally laid to rest ... for now. Following a family ceremony on Saturday, Brown's body was placed in a crypt at the Beech Island, South Carolina, home of one of his daughters, though it will likely be moved once a public mausoleum is completed, according to AP. ... The MTV Europe Music Awards will be held November 1 at Munich's OlympiaHalle, MTV Networks International announced Monday. ...

Sub Pop is offering a $5,750 college scholarship to a Washington or Oregon resident who is involved and/or interest in music or the creative arts. The record label requests that interested applicants submit a one-page essay to scholarship@subpop.com. More info is available on the label's Web site. ... The Pitchfork Music Festival is expanding to three days this year (July 13-15) with an initial lineup that will bring the Clipse, Cat Power, Of Montreal, Iron and Wine, Girl Talk, Grizzly Bear and Jamie Lidell to Union Park in Chicago. Opening night will feature the North American premiere of All Tomorrow's Parties' "Don't Look Back" series, in which acts are invited to perform one of their most important albums in their entirety. More artists are slated to be announced soon.

03.09.2007

Omarion was very coy about who would be appearing on his "Ice Box" remix when he visited MTV's New York offices on Tuesday — in recent weeks, rappers like Jim Jones and Busta Rhymes have jumped on unofficial remixes of the song. But on Thursday, O let the cat out of the bag in a big way during his set at New York radio station Hot 97's Full Frontal Fashion Show event/concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom. After singing the original "Ice Box" for the fans, he played the remix — it features the same beats, but new verses by O ... and Usher. Also at the Hot 97 show were DJ Unk, Rich Boy and Lloyd — all of whom performed brief sets — plus Juelz Santana, who acted as special guest MC. Rocawear and Sean John models showed off the latest pieces from the respective clothing lines as well. ...

Police have turned over new evidence in the death of Anna Nicole Smith and an autopsy report on the model has been delayed as a result, according to The Associated Press. The Broward County, Florida, medical examiner said the autopsy tests have been completed and were due to be released later this week, but now they won't be made public for another week or two. ...

Jessica Simpson: photographer? The singer/actress told MTV Europe that she hopes to release a book of her photos — "mostly of landscapes, of the sky, clouds" — accompanied by journal entries related to the shots. "I know exactly what I was going through when I was taking the picture, and I write it down as I take the picture, so it will be that kind of book." Simpson, who revealed that she usually carries more than one camera with her — "some are better for certain shots" — recalled one memorable photo she took of a "double rainbow" in Africa. "It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life, and I did not know that it could even exist. I had never seen anything so magical, and I captured it, and I always have it to look back on." ...

Courtney Love is being sued by a luxury rehabilitation center that claims the singer didn't settle her bill after staying at the facility in 2005, Agence France Presse reports. In a suit filed earlier this month, Newport Beach, California's Beau Monde center says Love owes $181,286. ... A woman who claims to be a former nanny for Madonna is shopping a tell-all memoir to major publishing houses. In the memoir, she promises to reveal intimate details about the singer's marriage to director Guy Ritchie, stories of their children's behavior, the family's participation in Kabbalah and the motivation behind Madonna's decision to adopt an infant boy from Malawi. EW.com, the Web site for Entertainment Weekly, reports that the 80-page book proposal from Melissa Dumas also contains personal photos of Madonna's family, as well as pictures of Dumas playing with Madonna's kids. ... Salma Hayek is engaged and expecting, AP reports. It will be the 40-year-old "Frida" actress' first child. ...

Maynard James Keenan has resumed work on his side project Puscifer while Tool have been on a short break. In a post that appeared on the singer's MySpace page, Keenan revealed that Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk lend their talents to a couple of the tracks, as does ex-Primus and A Perfect Circle drummer Tim Alexander. In related news, Tool have rescheduled 10 more tour dates that were postponed last month after drummer Danny Carey tore a bicep while picking up his dog. Those rescheduled gigs will take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 9); Wichita, Kansas (May 11); Bossier City, Louisiana (May 17); Pensacola, Florida (May 25); Birmingham, Alabama (May 26); Tampa, Florida (May 29); Orlando, Florida (May 31); Sunrise, Florida (June 1); Jacksonville, Florida (June 2); and Duluth, Georgia (June 4). ...

Hinder will headline MadPackers.com's inaugural Door to Dorm Music Tour, which will make stops at 17 college campuses and three music festivals nationwide, beginning March 16 in South Padre Island, Texas. Papa Roach and Puddle of Mudd will be the trek's support acts. The run, which wraps May 8 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, will hit Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Cullowhee, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Maryville, Missouri; Lubbock, Texas; Wichita Falls, Texas; Boca Raton, Florida; Fairfield, Connecticut; Clarion, Pennsylvania; Tampa, Florida; and Aiken, South Carolina. ... "Simpsons" fans love engaging in lively debate over which state the show's fictional city of Springfield is supposedly set in, but there's a more serious discussion being had by city officials in the real-life Springfields. According to CNN, 16 Springfields, from Oregon to Massachusetts, are on a list of cities competing to host the premiere screening of "The Simpsons Movie." Fox will chose the winner based on the communities' positive aspects and links to the TV show. "The Simpsons Movie" opens July 29. ...

The manager for Blues Traveler frontman John Popper explained on Thursday why the singer was found with a small cache of weapons in his car when he was stopped for speeding on Tuesday. Manager George Couri told AP that Popper is an avid gun collector who often makes pit stops at shooting ranges when he's on the road. He added that all the weapons — which included four rifles, nine handguns, a switchblade and Taser — were registered and secured in a locked cabinet. ... As part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal file trading, the Recording Industry Association of America is asking 50 Ohio University students to pay $3,000 each to avoid lawsuits accusing them of illicit downloading. The university received letters from the RIAA with the names of the students involved in the alleged violations and was asked to pass them along to the alleged offenders, according to an AP report. The RIAA recently announced plans to step up suits on college campuses, pledging to send 400 letters a month to university students and staff suspected of copyright infringement. ...

Boston singer Bradley Delp was found dead in his New Hampshire home on Friday (March 9), AP reports. The cause of death is under investigation by New Hampshire police, but authorities say there was no sign of foul play. An incident report will not be available until Monday. Driven by the singles "More Than a Feeling" and "Long Time," Boston's self-titled 1976 bow remains one of the biggest-selling debut albums in history. Delp's soaring voice — he sang all lead and backing vocals on the group's most popular albums — was a vital element of their instantly recognizable sound, which dominated U.S. radio in the late 1970s. He was 55.

• Jennifer Hudson, Rosario Dawson, Omarion And More At The 2007 Soul Train Awards

• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Snoop Dogg
• Busta Rhymes
• Mary J. Blige
• Jamie Foxx

Jay-Z
Photo: Scott Wintrow/ Getty Images

Forget the Rock Hall: Jay-Z is headed to the Football Hall of Fame. Record-breaking running back Larry Johnson is donating his Jay-crafted cleats — Reebok S. Carters, to be exact — to the Hall, putting Hova alongside names like Joe Montana and Walter Payton. ...

HBO is developing an unscripted series that will star Kanye West, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Details are sketchy, but the still-untitled project from Larry Charles ("Borat," "Curb Your Enthusiasm") will focus on a day in West's hectic life. Producer Rick Rubin is also reportedly attached as an executive producer on the show. ... Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee is off the market. The singer is now engaged to her boyfriend, a psychiatrist she has been dating for a year. The couple announced the engagement during a live appearance on Canadian network MuchMusic on Tuesday. Lee's beau popped the question the night before. ...

Mary J. Blige and Lionel Richie have joined the lineup for the Essence Music Festival, which returns to New Orleans from July 5-7. Blige and Richie will headline the fest's closing night, while Beyoncé is scheduled to perform the second day. ... Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is unveiling a new "American Idol" wax attraction on Tuesday, the day the sixth season begins. The exhibit will feature wax replicas of Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest as an interactive element tied in to "Karaoke Revolution Presents: 'American Idol.' " ...

Already a purveyor of rhymes, branded water and G-Unit attire, 50 Cent is getting into the latex business. The rapper — whose G-Unit Books debuted Tuesday — will release his own line of condoms. "The kids become immune when you constantly beat them over the head — read a book, read a book," 50 said in an interview with The New York Post. "We have to be a little more creative about it. It's the same with safe sex. As opposed to being part of a safe-sex campaign, I'm going to make condoms and donate a part of the proceeds to HIV awareness." There's no word yet on when the prophylactics will hit the market. ...

Dipset associate Charly Wingate, a 28-year-old rapper known by the stage name Max B., was remanded to New Jersey's Bergen County Jail on $2 million bail set Tuesday, Newark newspaper The Star-Ledger reports. Prosecutors said Wingate organized the robbery and murder of a man in Fort Lee on September 22 after his girlfriend told him she had met two men who were carrying large amounts of cash and driving expensive cars. Wingate is alleged to have recruited a friend to help him rob the two men, David Taylor and Allan Plowden; Taylor was killed by a gunshot to the head, while Plowden was bound with duct tape. Wingate's lawyer questioned the validity of the evidence against his client and maintained that Wingate wasn't even in the state at the time of the shooting. ...

Who doesn't love Johnny Depp? The swashbuckling actor was the big winner at the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards Tuesday night, scooping up prizes for favorite male star, male action star and onscreen matchup (with Keira Knightley) as "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was honored as favorite movie and favorite movie drama. The awards, voted on by fans, also honored Jennifer Aniston (female star), Cameron Diaz (leading lady), Vince Vaughn (leading man) and Halle Berry (female action star). Former "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood was named favorite female singer, while Nickelback took the favorite group award. Justin Timberlake won favorite R&B song prize for "SexyBack," Shakira took the pop song award for "Hips Don't Lie," and Eminem grabbed the hip-hop honor for "Shake That." Perennial favorite "The Simpsons" took the animated comedy category, "American Idol" won for best competition/reality show and "Grey's Anatomy" took the TV drama prize. Though she wasn't nominated for anything, Britney Spears may as well have won an award — for being the butt of most jokes thanks to her recent spate of underwear-less adventures, which were a running gag during the show. ...

Spears did get a mention at the top of one list Tuesday — Mr. Blackwell's annual ranking of the year's worst fashion offenders. The self-imposed arbiter of style — and self-styled poet — lumped Britney and Paris Hilton together as the "Screamgirls," noting that the "style-free and fashion-deprived" women are "two peas in an overexposed pod." Ranking at #3 on the worst-dressed lineup is Lindsay Lohan, who went from "adorable to deplorable" in Blackwell's estimation. Mariah Carey and Meryl Streep (huh?) also made the dishonorable cut, while Blackwell named Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie and "The Queen" star Helen Mirren "Fabulous Fashion Independents for 2006" — and spared them his creatively worded putdowns. ... On Wednesday (January 10), a lawyer for George Michael entered a not-guilty plea in a London court on behalf of the singer, who is facing charges of being unfit to drive and marijuana possession stemming from a September arrest. The Associated Press reports that arguments will be heard March 7 to determine whether the blood sample taken from Michael at his arrest is admissible as evidence. The judge set a provisional trial date of April 23. ...

Nominations for the NAACP Image Awards were announced Tuesday, and while the film "Dreamgirls" and TV series "Everybody Loves Chris" lead the field with eight nominations each, there's no topping Beyoncé when it comes to individual achievement. The singer is up for best actress honors, as well as four music prizes: best female artist, video and song ("Irreplaceable") and album (B'Day). Other multiple nominees include Mary J. Blige — who faces off with Beyoncé for the four music trophies — Fantasia and Jamie Foxx. ... More than two weeks after his death, soul legend James Brown has still not been buried as his attorneys and family continue to work on settling his estate and deciding where he will be laid to rest. According to AP, Brown's body is lying in a sealed casket under the watchful eyes of security guards at his home in Georgia, which has been locked up since hours after his death to protect his memorabilia and personal items. ... Yvonne De Carlo, who played Lily Munster in TV's "The Munsters," died Monday of natural causes, AP reports. She was 84.

01.09.2007

Paris Hilton's attorney entered not guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence on behalf of the heiress Tuesday (January 9), The Associated Press reports. Hilton, who was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in September, was not required to appear at Los Angeles County court for the arraignment. She was formally charged with one count of driving under the influence and one count of driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above, and a judge scheduled a January 23 pre-trial hearing. If Hilton is convicted, the first-time offender would likely face a fine and enrollment in an alcohol program, according to prosecutors. ...

Daughtry, the band led by "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry, have begun eking out dates for their upcoming tour. The rockers get the party started January 28 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, then hit Los Angeles and San Francisco soon after that. They will be on the road through April, at least. ... On the subject of "Idol," auditions for the new season of the hugely popular program will start airing next week. The two-part season premiere will feature the Minneapolis auditions on January 16 and the Seattle tryouts the following day. Auditions from Memphis, Los Angeles and more cities will air January 23 through February 6. While you've got your day-planner open, expect the first results show to happen February 22. ...

An attorney representing Tyrese's girlfriend has issued a statement on his client's behalf, blasting reports that the singer assaulted her last week. Los Angeles police responded to a domestic dispute at the couple's apartment Thursday morning, and police were told the R&B singer had punched his girlfriend, who is three months pregnant with his child, in the arm and leg. "Reports that Tyrese punched my client in the arm, thigh or anywhere else are false," attorney Paul Berra said in the statement. "It is true, Mr. Gibson and his girlfriend had been arguing. She became very emotional and distressed during the argument and called 911 in an attempt to get a mediator. Mr. Gibson, frustrated, left the home. My client, Mr. Gibson's girlfriend, who is 11-weeks pregnant, then became more upset and began throwing up. When the paramedics arrived, concerned about the baby, they took her to the hospital. Fortunately, she was fine. Once at the hospital, she was asked by a nurse whether she had been assaulted. She said, 'No.' She was then asked what her pain level was on a scale of zero to 10. She said, 'Zero.' She then discharged herself. Mr. Gibson and his girlfriend are very much still in love, together and excited about their [expected] child. She is quite saddened that this event was so distorted." Tyrese wasn't charged in the assault, but police said they would still like to interview him as part of their investigation into the incident. ...

Want to be a dancer on Beyoncé's upcoming world tour? You've got a little more time to play with. The Chicago final auditions for the contest will happen February 10-11, not January 27, as previously reported. ... Jennifer Lopez, Terrence Howard, Dane Cook and others have joined the long list of presenters for the Golden Globe Awards. The ceremony will air live on NBC Monday at 8 p.m. ET. ... A Mick Wall-penned biography of Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose is due in stores May 4. The former Kerrang! magazine writer's "Axl Rose - The Unauthorized Biography" features interviews with bandmembers before GN'R hit it big, and is being described by publisher Sidgwick & Jackson as "a no-holds-barred study of the troubled life and turbulent career of the group's singer and leader." The tome will examine Axl's childhood abuse, his run-ins with the law and his Chinese Democracy odyssey. ... The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday that the GN'R frontman is in Sin City, putting the finishing touches on the band's long-awaited album, which is slated for a tentative March 6 release. The paper claims Rose is laying down the final vocals for Chinese Democracy at the recording studio at the Palms hotel. ...

It's been exactly one year since Howard Stern debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio, and in that time, the company has added more than 2.7 million new subscribers — up to 6 million from 3.3 million. Stern's Howard 100 channel will replay his inaugural Sirius show Tuesday, followed by the "Best of 2006 Top 10 Countdown Special," which replays the best moments of the year as determined by fan votes. "It's been a great year and the show is better than ever," Stern said in a statement. "We've delivered on the promise of satellite radio; I can do whatever I want and say whatever I want." Reuters reports that Sirius presented Stern with a bonus worth nearly $83 million on Tuesday as a thank you for surpassing subscriber goals. ... Mastodon have unveiled a side-scrolling video game inspired by the Atlanta metalers' latest album, Blood Mountain. In the online game, one assumes the role of a burly warrior and collects diamonds while avoiding dangerous creatures like wolves, all to collect the various pieces of a key that unlocks the one and only Blood Mountain. Fans can play along at WarnerReprise.com. ...

The dates for the No Fear Music Tour, featuring headliners Killswitch Engage, have been revealed. The trek — which also includes DragonForce, Chimaira and He Is Legend — gets under way February 21 in Philadelphia, with dates scheduled through April 8 in Chicago. ... With the exception of a brief, odd cameo at the Grammy Awards in February, funk legend Sly Stone has been largely off the map for much of the past 30 years. That hiatus might be ending soon, though, according to an article in The Los Angeles Times. The reclusive singer and bandleader isn't scheduled to perform with the new Family Stone band on Saturday at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California — which is not the same group he led in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but features several members of his extended family. But the 62-year-old singer has been writing new songs for an album due this summer on his own PhattaDatta record label. ... Hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari has composed a song that features Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech playing in the background. Ben-Ari will perform the tune Sunday at a Washington, D.C., Love of Israel gala honoring Ambassador of Israel to the United States Daniel Ayalon. ...

"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, a founding member of 1960s country-rock forerunners the Flying Burrito Brothers, died Saturday in Petaluma, California, AP reports. He was 72. The pedal-steel guitarist — who was also a stop-motion animator, an Emmy-winning visual-effects artist and composer of the "Gumby" TV series theme song — had been living with Alzheimer's disease. Kleinow's last recording with Burrito Deluxe, a band he founded in 2000, will be released next month. ... Animator Iwao Takamoto — who created Scooby-Doo and directed the 1973 animated film "Charlotte's Web" — died of heart failure in Los Angeles on Monday, AP reports. He was 81. The Los Angeles native learned the art of animation while being held at an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and was later hired by Walt Disney Studios despite his lack of formal training. Takamoto, who went on to work for Hanna-Barbera, lent his hand to classics including "Cinderella," "Lady and the Tramp" and "The Flintstones."

• James Brown's Last Night At The Apollo

• Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Patrick Dempsey, More At The 2007 People's Choice Awards
• "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
• "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

• Jay-Z
• Kanye West
• Mary J. Blige
• Lionel Richie
• 50 Cent

Reverend Al Sharpton, Michael Jackson and Reverend Jesse Jackson at James Brown's funeral on Saturday
Photo: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

It was only fitting that James Brown's funeral turned into a concert Saturday afternoon (December 30) as he was laid to rest in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia.

More than 8,000 people — Brown's family, friends and fans — watched from the floor of James Brown Arena as the singer's celebrity friends including Michael Jackson, MC Hammer and Bootsy Collins gave tribute onstage at the public "homegoing" service for the singer, who died of congestive heart failure early Monday morning (see " 'Godfather Of Soul' James Brown Dead At 73").

Although Reverend Al Sharpton — who said the iconic musician was like a father to him — gave a stirring sermon, the "Godfather of Soul" was best remembered at the ceremony through his songs.

(See Rev. Al Sharpton eulogize James Brown at a memorial service held Saturday afternoon in Augusta, Georgia.)

A videotape of one of Brown's concerts — where he performed selections including "Georgia on My Mind" — was played. Later in the service, Brown's own Soul Generals band performed songs including "Sex Machine" while various people sang, Brown's former bandmate Bootsy Collins joined in on bass and Hammer danced. At the end of "Sex Machine," Brown's famous cape was laid upon his casket just as it was laid across his back so many times during his concerts.

During Sharpton's sermon, the reverend revealed his last conversation with Brown, during which the "Godfather of Soul" told him that there was a need for performers such as Michael Jackson to keep making positive music for all people.

Jackson himself stepped up to the podium and said that he was inspired by Brown from an early age.

"James Brown is my greatest inspiration," Jackson said. "When I saw him move, I was mesmerized. ... I never saw a performer move like James Brown. ... James Brown, I shall miss you, and I love you so much. Thank you for everything."

The service was the third memorial in as many days for Brown, who was honored with a public viewing at New York's Apollo Theater on Thursday (see "Al Sharpton Says 'So Long' To James Brown With Thousands Of Fans In NYC"), and a private ceremony for family and close friends in Georgia on Friday.

• James Brown
• Michael Jackson

A carriage with James Brown's casket arrives at the Apollo on Thursday
Photo: Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

NEW YORK — James Brown had one last appearance at the Apollo Theater on Thursday (December 28) as his body arrived for a public viewing in Harlem, drawing upward of 10,000 people to the tiny neighborhood block.

Fans braved the frigid temperatures, lining the streets as early as 7 a.m. ET to remember the legendary soul singer and recognize his achievements in America's music and social history. "He was loyal to us," the Reverend Al Sharpton said during a private memorial service held for family and friends. "That's why we were loyal to him."

(Watch fans pay homage outside the Apollo Theater.)

Brown died early Christmas morning of congestive heart failure at age 73 (see " 'Godfather Of Soul' James Brown Dead At 73" and "Nas, Snoop, Fans React To James Brown's Death: 'He Was Pure Greatness' ").

The line of mourners wrapped around the block in both directions, filled with fans who traveled from as far as Virginia and South Carolina to pay their last respects. People of all ages came together and chanted Brown's pro-black anthems and exchanged tales of meeting him, including a couple who fell in love at a Brown concert 40 years ago; the groom wore a bowtie he caught from Brown at his wedding.

Inside the theater, a solemn Sharpton, who had looked up to Brown as a mentor and father figure, eulogized the late entertainer, bringing the crowd to its feet on several occasions. "Unthinkable," he began. "I don't think any of us could think James Brown could die. It didn't seem possible.

(Watch Sharpton's emotional address here.)

"When I heard the word about it," Sharpton continued, his words trailing off. "I don't think I really believe it now. Because how could someone filled with so much energy and life really be gone?"

Sharpton went on to note Brown's many accomplishments, including his being honored by the Kennedy Center, his helping to bring peace in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, and his influence on music, including funk, R&B and hip-hop. "Some people had Bach, some people had Beethoven," Sharpton said. "We had James Brown. He impacted music just like they did. He changed the beat of music around the world."

New York Congressman Charles Rangel, Apollo President Jonelle Procope and Brown's common-law wife, Tomi Rae Hynie, also offered brief remarks during the ceremony.

Hynie, who earlier in the week was denied access to the home she shared with Brown, took the opportunity to address the media and reports that she was not legally Brown's wife. "I loved that man," a distraught Hynie said, pointing to Brown's casket. "He wasn't always the nicest man, but he was right. In the nine years that I knew him, he was always right."

Brown's body arrived earlier in the day in Harlem around 12:30 p.m. in a carriage led by white horses, and the crowd cheered as a gold-plated casket was carried inside the Apollo.

Brown might be best remembered for the album Live at the Apollo, which he recorded at the legendary venue in 1962, catapulting the singer into America's consciousness. The singer is only the second figure to ever lie in repose at the Apollo; Ralph Cooper — who founded the theater's famous Amateur Night and gave many entertainers, including Brown, their big breaks — was the first.

The public viewing for Brown began shortly after his body arrived, and true to the singer's flashy style, he wore a rhinestone-studded, royal blue suit with silver shoes. Sharpton greeted mourners as they walked past Brown's casket, and at 6 p.m., he began the memorial service for Brown's family. The private service halted the public viewing for close to an hour, prompting Sharpton to extend the viewing for an additional hour.

"If Mr. Brown was here right now, he'd say, 'Al, why are you talking so much? Just give the people what they want,' " Sharpton joked.

Hip-hop luminaries Fab Five Freddy, Kid Capri and DJ Premier were in attendance for the ceremony, along with boxing promoter Butch Lewis, New York politicians Charles Barron and Bill Perkins and actress Tichina Arnold.

Brown's body will be driven to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, overnight, where another private ceremony will be held for his family at the newly renamed James Brown Convention Center, according to Sharpton. On Saturday, Brown will be laid to rest.

Even in death, he continues to be the hardest-working man in show business. But as Sharpton reminded Brown's family and friends during his closing remarks, now the entertainer can have the one thing he was never able to achieve: peace.

"We've never seen him at rest," Sharpton said. "So right now it's not 'goodbye,' it's just 'so long.' "

• James Brown

James Brown
Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage.com

Three days after his death at age 73, soul legend James Brown's body will return to the place where the singer made his stage debut, New York's Apollo Theater. According to The Associated Press, the public will be allowed to view Brown's body on Thursday at the legendary Harlem venue, followed by a private burial Friday in Brown's hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Another public ceremony will follow a day later at Augusta's James Brown Arena. Variety reports that Spike Lee has signed on to direct a biopic about Brown that is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2008. Brown played an active role in the project's development and gave producers access to his music rights. ...

The twin sister of Eminem's ex-wife, Kim Mathers, is in police custody after allegedly attempting to kidnap her son, AP reports. Kim Mathers, who is the legal guardian of her sister's 7-year-old, filed a parental-kidnapping complaint on Tuesday. Mathers' sister — whose name was not released by police — was arrested after she fled a local gas station. The boy has been returned to Mathers' custody. ... A former Sprint Nextel employee has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was fired unjustly for hiring Ludacris to perform at a company event — even though her boss was aware of her activities. According to the Kansas City Star, Elizabeth Henry said she was given permission to secure talent for a Las Vegas party. Henry said her boss green-lit two entertainers, Luda and LL Cool J. After booking 'Cris, however, Henry alleges that she was interrogated for five hours, despite assuring management that Luda would perform according to "PG-13 standards," and was fired later that same day. "Her boss approved it and didn't think anything of it until somebody said, 'Hey, have you ever listened to their music?' " Henry's lawyer, Brendan J. Donelon, told the newspaper. Sprint officials had not released a comment as of publish time. ...

Willie Nelson and Jessica Simpson are re-forming an onscreen family bond for "Blonde Ambition," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Nelson, who co-starred as Uncle Jesse to Simpson's Daisy Duke in 2005's "The Dukes of Hazzard," will play her grandfather in the "Working Girl" update. ... Look out, Cameron Diaz — JoJo's got an eye on your man. In the spring issue of Seventeen Prom, the singer encourages girls to get out there and ask someone to the prom ("This is 2006, babe ... I'm all for being the one to initiate") and admits her own dream date. "Well, I knew it was unattainable, but I always thought Justin Timberlake was so cute, especially when he was in 'NSYNC and had that blond Afro. He gets finer with age!" ...

Jessica Alba and Johnny Depp top a poll of fantasy New Year's Eve dates, with Scarlett Johansson and George Clooney also ranking high in the Blockbuster Inc. survey. And while they want beautiful stars holding their arm when 2007 arrives, respondents said they were more interested in hanging out than hooking up. Seventy percent of those polled said their pick was someone who would be fun to spend time with, and only 15 percent admitted to choosing someone they'd want to kiss at midnight. ...

Before heading on a two-week trek through Australia in late March, Dave Matthews Band will headline a two-night stand at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on March 23 and 24. The Fray will open the Vegas shows. ... TV on the Radio have mapped out a 28-city tour that will kick off March 1 in Providence, Rhode Island. Opening acts have not been confirmed, but are expected to be named in the coming weeks. The tour will run through an April 21 stop in Poughkeepsie, New York. ... Brand New will hit the road this spring for a U.S. headlining run that launches March 15 in Buffalo, New York, and wraps up April 25 with a show in Philadelphia. ...

Two new untitled demo tracks from Evanescence drummer William "Rocky" Gray's Soul Embraced side project have been posted to the band's MySpace page. Gray plays guitar for the Little Rock, Arkansas, outfit, which is fronted by his brother-in-law Chad Moore and features Living Sacrifice's Lance Garvin on drums. The band — which released its The Fleshless EP in 1999, followed by the LPs For The Incomplete (2000), This Is My Blood (2002) and Immune (2003) — is compiling material for its next studio effort. ...

An album cover signed by all four members of the Beatles — as a gift for George Harrison's sister Louise — sold Friday at an auction in New York for more than $115,000, AP reports. The winning bidder was not identified, but the sale set a record for a signed Beatles album purchased at a public sale. On the cover of the copy of Meet the Beatles, the Fab Four's first U.S. release, Harrison had written above his signature, "To Lou with love from 'Brother'!!" while John Lennon wrote, "To Lou many love from John Lennon X." ...

Want to pre-order Norah Jones' forthcoming Not Too Late? Well, you've got many options. iTunes is sweetening the deal with five tracks from her iTunes Live Session; Amazon if offering an exclusive live video performance of "Rosie's Lullaby," one of the tracks featured on the artist's third release; and getting the set through Walmart.com will grant you instant access to the first single, "Thinking About You." ... Winger fans unite! The founding members of the hair-metal band will take flight for their first tour in more than 10 years on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Winger, which recently issued Winger IV, will end the six-week U.S. jaunt on March 9 in Houston.

12.26.2006

As 2006 draws to a close, the R&B charts have crowned their queen. Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough was #1 on Billboard magazine's year-end R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and she's at the top of 2006's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart thanks to her single, "Be Without You." Blige was followed on the R&B albums chart by Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable, while newcomer Chris Brown also made some noise, landing at #5 on the R&B albums chart and topping the pop lists for Top Artists, Top Male Artists and Top New Artists. In the latter category, he was followed by Ne-Yo, the Fray, James Blunt and Carrie Underwood. Ne-Yo also fared well on the R&B albums chart, where In My Own Words, landed at #4. T.I.'s King finished at #1 on the Top Rap Albums count, and Underwood makes history by becoming the first "American Idol" winner to have the #1 entry on the year-end Billboard albums chart. Her country album, Some Hearts, has never left the Billboard 200 since its debut, holding off the year's surprise smash seller, the #2-selling soundtrack to "High School Musical." ...

You won't have to call him "Sir Bono," but U2's frontman was awarded an honorary British Knighthood over the Christmas weekend for his work in music and humanitarian efforts, according to a posting on the band's Web site. A statement on the site said the 46-year-old singer was, in his typically straightforward manner, "very flattered to be honored, particularly if the honor ... opens doors for his long standing campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa." Because the Irish rocker is a not a British national, the honorary award does not entitle him to use the title of "Sir." ...

Turns out the faux-fur detail on two jackets from Diddy's Sean John line isn't so faux after all. The Associated Press reports that an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States found that nine out of 10 jackets tested were made from a species of undomesticated dog known as "raccoon dog." The garments were removed from Macy's stores, with a company spokesperson noting that the retailer has a policy against selling dog or cat fur. "I was completely unaware of the nature of this material," Diddy said in a statement. "I have instructed our outerwear licensee to cease the production of any garments using this material immediately." ...

More bands have being added to the lineup for this year's Bamboozle festival, which will be held May 5 and 6 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with My Chemical Romance closing out the fest's first night, and Linkin Park tapped to wrap up the second. The newest additions to the bill include Muse; Thrice; Whole Wheat Bread featuring Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock; Saves the Day; the Early November; Hot Rod Circuit; Men, Women & Children; Haste the Day; Lordi, It Dies Today and the Devil Wears Prada. ...

Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit against his former accountants, charging they made unauthorized business deals for which they later charged the pop star millions. According to the Associated Press, Jackson claims that Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman & Sloan withdrew $2.5 million a year from his bank accounts and failed to keep him apprised of his financial affairs. The suit, which alleges negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, also claims the firm failed to pay his bills properly. Jackson is seeking unspecified damages and a full accounting of all money the firm received for services. The singer hired the Los Angeles-based accounting firm in 2003 for bookkeeping, opening bank accounts and filing personal, corporate and real estate taxes. ...

The dates for Killswitch Engage's upcoming tour with Dragonforce, Chimaira and He Is Legend have been revealed. The 35-city jaunt kicks off in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on February 21. Stops in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle and Detroit follow, with the tour winding down April 8 in Chicago. ... Senses Fail and Alexisonfire will be hitting the road together next month, on a 21-stop tour that will launch January 10 in Hartford, Connecticut. Dates are booked through February 3 in Cordova, Tennessee. ... The Number Twelve Looks Like You, From a Second Story Window, Cancer Bats, Speakerfire and Send the Dawn will be teaming up next month for a brief, 12-gig road trip that gets underway January 24 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and runs through February 6 in Seattle. ...

Carl Blaze, a DJ for New York hip-hop station Power 105, died Saturday of gunshot wounds sustained earlier this month, The New York Times reports. He was 30. The DJ, born Carlos Rivera, was shot 13 times outside an apartment building in Upper Manhattan on December 7 and had been in critical condition at Harlem Hospital Center since he was wounded. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.

• In Focus: Jessica Simpson
• In Focus: JoJo
• In Focus: Jessica Alba
• In Focus: Johnny Depp
• In Focus: Scarlett Johansson

• James Brown
• Eminem
• Ludacris
• Jessica Simpson
• Justin Timberlake

James Brown, 1971
Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images

From world-famous rappers to fans in their 20s, the reaction to the death of funk/soul icon James Brown at the age of 73 on Christmas day was immediate and emotional (see "'Godfather Of Soul' James Brown Dead At 73").

"I had the opportunity to meet him and present a award to him this year. ... I spoke in front of hundreds in his honor," Nas explained of his introduction to Brown, whose indelible funk breaks have formed the backbone of hundreds of hip-hop tunes over the years. "I looked directly at him. He smiled while I told him how I used his music with mine and how much he's done for us and how I love him. I'm lucky to have had that moment, shook his hand. He was pure greatness."

The emotion was even deeper for Snoop Dogg, who said the death was like losing a member of his family. "I am hurt. That's my godfather, my soul inspiration, the hardest-working man in show business of all time," Snoop said in a statement. "He'll be missed, but his music and his legacy will live on through me, in every way you can imagine. Soul brother #1. ... We miss you, James Brown."

(Click here to see what is planned to honor James Brown, and late President Gerald Ford, in this video.)

For funk bass icon Bootsy Collins — who began playing as part of Brown's backing band, the JB's, in 1968 at the age of 17 — the time with the "Godfather of Soul" was a university of funk that he will never forget. Though Collins left the JB's in 1971 after bristling under the harsh system of discipline Brown meted out to members of the group who got out of line, in his first official comments on Brown's death, Collins wrote, "Mr. Brown was the God of Rhythm and Music. Me along with countless other musicians were his Sons. No one else will ever come close. For he is declared this day by all Funkateer's across the globe: 'The Funkiest Mutha in the Universe.' " Collins went on to join George Clinton's Funkadelic band, which, along with Clinton's Parliament, comprise perhaps the second-most-sampled collection of music in hip-hop.

Brown, whose music has inspired everyone from Dr. Dre and Diddy to Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Rage Against the Machine and the Neptunes, was also praised by rock's elite for his contributions to musical history.

"James Brown is the reason I fell in love with music. He will be forever loved and remembered," Diddy told MTV News. "He was a whirlwind of energy and precision, and he was always very generous and supportive to me in the early days of the Stones," Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger said in a statement. "His passing is a huge loss to music." Early rock legend Little Richard also gave props to Brown for his irrefutable part in helping to shape hip-hop. "He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown," Richard said, according to The Associated Press.

One of the artists whose music was most heavily influenced by Brown, Public Enemy's Chuck D, wrote a long tribute to the "Godfather of Soul" on the official P.E. Web site in the hours after the news of Brown's death spread. "I had heard things like Mr. Brown was pushing it real hard, defying gravity and time itself," wrote D, whose group sampled Brown's inescapable "funky drummer" beat on such songs as "Bring the Noise," "Fight the Power" and "Rebel Without a Pause."

"When talking music, JB was/is just part of the day, thank God for recordings," Chuck D wrote. "As a 70's B-boy I recall panic on the floors of hip-hop while ['Give it Up or Turnit a Loose'] roasted off the [1970] Sex Machine Live LP, transfixing the forming rap nation ten years later, as if it were a discovered oil well. While the rest of the disco and rock country had not a clue."

D reminisced about the one, brief time he met Brown backstage at a music event a few years back and how whenever he thinks of Brown, it transports him back to being a child, trying to imitate the singer's signature dance moves. "Whenever I see a frozen pond, I take myself to 1967 when us kids did the James Brown 'I Feel Good' dance on any patch of ice," he wrote, adding that even if corporate radio and the mainstream don't properly honor Brown's legacy, those who were touched by him should "realize how lucky many of us are to have witnessed, experienced, and infused the work and pride ethics of the godfather of soul into our daily lives. For that alone we are all better for it. Probably the hardest-working man in heaven right now ... but may his funky soul R.I.P."

Gangsta-rap icon Ice Cube also alluded to the role Brown's indelible breaks and powerfully funky music played in helping to push rap forward. "James Brown was the first solo singer that I loved as a kid," Cube said. "He was not only the godfather of soul, but the godfather of funk and rap. Music will never be the same."

Brown entered a Georgia hospital over the weekend and died due to heart failure early Christmas morning. According to friend Charles Bobbit, Brown said "I'm going away tonight" shortly before his death, the AP reported. Tributes to "Mr. Excitement" began springing up all over as word of his death spread, from candles left near his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles to a steady line of people paying homage and laying flowers at the base of statue of Brown in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia.

The loss of the "Hardest-Working Man in Show Business" — who was still planning to play a New Year's Eve show in New York, even as he lay dying in a Georgia hospital room — was also felt heavily by MTV News readers, who weighed in with their thoughts.

A 19-year-old reader named Devont, 19, from Johnson City, Tennessee, wrote in to say, "The death of James Brown turned my family upside down. His music was a huge part of our lives, and I know I speak for the world when I say that he is loved and will be missed. There will never be another singer who will equal the impact him made in music and in life."

Devont wasn't the only Brown fan decades too young to remember the man in his prime who still felt the loss very personally. "James Brown was an icon to the African-American community, and his influence reached many other cultures," wrote Tasha, a 32-year-old from Chicago, Illinois. "I can only imagine how it felt for him to reach so many people by doing what he loved. I thank God that he was able to accomplish all the things he aspired to do and did best."

From Jackie, 21, in Chino Hills, California ("You will always be remembered for entertaining us, and your music will never be forgotten") to Michael, 25, in Bangor, Maine ("James Brown was a true great and should be on everyone's playlist. His impact on music has been huge, and can be felt and heard in almost every R&B artist performing today"), fans of all ages wrote in to attest to the influence Brown had on modern music.

For those old enough to have seen Brown live and witness how his songs helped inspire generations, the singer's death was a chance to remember Brown in his prime. "I saw him a few times and was blown away by each show," said John, 56, of Bel Air, Maryland. "He always stayed true to his craft, and had more influence on hip-hop and other forms of music than he got credit for. He was a true legend in the music world, and he will be truly missed."

Even an avowed metalhead like Ricky, 25, from Baltimore, Maryland, was feeling the loss. "I just don't think of men like him ever going away," he wrote. "Even though I'm into rock and metal, I'll stop and listen to him when the chance arises. I guess God needed someone for his New Year's bash this time around."

• James Brown
• Nas
• Snoop Dogg
• Bootsy Collins

James Brown
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

James Brown, the explosive, inventive "Godfather of Soul," whose signature beats and stop-on-a-dime live shows made him an icon for more than 50 years, died on Monday morning (December 25) at the age of 73.

According to an Associated Press report, Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Christmas morning. The cause of death was congestive heart failure, his agent told CNN.

Brown, whose many nicknames — Mr. Excitement, the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business, Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother #1 — were a testament to his status as one of the most dynamic performers in the history of popular music, made his name in the studio with such iconic #1 R&B hits as "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Cold Sweat - Part 1," "Super Bad (Part 1 & Part 2)" and "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Part 1."

(Watch James Brown's surprise appearance at the 2002 VMAs or click here to see what is planned to honor Brown, and late President Gerald Ford, in this video.)

But it was onstage where the pompadoured, flashy-suit-wearing Brown cemented his reputation as the consummate performer, shimmying across the boards as if on a conveyor belt, whipping his mic stand around in time to his mercilessly tight band's rhythms and yelping out lyrics that mixed sensuality, political awareness and positivity with a Baptist church fervor.

As hard as he worked onstage — where his band had to keep a close eye on his hand gestures, which indicated time changes, or risk being fined — Brown was an equally harsh taskmaster in the recording studio. A piano player as well as a singer and arranger, Brown produced a huge catalog of work that not only formed the foundations of funk, but is also responsible for serving as the bedrocks of disco and hip-hop.

From the release of his first R&B hit in 1956, "Please, Please, Please," Brown served notice that he was a different kind of performer than the world had ever seen, one who looked not only backward at the music that had influenced him, but also forward to a new kind of sound that did not yet even have a name.

Born into poverty in Barnwell, South Carolina, on May 3, 1933, during the Great Depression, Brown picked cotton as a child, shined shoes and danced for spare change.

After a leg injury ruined his hopes of playing baseball or being a boxer, Brown began pursuing music full time and joined a gospel group fronted by Bobby Byrd, who he'd met while incarcerated on a robbery charge. After playing on a bill with Hank Ballard and Fats Domino, Byrd and Brown decided to switch to secular music in 1953 and renamed themselves the Flames (and eventually James Brown & the Famous Flames). Two years later, with Brown as frontman, the Flames recorded the yearning R&B ballad "Please, Please, Please," which landed them a recording contract with Cincinnati's King Records. The song became a #5 R&B hit and Brown began honing an explosive stage persona that he worked well into his 70s.

His constant touring and revue-style live shows — during which he legendarily shed several pounds due to his raw, gymnastic performance style — earned him the "Hardest-Working Man in Show Business" nickname. Among the highlights of his shows were his famous spins and splits, and a bit near the end of the set where he would pretend that he couldn't go on any longer and be draped in a cape by an assistant, only to throw it off and tear off some more funk. The shows also earned him legions of admirers, from Michael Jackson to Prince to the innumerable funk players and hip-hop beatmakers who used Brown's syncopated rhythms and wild, falsetto screams to build their tracks from the 1970s to today. Brown often referred to himself, fittingly, as the most sampled man in the history of recorded music.

As much as he toured during the 1960s and '70s, Brown was a dynamo in the studio and on the charts as well, rivaling Elvis with 114 entries on Billboard's R&B singles charts, with 94 songs making the Hot 100 singles chart and more than 800 songs in his repertoire.

Given his live prowess, it is fitting that among his dozens of albums, the LP held up as one of his finest recorded works is 1963's Live at the Apollo, which was released against the wishes of his record-label boss, who believed that no one would want to hear a live album of previously released tunes. The album hit #2 in the summer of 1963 and its airtight versions of songs such as "I'll Go Crazy" and the propulsive "Think" are among the finest examples of Brown's genius at melding the early swing of rock and roll with a horn- and beat-driven mix of gospel frenzy and funky soul. Over the years, Brown's legendarily tight live bands featured a galaxy of stars, including such horn players as Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker, as well as bass-guitar funk pioneer Bootsy Collins.

In the 1960s and early '70s, as the civil rights movement was reaching its peak, Brown used his stardom to help preach for self-sufficiency, recording such songs as 1968's "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)." On April 5 of that year, as rioting broke out across America in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination, Brown insisted on playing a show in Boston that Mayor Kevin White had wanted to cancel. Brown dedicated the show to King, and it was broadcast on local television at the mayor's urging in an effort to keep people off the streets. (The show was released on DVD in 2004.)

However, Brown's career began to lose momentum in the mid-1970s. His cameo in a wild gospel church musical number in 1980's "The Blues Brothers" movie helped him back into the spotlight and soon his voice and signature "funky drummer" beat were fueling innumerable samples in hip-hop tunes like Ice-T's "New Jack Hustler" and Public Enemy's "Don't Believe the Hype." In songs by artists like the Beastie Boys, R. Kelly, Sinéad O'Connor and Audioslave, Brown's music continues to be an inspiration that crosses genres and musical styles.

In 1986, Brown was among the initial group of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but two years later he began a string of personal misfortunes that would overshadow his musical feats for several years. Brown was investigated for tax issues, alleged spousal abuse of his third wife, Adrienne, and drug possession. He spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and for failing to stop for a police officer after a September 1988 incident in which, while high on PCP and carrying a shotgun, he entered an insurance seminar near his Augusta, Georgia, offices and demanded to know if participants were using his private bathroom. Brown fled and was chased by police for a half hour, driving even after police shot out the tires of his truck.

Brown returned to the stage soon after his release for a pay-per-view concert from Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre that was watched by millions, which helped kick-start a productive decade during which his recorded legacy was thin, but he continued performing for a new generation, including the mosh-friendly crowd at the ill-fated Woodstock '99 festival.

In addition to a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1992, in December 2003, a few months after his 70th birthday, Brown received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Just days before his death, Brown joined volunteers at his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, according to the AP, and was scheduled to perform on New Year's Eve at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York.

[This story was originally published at 9:48 a.m. ET on 12.25.2006]

• James Brown

Andrea Corr and Bono perform at the Live 8 Finale in Edinburgh, Scotland Wednesday.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

More than 50,000 people filed into Edinburgh, Scotland's Murrayfield Stadium on Wednesday for the last of Bob Geldof's momentous Live 8 concerts, organized behind a single global mission: to raise awareness and support for the various social and economic issues facing Africa.

The postscript to the 10 concerts staged in cities all over the world on Saturday (see "Jay-Z, U2, Madonna, Pink Floyd Deliver Live 8 Highlights"), Wednesday's climactic finale featured Snow Patrol, James Brown, Travis, Annie Lennox, the Thrills, Feeder, Embrace, Texas, Wet Wet Wet, McFly, Neneh Cherry, Sugababes, and Youssou N'Dour, in addition to several guest speakers — supermodel Claudia Schiffer and actor George Clooney among them, according to BBC News.

All of the free event's participants took the stage as part of an eleventh-hour push to urge the leaders of the world's eight largest national economies — who convened yesterday for a three-day summit — to devise feasible methods by which Africa's epidemic poverty can be mitigated (see "The Road To Live 8: Why Are We Here?"). The final Live 8 gig unfolded just 40 miles away from this year's annual G8 caucus (see "What Is The G8, Anyway?").

U2 frontman Bono — who, along with Geldof, met face-to-face with some of the G8 leaders, and told Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin his refusal to pledge more foreign aid was "infuriating" — introduced former South African president Nelson Mandela, who, in a recorded message, told the assembled mass that the world needed to "work to make poverty history."

"Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great," Mandela continued. "You can be that generation. You have that opportunity."

According to The Associated Press, Geldof also addressed the massive crowd: "On Friday, there will be a great silence across the world while we await the verdict of eight men. Is [Africa] to live or die?"

In addition to orchestrating the Live 8 concerts, Geldof urged millions to march on Edinburgh on Wednesday, as part of the Make Poverty History movement; a few hundred did show, and an estimated 200,000 staged an anti-poverty march in the Scottish city over the weekend.

Get involved: Learn about the poverty crisis in Africa, the proposed solutions, and how you can help. Plus find all of our coverage of the international Live 8 concerts and more at our thinkMTV Live 8 hub.

• Snow Patrol
• James Brown
• Bono
• The Corrs
• Travis

Good Charlotte's Joel Madden (file)
Photo: Ralph Notaro/Getty Images

With just four days to go before the big event, Live 8 is still adding artists — and even a concert, finally nailing down a show in the last G8 nation left on its list.

Moscow has joined the roster of shows taking place on Saturday, aimed at pressuring the leaders of the world's eight industrial powers to relieve debt and offer more aid to Africa (see "50 Cent Drops Off Live 8 Bill — But Destiny's Child And Linkin Park Sign On"). The concert in Red Square will be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys, who will be joined by a number of Russian bands, including Bravo, B-2, Moral Code X, Spleen and Valery Sutkin.

Also signing on for the cause is soul legend James Brown, who will perform on July 6 at the free concert in Murrayfield, Scotland, on the first day of the G8 summit in nearby Gleneagles. Brown joins a bill that will also feature Snow Patrol, Travis and Texas, according to a BBC News report.

And the lineup for the Tokyo show at Makuhari Messe has finally been unveiled, with headline spots by Björk and Good Charlotte, joined by Def Tech, Dreams Come True, McFly, Do as Infinity and Rize.

Due to the overwhelming response in England, organizers announced Tuesday (June 28) that they will release another 55,000 tickets for the show in London's Hyde Park. The tickets will give fans the chance to watch the show featuring Coldplay, Paul McCartney, a reunited Pink Floyd and U2 on giant screens (see "Pink Floyd Get Roger Waters For Live 8; Green Day In For Berlin Show"). The addition brings the potential live audience for the show to more than 200,000.

	Watch Live 8 Reports on MTV Overdrive.

Meanwhile, the promoter of the German Live 8 concert — which has been moved from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to the Siegessäule — is complaining that stingy German companies are not stepping up to support the show, according to Reuters.

"It is a disgrace that German business does not recognize the relevance of this event and has not gotten involved," promoter Marek Lieberberg said of the show featuring Green Day, Brian Wilson and Audioslave. "The German event in Berlin will be financed solely by foreign sponsors, and I find that embarrassing and shocking."

Free concerts will also be held in G8 nations Canada, France, Italy and the U.S. on Saturday, augmented by a concert in Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a smaller show in England featuring African bands.

MTV, mtvU and VH1 will broadcast from Live 8 beginning at noon on Saturday (see "Live 8 Concerts Will Air On MTV, VH1").

Get involved: Learn about the poverty crisis in Africa, the proposed solutions, and how you can help. Plus find all of our coverage of the international Live 8 concerts and more at our thinkMTV Live 8 hub.

• Good Charlotte
• Björk
• Pet Shop Boys
• James Brown
• Snow Patrol

• Michael Jackson
• Backstreet Boys
• James Brown