Aaron Carter and his "DWTS" partner Karina Smirnoff
Photo: MTV News

Aaron Carter is ready for the latest season of "Dancing With the Stars," premiering Monday (September 21) on ABC. He will be competing against the likes of Macy Gray, Kelly Osbourne, Tom Delay and Mya, but thinks that his toughest competition will be the guy in the mirror.

"Honestly, the biggest competition I feel is myself. The reason why I feel like my biggest competition is probably me," he told MTV News while rehearsing with partner Karina Smirnoff. "It's all about how much we rehearse and how much we take advantage of [those rehearsals]. I'm all about how much I push myself."

But his brother, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, pegged someone else as his younger sibling's biggest competition: football star Michael Irving. "I told my brother about [Michael Irving] and my brother's like, 'I love Michael. I'm gonna vote for him.' "

Carter isn't too worried though, given his job has required him to dance before. "I think as a dancer I have a little bit of a competitive edge over some people, absolutely. But who knows? We're all coming into this with not knowing what we're doing, so I think it's pretty equal 'cause it's not like this is what I do professionally."

He's finding the ballroom dancing in particular a bit challenging. "I always try to give you a little bit more. It's completely out of whack, if that makes any sense," he said. "Like it just doesn't click — it doesn't make any sense to me yet."

Carter also revealed that he had been asked to appear on the show before, but didn't accept until the time was right. "There was a couple of other times they approached me about it ... it just wasn't the right time and I had to go ahead and get my mind right and my body right and come into it with a clear conscience," he explained. "This time was time just 'cause the third time's a charm. It was a great opportunity that I just couldn't turn down anymore. I love competition."

• Aaron Carter
• Nick Carter

Nick Carter
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

The Backstreet Boys may be one man down, but Nick Carter's life is far from "Incomplete."

With studio dates and a new reality TV show in the works, the BSB heartthrob remains optimistic about the future and doesn't dwell on the recent departure of bandmate Kevin Richardson (see "Kevin Richardson Quits Backstreet Boys").

"All we can do is be supportive in any decisions that any of us make," Carter said of Richardson's announcement that he's leaving the group. "Like I said before, we still want to be able to do records and there are fans out there that want to hear our music, and we're going to push on. But the door was always open for him. It's still open. If he wants to come back to perform again, he can. We respect his decision."

The band may be entering into a new phase — and that's a good thing, Carter said. Along with a new vibe, the next BSB album might also feature a solo track by each of the four members, he added.

"Yeah, times have changed, and we're trying to adapt and trying to get a grip on things," Carter said. "We love what we do, we love the music we've done, and obviously we're still going with it and still moving on. We're having fun, and the minute we stop having fun, we're going to stop."

But for Carter, when one door closes, another one opens. While coping with the loss of a BSB family member, Carter is reuniting with his real-life sisters and brother for an upcoming reality TV show — a move he was initially pretty hesitant about.

"It's funny, 'cause whenever you think of a reality television show, the first thing you think is, 'No! Oh my God, not another one!' Right?" Carter said. "I didn't want to do one if it didn't have something that people could connect to and something that maybe can do a little bit better than all the other reality shows do. So this one has a little bit of heart, a little bit of drama, a little bit of craziness. It's got everything kind of mixed together."

Debuting on E! in October, "House of Carters" documents the lives of Nick; his younger brother, Aaron; and their three sisters as the siblings cohabitate in Los Angeles. Following their parents' messy divorce, the Carter kids have reconvened and are trying to reconnect by moving beyond the financial battles and pressures of child stardom that have plagued their family in the past.

"We're just pretty much trying to put band-aids over it and fix the wounds we've gone through — together, as a family in the house, which is going to be a lot of fun," Carter said.

In addition to mending the Carter family unit, the siblings are striving to really find themselves, Carter said. Eighteen-year-old Aaron continues to work on his music career and said he will release a self-produced album at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Aaron's twin sister, Angel, is an aspiring model; 20-year-old Leslie is a singer; and 24-year-old Bobbie Jean is considering becoming a cook.

From fistfights to warm and fuzzy moments, the show will portray the real Carter family dynamic — the good and the bad. Emphasizing that the series is completely unscripted, the Carters agreed to do the project because they felt the audience could relate to some of their experiences despite the celebrity backdrop.

"I would come back home from being on tours [when I was younger] — that would be what I would look forward to, coming back home and seeing my family," Nick said. "But realistically, we were going through a lot of stuff in our household — a lot of stuff that probably a lot of people go through family-wise in America and all around the world."

"That's why we're together now — so we can help fill in the gaps — and we love each other so much," Aaron added. "You're going to see the fights and then you're going to see the instant family love, and that's what's great. That's what it's about, man."

• Backstreet Boys
• Nick Carter

Ashlee Simpson on the cover of <I>Teen People</I>'s June/ July issue
Photo: Teen People

Ashlee Simpson has been scandal-free since November, and she tells Teen People for its June/ July "25 Hottest Under 25" cover story that the shift can be attributed to now-serious boyfriend Braxton Olita, the guitarist in her band. "He's the yin to my yang," Simpson told the magazine. "People call him my little Buddha. When he comes around, everything changes. ... I'm more peaceful and chilled out. I honestly couldn't be more content." Though she's "absolutely in love and in a committed relationship," Simpson says she's in no rush to speed up the pace, especially after what she's seen happen with her sister's much-publicized marriage and divorce. Instead, "We live day to day," she said. "Marriage is definitely not on my mind. There's a lot of growing up you do in your 20s, and I definitely want to wait until my late 20s or 30s or whenever the time is right." Ashlee's big sister Jessica Simpson also made the cut for Teen People's "25 Hottest Under 25" list, along with Amanda Bynes, Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Ciara, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, JoJo, Kristin Cavallari and Natasha Bedingfield. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline KROQ's annual Weenie Roast festival in Irvine, California. The May 13 event will also feature Matisyahu, AFI, Dashboard Confessional, Angels & Airwaves, Rob Zombie, She Wants Revenge, Panic! At the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, H.I.M., Wolfmother, Atreyu, Matchbook Romance, the Academy Is ... and Rock Kills Kid. ... Gap stores in four major cities are giving away tickets to a handful of summer concerts through a Rock Color instant-winner game-piece contest. Participating stores in New York and Chicago will have tickets to John Legend, Panic! At the Disco and Counting Crows with Goo Goo Dolls shows; ones in Los Angeles and San Francisco will offer shoppers a shot at those shows, plus Dave Matthews Band. ...

American V: A Hundred Highways, the final album Johnny Cash recorded before his death, is due July 4. Like the rest of the American series, it was produced by Rick Rubin; this album features the last song Cash ever wrote plus others written by Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams and more. ... My Morning Jacket will collaborate with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on June 21 and 22 at the Boston Symphony Hall. The band is otherwise touring this summer with Pearl Jam beginning May 9 in Toronto. ... The Blood Brothers have entered Robert Lang Studios in Seattle — where they recorded 2004's Crimes — with Fugazi guitarist Guy Picciotto (Blonde Redhead) and John Goodmanson (the Like, Bikini Kill), who'll co-produce the band's yet-untitled disc. While the LP isn't slated for release until this fall, the Brothers will issue an EP to tide them over. Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck will hit stores May 23 with a live version of the title track, an alternate version of "Crimes," a remix of "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers," a couple of British B-sides ("Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Metronomes") and the band's remix of the Gang of Four track "Anthrax." ...

Sonic Youth will kick off their summer tour beginning June 13 at the seminal New York rock club CBGB. The trek will span 22 dates, including festival appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, opening for Pearl Jam as well as straight-up SY headlining shows in support of their forthcoming album, Rather Ripped, due the same day their tour kicks off. Additional dates are expected shortly. ... Another prolific indie-rock band, the Fiery Furnaces, just released two full-length CDs within the span of seven months. Now the duo's male half, Matthew Friedberger, is releasing his solo debut, Winter Women/ Holy Ghost Language School, August 8. The double-disc was recorded over the course of three years and was co-produced by Bill Skibbe, who engineered, mixed and performed on the Fiery Furnaces' Bitter Tea. Friedberger wrote and performed the entire album, minus some drumming help from Tortoise's John McEntire, who plays on a few tracks. ...

"You Hear It First" veterans Danko Jones have a North American tour planned in support of their upcoming LP, Sleep Is the Enemy, due May 23. The road trip — which is currently scheduled to kick off in Montreal on May 5 and finish up in Buffalo, New York, May 28 — will hit cities including Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia, as well as New York's CBGB. ... You think your life is a mess? Just wait for the debut this fall of "The Carters," an E! Entertainment show chronicling the life of pop singers and brothers Nick and Aaron Carter as they work through family conflicts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Backstreet Boy, his kid brother and three sisters will be the subjects of an eight-part half-hour series in which they live together and try to figure out their futures. ...

Napster is launching a new service Monday (May 1) that allows users to stream any complete song in their library up to five times for free. "It's the first time we've gotten back to the original Napster roots," Laura Goldberg, Napster's Chief Operating Officer, said Friday. "We see it as an exciting way to introduce people to what a subscription service is like, with the unlimited access and listening to anything you want." ... The only thing we know for sure is that Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffered a concussion on the island of Fiji at some point in the past few days and is recovering in New Zealand. Though she's not denying it, the band's publicist wouldn't confirm that Richards, 62, suffered the injury after falling out of a coconut tree, as widely reported by the media. ... British glam rocker Gary Glitter will appeal his three-year jail sentence for molesting children in Vietnam on May 19, according to a Reuters report. The 61-year-old singer was sentenced on March 3 in the resort town of Vung Tau and was imprisoned there for sexually abusing two 11-year-old girls.

04.28.2006

Jessica Simpson loses her mind in an upcoming Keith Barry magic special, in which the magician and psychological illusionist performs stunts on Eve, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, Wilmer Valderrama, Elijah Wood and others. Barry drives while blindfolded, induces memory loss and takes control of Simpson's mind in a series of stunts on "Keith Barry: Extraordinary," which will air May 12 at 8 p.m. on CBS. ...

Nick Lachey, Sean Paul and Jagged Edge will provide "Style Stage NYC" — the self-proclaimed "largest shopping party in the U.S." — with some musical entertainment. The event will be held Friday and Saturday at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building at 125 and 135 W. 18th St. ...

Oprah Winfrey gathered a who's who of urban artists for what you might call "Oprahpalooza" over the course of one recent weekend. First, the talk-show host held a private luncheon at her Montecito, California, home, where music legends such as Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick were honored by Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Brandy, Natalie Cole, Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott. Winfrey also invited Usher, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and others for a white-tie ball the next night. And to cap the weekend, Winfrey held a gospel brunch the next morning with performances by LaBelle, Knight, Warwick and Chaka Khan. Winfrey's "Legends Ball" special airs May 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ... Jewel is getting a facelift of sorts — by performing on an upcoming episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." In an episode called "Arena Family," the show renovates the home of a husband and wife in Somers, New York, who recently lost their only son. New York Yankee Jorge Posada donates an item for the house, while Jewel performs at a memorial. The episode airs May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ...

Shakira is calling ahead for her upcoming tour, sending multimedia personal video invitations to each city she's hitting on her Oral Fixation jaunt. The messages, which will come through on Verizon Wireless phones, give users the option to buy barcode tickets that can be scanned to get them into the show. Shakira's also inviting fans to text which songs they want to hear on the tour, and a select few concertgoers will be picked to head backstage. The arena tour, which was announced Friday (April 28), kicks off August 9 in El Paso, Texas, at the Don Haskins Center, and wraps September 25 in McCallen, Texas, at the Dodge Arena. ... The singer lit up the stage in Hollywood, Florida, on Thursday night for the Latin Billboard Awards, scoring six awards and performing "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean. Shakira took Latin pop album of the year for Fijacion Oral Vol. 1, while her single "La Tortura" won four awards, including hot Latin song of the year. She was also presented with the Spirit of Hope Award, honoring her work through the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation, aiding children in Colombia. Daddy Yankee, who scored three awards at the ceremony, opened the show performing "Rompe" and took prizes for Latin album artist and top reggaetón album. He was also honored along with collaborators Baby Ranks, Tonny Tun Tun, Wisin y Yandel and Hector "The Father" for "Mayor Que Yo." ...

With a little one on the way, Gwen Stefani is planning to expand her L.A.M.B. line to include baby tennis shoes. "Little gold ones, you wouldn't believe it. They're so cute," the singer told Women's Wear Daily. She's also widening her footwear line for adults to include boots and stilettos, as well as adding other accessories, such as a watch line. "I want to do lingerie and makeup at some point," she said. "I want to do everything, eventually." ... While the tabloids love to link Jessica Simpson and Adam Levine, Victoria's Secret thinks the Maroon 5 frontman and Shakira would make a better match, according to their "What Is Sexy" list — the two singers won sexiest male and female musicians, respectively. But Simpson wasn't entirely shut out. Her "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " clip still gets mileage, nabbing sexiest video. Meanwhile, the sexiest real couple honors went to Seal and Heidi Klum.

An exclusive Beck remix is available as part of a comic manga series. "Go It Alone," remixed by Superthriller, is a free download in the fourth volume of "Mongolian Chop Squad," to be released in June. But once the page goes live at the end of May, the download will be available at www.tokyopop.com/beckvsbeck. ... The Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick filed suit Thursday in New York against Sony BMG alleging that they were being shortchanged by the Sony Music division on profits from digital downloads. According to the Los Angeles Times, the suit by the two classic rock acts seeks class-action status and contends that Sony currently counts downloads sales as "physical phonorecords," with the standard 20 percent deduction for packaging even though the downloads are electronic. It also claims that Sony Music deducts 15 percent for a standard "breakage" fee, as it would with CDs or cassettes. The suit alleges that bands should be getting 30 cents per download from Sony Music versus the 4.5 cents they get now. ...

Apparently you shouldn't mess with Hoboken, New Jersey, indie rockers Yo La Tengo. Their 12th album, due September 12, is called I Am Not Afraid of You, and I Will Beat Your Ass according to a spokesperson for Matador Records. The 15-track LP includes the songs "Pass the Hatchet," "Black Flowers" and "The Story of Yo La Tango" (You read that right — it's "Tango"). Having done movie-soundtrack work for the films "Junebug" and "Old Joy" recently, the group has also written music for "Shortbus," John Cameron Mitchell's directorial follow-up to "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." ... Montreal rockers the Dears have completed work on their third record, the self-deprecatingly titled Gang of Losers. Tentatively due August 29, the 12-track record has been described by the band as a more stripped-down and raw affair than its past expansive orchestral work. Tracks include "The Ballad of Humankindness," "Find Our Way to Freedom" and "Death or Life We Want You." The track "Fear Made the World Go 'Round" can currently be heard on the group's MySpace page.

• Ashlee Simpson
• Nick Carter
• Aaron Carter
• The Rolling Stones
• Keith Richards

Mariah Carey
Photo: Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

Mariah Carey's "pretty gun-shy" about ever getting married again, but that's not just because of her failed marriage to music mogul Tommy Mottola. The singer tells Good Housekeeping for its February issue that her parents' divorce still affects her. "I always said when I was little that I was never going to get married," she told the mag, "but then I was always the girl who didn't understand why people would live together. 'If they're living together, then why don't they get married?' I'm actually sort of a prude like that, I guess." Carey, who fought rumors last month that she had gotten engaged to her boyfriend, tells the mag she would only consider getting married again if she knew she was starting a family, and she's not too sure that should be her goal. "I mean, to me, if you're getting married, it's about having kids," she said. "Still, I worry sometimes about having kids when you're really famous, because the kids aren't asking to be brought into this world as famous people." She reserves the right to change her mind, though. "I can't even predict the next 10 minutes, let alone the next 10 years!" ...

The house Nick Lachey famously landscaped (and moved all his furniture into) is on the market. Jessica Simpson and her soon-to-be-ex are selling the Los Angeles-area house the couple lived in while filming "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica." The asking price? $3.75 million, according to People magazine.

Twista is banged up but should be back on his feet soon. Early Saturday morning he was driving home when another car hit his vehicle and drove off. Since then he's been resting at home under a doctor's care. "I want to thank all of my fans and supporters for checking in on my health," he said in a statement. "I was the victim of a hit-and-run car accident [but] the grind does not stop, as I will shortly be back in front of my fans, giving them the energetic performances they have come to expect from me." ...

Part of the reason Madonna keeps in such good shape is that she's afraid of getting fat, she reveals in the February issue of Elle, on stands Thursday. (Check out photos here.) "I wish I were comfortable enough to look zaftig," she told the mag, "but I choose men who like carved-out women, the can-you-run-for-the-bus kind of guy. I'm naturally inclined toward men like that." The singer traces her desire to win men over back to her relationship with her father, who she said doesn't get excited about much of anything. "A good part of my life was spent trying to wow him, to get his approval," she said. Even so, she doesn't think her fame will help any man in her life, especially the big guy upstairs. "In the big picture, it means very little," Madonna said. "At the end of my life, God doesn't give a sh--." ... When Michael Jackson took off for Bahrain after his acquittal on child-molestation charges last year, it seems he forgot to leave a check for the vet. Martin Dinnes, owner of Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hospital, which cares for the exotic menagerie of animals at Jackson's now-abandoned Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, California, has sued the singer for more than $91,000 in unpaid bills, according to an Associated Press report. In the suit, Dinnes claims that in addition to treating Jackson's animals, he helped the singer acquire his collection of flamingoes, giraffes, elephants and orangutans. ...

Courtney Love lost ownership of the historic Olympia, Washington, home she bought in 1997 after a foreclosure auction over the weekend, according to The Associated Press. The home, which will go to a Los Angeles mortgage company as it received no bids, was on the block because the company filed suit last year seeking foreclosure when Love reportedly failed to pay more than $386,000 in debt on the property. Love could have prevented the auction by paying off the debt. Kurt Cobain's sister, Kim, was living in the house before the auction. ... The first three dates of Rob Zombie's North American spring tour with Lacuna Coil have been announced: March 18 in Miami; April 6 in Columbus, Ohio; and April 7 in Detroit. More dates will be announced in the coming weeks. ...

British rapper Ms. Dynamite would probably rather forget her birthday. The 25-year-old MC was charged on Saturday with punching a police officer in the face after being arrested for allegedly kicking at the front door of the Paragon Lounge in West London. According to The Associated Press, Dynamite (whose real name is Niomi McLean-Daley) was out celebrating with her brother when she allegedly hit the female officer. She was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer while her brother was charged with obstructing police work. Both were released on bail; a hearing is set for Friday. ... Simon Cowell is developing a singing-contest show called "Duets," in which, like "Dancing With the Stars," pros will pair with celebrities. Cowell will not be a judge on the series, which FOX has signed on to air (cast contingent), according to the network. ...

Six of the eight "Laguna Beach" castmembers appear in a spring ad campaign for Bongo that will show up in fashion and entertainment magazines such as Seventeen, Teen Vogue and Us Weekly for their February issues. The cast holed up in a Santa Monica, California, mansion and headed down to the beach for some sun and surf, and hired Orange County band the Colour to play during the mid-November shoot (castmember Alex Murrel joined the group to sing "Wild Thing"). Other craziness that ensued? Talan Torriero announced his ill-fated engagement to Kimberly Stewart, and everyone pushed each other into the mansion's pool. ... Massive Attack have finished seven tracks with producer Neil Davidge for their forthcoming Weather Underground LP. According to the band's Web site, an early 2007 release is being eyed. The band also has a best-of in the works. The two-CD set, called Collected, will include the tracks "Unfinished Sympathy," "Safe From Harm," "Protection," "Angel" and "Teardrop." Look for Collected in late March. ...

Former You Hear It First artist Regina Spektor has finished the follow-up to her 2004 album, Soviet Kitsch. According to a post on ReginaSpektor.com, the new album is called Begin to Hope, and it's tentatively due to hit stores sometime this spring or summer. "There is still much work to be done, and I am looking forward to making more visual and video art to go along with it," Spektor wrote. ...

01.06.2006

Just as Kelly Clarkson's latest video heads for the "TRL" retirement home, the singer has a new single on the way. She's picked "Walk Away" as her follow-up to "Because of You." ...

A year and three months after their first anniversary, Jesse McCartney and "7th Heaven" actress Katie Cassidy re-create their first dates in a photo spread in the February issue of Teen People, posing in his car, on the beach, on a Ferris wheel and on a picnic blanket eating takeout. "After dinner, I opened the car door and there was a beautiful orchid sitting in his front seat. It was so sweet," she said. "We got ice cream on our first date. It was really cute ... [And] on one of our first dates, we spent the entire day on the beach." ... The debut album from Tom DeLonge's new band, Angels & Airwaves, won't be hitting shelves until the spring, but that doesn't mean he can't spend nearly every waking minute releasing various news tidbits about said album. Case in point, Friday's news about the names of eight tracks on the A&A album, according to DeLonge's manager: "Valkyrie Missile," "Distraction," "The Adventure," "The War," "A Little's Enough," "It Hurts," "Do It for Me Now" and "Start the Machine." ...

Apparently Kid Rock missed the road more than he thought. The Detroit rocker has added seven more dates onto his previously announced string of winter shows, which already included a two-night stand at the Joe Louis Arena in his hometown just before this year's Super Bowl. Rock will now also play February shows in San Antonio; Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida; Nashville; and an April 8 gig at the Heritage Motorcycle Rally in Ladson, South Carolina. On February 14, meanwhile, Rock will release his first live album, When I'm Dead ... Kid Rock Live. ... The members of Every Time I Die are recovering from a recent van accident in Wyoming. While the band is fine, having sustained just scrapes, bruises and pulled muscles, the van isn't. Hence, the boys will be missing the next four dates of their tour with Story of the Year. Every Time I Die will rejoin the trek on Tuesday, and will be good to go for their spring tour with Bleeding Through and Between the Buried and Me, which kicks off February 11 in Reno, Nevada. ...

Despite being the progeny of Courtney Love and late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, 13-year-old Frances Bean Cobain's taste veers toward the mainstream. She tells i-D magazine for its latest issue that she's obsessed with "Laguna Beach" and "American Idol," and wants Mariah Carey to come sing at her sweet 16 party. Frances says her style is "very girly, classic girly," but not like Courtney's ironic twist on femininity. "You know the funny thing about my mom? That stuff works for her! She can get away with it," Frances said. "She looks good in it." As much as she thinks her mom is cool, though, Frances sometimes wishes her mom were a little more normal. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't so much at home alone and that it wasn't about nannies and chauffeurs and all that stuff. I get to meet everyone I want and I get quite a lot of attention because of it, you know? But of course it hurts when you see a lot of lies about her in tabloids and then you think, 'Well, it's not that cool to have a cool mom.' I don't like seeing my mom upset. No one does, right?" ... The Donnas are all about catching big air. They shot a music video at the Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah for "Fall Behind Me" to promote the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. In the clip, the U.S. women's snowboarding team soars into the air above the band as it performs at the base of a half-pipe. The Olympics start February 10 in Torino, Italy, and will be covered on NBC. A full-length version of the Donnas video can be viewed at offthepodium.com. ...

Further Seems Forever — the band founded seven years ago by Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba — have broken up. A statement posted to the band's Web site said the split was amicable. The group's planning a batch of farewell shows, and promised to hit "as many places as possible," though dates have yet to be announced. The statement also revealed that unreleased material would come out sometime this year, along with a DVD of live footage and the band's videos. ... Officials in Vietnam formally charged British glam rocker Gary Glitter with committing obscene acts with two girls aged 10 and 11 on Friday. According to The Associated Press, the charges carry prison terms of three to seven years. Glitter has been held in a Vietnamese jail since November 19 after he was stopped at Ho Chi Minh airport on suspicion of sex with minors. Prior to the charge, Glitter reportedly agreed to pay $2,000 to the families of two of the girls who were alleged victims to secure their testimony on his behalf. ...

The Bouncing Souls will hit the studio next week to start recording their seventh, as-yet-untitled LP — the follow-up to 2003's Anchors Aweigh. The album will surface on June 6, according to the band's Web site. ... The Thrills have been hard at work on their third studio LP. They've written about 20 songs for the effort, which could hit stores before the end of the year, according to the band's MySpace page. ...

• Madonna's Spread In The February 2006 Issue Of 'Elle'
• Nick Lachey And Jessica Simpson, A Look Back

• Mariah Carey
• Twista
• Madonna
• Rob Zombie
• Michael Jackson

Paris Hilton (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Paris Hilton and Nick Carter are trading barbs once again through the media. The actress/heiress was asked last week on Edmonton, Alberta, station 96X, on a show called "The Canadian Hit 30 Countdown," to compare her new boyfriend — also named Paris — to her previous boyfriends, such as Carter. Hilton responded, "Night and day. He's not using me for anything ... he's not a disgusting pig, sorry." Carter responded shortly afterward that Hilton "should take a look in the mirror." "I kind of have to brush it off my shoulders, because she's very immature," Carter told the station. "The problem with Paris is that she thrives off of hurting other people, and it's not just me." Fellow Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson added that he had asked Hilton to lay off the negative comments. "I pulled her aside at a party, and said, 'We'd never done anything to harm you, I don't appreciate the negative comments. Unless you want me coming after you in the press, and you don't want me talking about you, you need to stop it and lay off my little brother.' It angers me that she started again." ...

Michael Jackson's defense turned on Monday (May 16) to disputing the accuser's family's claims of being held prisoner at Neverland by demonstrating that during their time there, they received a number of services — from orthodontia for the kids to full body waxing for the mom — and that no one providing those services saw any indication that anything was wrong. A Neverland maid testified that the accuser's mother did ask for help leaving the ranch, but it was because Jackson's associates were interfering with her relationship with the pop singer, she said. Other employees indicated that the accuser and his brother were problem children, testifying that they found them with porn and alcohol when Jackson was not around. However, one witness, former Neverland chef's assistant Angel Vivanco, was limited in testifying about what he claims the accuser's sister told him, based on his "quasi-sexual" relationship with her. The defense had indicated that he would say the sister told him her family was planning "something big" regarding Jackson and that her mom was "psycho." ...

Ciara got the most nods for the upcoming BET Awards, with four nominations (including Best New Artist, Best Female R&B, Best Collaboration and Viewer's Choice for "1, 2 Step"). Also leading the pack are Destiny's Child, John Legend and Kanye West, with three nominations each. Other multiple nominees include Fantasia, Amerie, 50 Cent and Omarion. Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Missy Elliott and the Game will perform on the show, which will be televised live on June 28 at 8 p.m. ET. ... Want to vote for one of the final three "American Idol" contestants — Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood and Vonzell Solomon — to become one of the final two? You'll be more likely to get through on Tuesday, when each contestant will be assigned two toll-free numbers instead of one. "With the volume of calls this season already exceeding last year's, we felt it was important to give fans additional phone numbers in an attempt to reduce congestion," Executive Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said. ...

Jennifer Lopez may have scrapped plans to do a full tour, but she's going forward with at least one live concert, to be filmed for a special to air on NBC, the network announced Monday. The tentatively titled "Jennifer Lopez Special" will include her singing her catalog of hits as well as songs from Rebirth. No airdate for the show was announced. ...

Young Buck's Friday court date in Los Angeles in connection with the melee at last fall's Vibe Awards was once again postponed, this time to June 8. The G-Unit rapper has already pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. ... CMJ and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum have teamed for the first CMJ/ Rock Hall Music Fest, scheduled for June 8-11 in Cleveland. More than 100 bands will perform around the city for the festival, including Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, the Futureheads, Spoon, Grandmaster Flash, the Misfits, Powerman 5000, Mushroomhead and the Pixies, who are kicking off the festival June 8 at the Rock Hall. ...

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus is giving away clothing from his Atticus female clothing line to the band's fans. Through Blink's Web site, fans can enter the contest for a chance to win a hat, hooded sweatshirt and a baby tee, along with a compilation CD produced by Hoppus for SideOnedummy Records, featuring songs from Blink-182, Death Cab for Cutie and Fall Out Boy. All Mark asks is that potential winners send him a list of "three songs that would make a great soundtrack to your life," with an explanation as to why. There will be 10 winners in all. ... Vanessa Carlton is training with the hopes of being one of the 30,000 picked in the lottery drawing to compete in the New York City Marathon. She applied last week to be on pop station Z100's team. The marathon takes place November 6. ...

Former '50s teen idol Paul Anka has recorded covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Oasis' "Wonderwall" and R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" for his latest album, Rock Swings, due June 7. The 47-year show business veteran wrote big-band arrangements for the songs. ... Hüsker Dü founder Bob Mould has a new solo album in the works called Body and Soul, due out July 26. Songs vary from guitar-heavy, full-band approaches like "Paralyzed" and "Circles" to acoustic ballads such as "High Fidelity" and "Days of Rain." Mould plans to tour in the fall, performing material from all stages of his career — solo, Sugar and Hüsker Dü — for the first time. Fugazi's Brendan Canty — who guests on the album — has signed on to play drums for the tour. ...

The site of the Hawthorne, California, home where the Wilson family grew up and became the Beach Boys is being dedicated as an official historical landmark on Friday. Brian Wilson will perform at the afternoon unveiling, which will include appearances by fellow founding member Al Jardine and Wilson's daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (of the soft-rock group Wilson Phillips). ... Believe it or not, the city of Hibbing, Minnesota, has never erected any permanent honor to its favorite son, Bob Dylan. The folk icon, who went to high school in the small Midwestern town, will see the street he grew up on renamed "Dylan Drive," according to The Associated Press. ...

5.13.2005

The Backstreet Boys have finalized the track list for their upcoming album Never Gone, due out June 14. Besides first single "Incomplete," the boy band is including songs written and produced by Max Martin, Billy Mann, Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik and John Shanks. Titles include "Just Want You to Know," "Crawling Back to You," "Lose It All," "Safest Place to Hide" and "Siberia." ...

J Records honcho Clive Davis will serve as a guest judge on Tuesday's "American Idol." Davis also guested on an episode last year, telling eventual winner Fantasia Barrino, "If this weren't a national competition and I saw you in a basement in Kansas City ... I would sign you straight away." ... John Legend is working to re-elect New York Senator Hillary Clinton by performing at a fundraising event in her honor at New York's Capitale on May 20. Tickets (at $100 a pop) are available at friendsofhillary.com/fridaynightlive. ...

Twista's new album is almost done. He's calling it The Day After and plans to release it in September. The first single, "Girl Tonight," is due out in July. Producers Kanye West, Scott Storch, Timbaland and the Neptunes all worked on the project. ... On Friday (May 13), a Brooklyn, New York, federal court judge set Thursday as the new date for Irv and Chris Gotti to request a severance from their eight codefendants, including Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. The brothers are charged with money-laundering, while their counterparts, including convicted drug lord McGriff, are facing more serious charges, including murder. The Gottis filed their separation motion through lawyer Gerald Shargel on April 25, arguing that their trial would be tainted in light of their codefendants. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny opposed the severance motion, saying the Gottis garnered funds and safety from McGriff. "Indeed, far from being harmed by McGriff's murderous reputation, the Lorenzos' alignment with McGriff afforded a level of protection," she wrote in her opposition answer. "Would-be robbers and criminals who extort those in the music industry knew that if they targeted Murder Inc., its employees or executives, they would suffer retribution from the McGriff enterprise." Shargel will argue the severance motion next week; if it isn't granted, the trial will take place October 17. ...

It's prom season around the country, and not being one to miss a party, Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland threw a prom of his own on Wednesday night at Los Angeles' Sportsmen's Lodge. The "Pretty in Pink"-themed soiree was actually for Weiland's wife Mary's 30th birthday, and the Weilands were crowned king and queen of the prom. Guests, including Charlize Theron, Anthony Kiedis and Tony Kanal, were decked out in their Day-Glo best, danced to '80s tunes and munched on cupcakes. ... Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington will perform with other musicians on May 21 in his home city of Phoenix at the 10th annual celebration of his three upscale tattoo parlors in the city, each called Club Tattoo. Alien Ant Farm will also perform at the festival, which will be held in the parking lot outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Phoenix. ...

Coldplay, Radiohead and Death Cab for Cutie are among the artists on the new soundtrack to the HBO series "Six Feet Under," called "Six Feet Under: Everything Ends." Due out June 21, the soundtrack includes exclusive tracks created for the upcoming fifth and final season, including Interpol's "Direction," Caesars' cover of "(Don't Fear) the Reaper," Jem's "Amazing Life" and the Arcade Fire's "Cold Wind." ... Emo boys now have a comic hero to cry for. "Emo Boy," coming out in June, is about a tortured and bullied outsider who dances awkwardly, gets thrown out of his favorite band's fan club, ineptly attempts suicide and loses at dodgeball. "It's about being alienated and alienating yourself," creator Steve Emond said, "about silly stories and first loves (and a lack thereof) and finding yourself and growing up and all that good stuff." In the first issue, Emo Boy is recruited by fellow classmates to write a song for their band, but the cute blonde singing his words screws him up. A preview is available on www.slgpublishing.com. ...

Fans of Ozzfest mainstage madman Zakk Wylde can log onto 357customs.com, the online home of 357 Choppers, to win the latest in the Zakk Wylde series of motorcycles, the Sawblade. Priced at $70,000, the custom-made bike features the "Halloween Nightmare Buzzsaw" design of Wylde's Gibson Les Paul; the tank is painted with the custom black-and-orange sawblade pattern and the Black Label Society skull logo. ... Oak Hill, West Virginia, has announced plans to erect a monument on the spot where country legend Hank Williams died in 1953. According to The Associated Press, the town wants to build a Williams museum on the former site of the Pure Oil gas station. Williams was found dead of a drug overdose in the station's parking lot by the chauffeur of his baby-blue Cadillac. ...

The Pretenders plan to put out a career retrospective DVD that will include not only their music videos but also a documentary that originally aired in the U.K. called "No Turn Left Unstoned." The program includes the history of the band as told through the memories of members of Devo, the New York Dolls, Motörhead, the Damned, the B-52's, U2 and the Pretenders themselves. "The Pretenders Greatest Hits," which includes the clips for "Brass in Pocket," "Back on the Chain Gang" and "I'll Stand by You," is due out June 7. ...

• Nick Carter
• Ciara
• Young Buck
• 50 Cent
• blink-182

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline (file)
Photo: Splash News

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline's still-untitled reality show, which spotlights their courtship up to and including their wedding via privately shot home videos, will premiere with a special one-hour episode on May 17 at 9 p.m. ET on UPN. ...

Outkast and Rosa Parks have settled their dispute. In what had been a highly contested matter concerning the use of Parks' name as a song title, the parties resolved to become partners in developing educational programs to enlighten today's youth about the role Parks played in the civil-rights movement. First up will be a tribute album, on which Outkast will perform. They're also planning a TV special and DVD. ... The mother of Michael Jackson's current accuser continued testifying Thursday, elaborating on the alleged death threats she told the court about on Wednesday. She testified that she was "continually monitored" by Jackson's team for what she thought was her own safety. Prosecutors played an audio tape purportedly made just before the family's interview with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, revealing that a Jackson security guard was present prior to the interview. Following the interview, the mother testified, one of Jackson's associates told her she hadn't done a good enough job clearing Jackson and that they were going to have to leave the country. ...

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter phoned in his plea of not guilty to two drunk-driving-related charges Wednesday (he was not required to appear). The charges stemmed from a March 5 incident in Huntington Beach, California, where he was pulled over for erratic driving and failed a field sobriety test. Carter's next hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 2. ... Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, Good Charlotte, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Rob Thomas, Ryan Cabrera and Shar Jackson were among the stars who turned out for Us Weekly's party Wednesday to celebrate the Young Hot Hollywood Style Awards, which was hosted by Jessica Simpson. ...

Nelly has placed two special Pimp Juice promo vehicles on eBay in order to raise money for his late sister Jackie Donahue's foundation, the Jes Us 4 Jackie Fund. The custom-designed rides, a 2004 PT Cruiser and a 2004 Jeep Wrangler, will come with an autographed photo of the rapper, an authenticity plaque and 20 cases of, yes, Pimp Juice. The bidding ends on April 22. ... A U.K. group called Mothers Against Guns is calling for a boycott of Reebok, according to BBC News, as it feels a TV ad for the shoe company's "I am what I am" campaign that features 50 Cent counting his gunshot wounds glorifies gun violence. Reebok said in a statement that it does "not support every action, choice or view expressed by the hundreds of athletes and entertainers who wear our products. However, we do support their individuality and right to express themselves freely." ...

April 15 isn't just the dreaded day to pay your taxes, at least if you live in Sin City. The city of Las Vegas is declaring Friday "Diddy Day," in honor of the music mogul. Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman and the city council will honor P. Diddy's achievements at a presentation this Friday afternoon inside the Desert Passage Mall at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino. ... Legendary piano man Johnnie Johnson died on Wednesday of natural causes at his home near St. Louis, according to his reps. He was 80. Johnson played on almost all of Chuck Berry's hits and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 by friend and fellow rocker Keith Richards. He is survived by his wife, Frances, and 10 children. ...

Sparta have been forced to cancel the remainder of their current tour for medical reasons. According to the band's Web site, guitarist Paul Hinojos suffered a ruptured disk in his back and was hurried back to Los Angeles for immediate treatment. There are no plans to reschedule the nixed gigs, but Sparta promise to do all they can to make them up on their next tour. ... Martika — whose 1989 chart-topper "Toy Soldiers" forms the backbone of Eminem's track "Like Toy Soldiers" — is heading out on the road with her new group, Oppera, whose self-titled album is due out May 31. The pop-rock duo will tour the East Coast with Pat Benatar; the trek begins June 15 in Clearwater, Florida, and wraps June 30 in Reading, Pennsylvania. ... Electronic pioneers Kraftwerk will bring their elaborate stage show back to the U.S. for a brief summer tour. The group will kick things off in Washington, D.C., on May 30 and finish the trek on June 6 in Los Angeles before heading off to Europe. ...

04.13.2005

Nathan Gale, who murdered guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and three others during a concert in Columbus, Ohio, on December 8, pulled from the stage by security at a Cincinnati Damageplan concert eight months earlier, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Police have confirmed that Gale had been the cause of a disturbance at Bogart's nightclub on April 5, 2004. Gale damaged lighting equipment during a struggle with security guards at the 2004 show. Police were called to the scene, but no charges were filed — Damageplan opted not to press charges, the report says. ...

According to Limp Bizkit's Web site, which has basically become a blog housing frontman Fred Durst's rantings, the band's forthcoming album will be called The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1). Bizkit's label, Geffen, couldn't confirm whether the disc would, as the site alludes, hit stores on May 3. ... Meanwhile, Durst will be making his small-screen acting debut on NBC's six-hour miniseries "Revelations." The apocalyptic drama stars Bill Pullman ("Independence Day") as an astrophysicist trying to explain tragic events through science. Partnered with a nun guided by her faith, played by Natascha McElhone ("Solaris"), they work to figure out if the world is ending, as predicted by the Book of Revelation. Durst's character, Ogden, is a nefarious devil-worshipper who kidnaps and tries to brainwash Pullman's stepson (Mark Rendall). Though not acting in the premiere episode on Wednesday (April 13), he will appear onscreen next Wednesday and will be prominently featured in the third and fourth installments. ...

Though Britney Spears' fans and peers seem to share in her happiness about her (now official) pregnancy, not everyone is so keen on the idea. A recent joint poll by Parents magazine and Netflix revealed that 53 percent of parents actually think the singer should put off starting a family. More than 3,000 moms and dads took part in the poll on Spears' potential for parenthood for the May issue of Parents, on newsstands this week. ... The Backstreet Boys have announced the release date for their new album, Never Gone. It's now due in stores June 14. The group plans to headline a tour starting in mid-July. ...

R&B hitmakers Frankie J, Baby Bash and Natalie have joined forces for this spring's Latium World Tour. The two-month trek will kick off April 29 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and wrap June 4 in Toms River, New Jersey. ... Toni Braxton is shooting the video for "Please," the first single off her upcoming album, this week in Los Angeles with director Chris Robinson. Scott Storch produced the song. ...

At a press conference on Wednesday, Jay-Z, L.A. Reid, Russell Simmons, Steve Bartels and Tony Austin announced the launch of the Russell Simmons Music Group, a 50/50 joint venture with Island Def Jam Records. Simmons said the label would release the Reverend Run's long-awaited "rock" album. "The album's done and it's called Run Love," Run said. "It's a loud, rockish album. My reality show is called 'Run's House' and we begin filming next week." The album is slated for a fall release, and the first single should be chosen and released within the next two months. The businessmen then played "Rock-A-Bye," the new single from their German-raised, three-member female group, Buddafly. ...

Just in case you haven't gotten enough of the dynamic duo that is Loretta Lynn and Jack White, CMT will be airing a one-hour show on the Grammy-winning twosome, "Loretta Lynn Uncut." The special, premiering Thursday, will feature never-before-seen footage from the original CBS "60 Minutes" segment about the pair and an exclusive interview with the White Stripes frontman, who produced and appeared on Lynn's 2004 album, Van Lear Rose. ... The inaugural Intonation Music Festival is set for July 17 in Chicago's Pulaski Park. Curated by the Web 'zine Pitchfork, the all-day, all-ages festival will feature the Decemberists, the Fiery Furnaces, a DJ set from Palace's Will Oldham, Broken Social Scene, the Go! Team, Four Tet, Magnolia Electric Co., the Wrens, A.C. Newman and the M's. More acts are expected to be announced soon. ...

• Britney Spears
• OutKast
• Michael Jackson
• Nick Carter
• 50 Cent

Tommy Lee (file)
Photo: Getty Images

The nonstop party that is the life of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee for about the past 20 years gets cranked up several notches on his upcoming solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, which is due in August.

And although he knows it's a cliché, he swears the album is the best thing he's ever done.

"It's true, this is the best thing I've ever done!" Tommy yelled from a stop on the Mötley Crüe reunion tour (see "Mötley Crüe Plan Summertime Carnival Of Sin With Sum 41"). "I mean, people will be like, 'Is that f---ing Tommy?' It's like an event record."

That much is true, as Tommy has invited a galaxy of rockers to join him in his playland, among them: Joel Madden from Good Charlotte, Sum 41's Deryck Whibley, Slash, Dave Navarro, Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger and his good buddy, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

"This is more like my last record [2002's Never a Dull Moment] than the Methods of Mayhem record, which was all over the place," said Lee, who spent several weeks in December and January shuttling between all-day recording sessions and rehearsals for the Crüe tour. "This one is right down the middle, it's not so hybrid. It has rock, pop, everything."

Lee's third solo album will be released to coincide with his NBC reality show, "Tommy Lee Goes to College," which he said recently got bumped up from a summer replacement to a fall show, due to the positive feedback. The original rush to get the album done meant Tommy had to scrap a planned duet with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, but he did get to record a "f---ing amazing" song with former fling Pink. Unfortunately, he said, the singer later denied him the rights to her vocals.

What you will hear as the theme song to his show is the catchy, feel-good pop tune "Good Times," which features Navarro on acoustic guitar and producer/singer Butch Walker on the choruses, singing, "Take me away to a place where the good times, good times roll/ Don't let me stay in a place where the hate can't steal my soul."

The album's likely first single — and the song guaranteed to turn heads — is "Tired," which paints a scenario that could only exist in Tommyland. With help from Joel Madden on the chorus and Whibley and Navarro on guitar, Tommy pays tribute his famous ex, Pamela Anderson, among other beauties.

"You know when you're sitting there with one of your buddies and you say, 'I can't believe so and so is f---ing her!' And it's some supermodel or something and your buddy says, 'Yeah, but I bet he's tired of f---ing her.' "

OK, so maybe none of us can relate, but it's hard not to laugh when you hear Joel sing, "Tommy got tired of Pamela/ Ed got tired of Salma/ Hef gets tired of those Playboy girls/ Someone is tired of Miss Nude World/ And I'm tired of you."

Also lending a hand: Fuel's Carl Bell on "Sister Mary," Kroeger on the big rock track "Tryin' to Be Me" and Something Corporate vocalist Andrew McMahon singing background on the "Coldplay/ Radiohead/ Beatlesy" ballad "Hello Again." And, of course, Slash cuts it up on the song "Krusty."

But, odd as it may sound, Tommy sounds most excited about his collaboration with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter. "Nick sings his ass off!" Tommy said of the song "Say Goodbye." "We've been friends for a while, and he's so not the milk-and-cookies Backstreet guy people think. Of all the rockers who came by to collaborate, that mother----er's the craziest. He's a maniac. He's scared me a few times."

After his first two major-label solo albums failed to catch platinum fire, Lee has jumped off the major train for Tommyland and has hooked up with music distributor the Handleman company in a deal that aims to keep the album's retail price at around $10.

While it would be hard to mount a traditional tour in support of the album, Tommy's ambitious plan is to get everyone together to do a two-week series of gigs in a handful of in major cities. In the meantime, both he and Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx have been demoing new songs on their respective tour bus portable studios and it's likely some of those tunes will end up on a new Mötley record.

"Hopefully we'll make another record soon," he said. "I think there's a good chance we will."

• Tommy Lee
• Good Charlotte
• Slash
• Nick Carter

Nick Carter's mug shot
Photo: Huntington Beach Police Department

Nick Carter was arrested in Southern California on Saturday for allegedly driving while under the influence.

The Backstreet Boys singer was stopped by police at about 7:30 p.m. in downtown Huntington Beach for violating a traffic law, Lieutenant Dave Bunetta said on Monday (March 7). The officers then conducted field sobriety tests and arrested the 25-year-old.

Carter was taken to the local police department, booked for investigation of DUI and had his vehicle impounded. He was released about four hours later with an agreement to appear in court within 45 days.

Because the investigation is still active, Bunetta could not release other details about the arrest or Carter's sobriety tests. "He was cooperative, and there was nothing unusual about his demeanor," Bunetta said.

A district attorney will determine within the next few weeks if there is enough evidence to file charges.

"Nick Carter deeply regrets the current situation," the singer's publicist said in a statement released Monday. "He is on doctor-prescribed medication and was unaware of its interaction possibilities."

The Backstreet Boys recently finished recording their first album in five years and will hit the road later this month to start promoting the music (see "Backstreet Boys Anxious To Tour, Kick Off Club Run In March").

• Backstreet Boys
• Nick Carter

Michael Jackson arrives at the courthouse Monday
Photo: Getty Images

A week after word leaked that former child actor Corey Feldman had been subpoenaed by the prosecution in the Michael Jackson child-molestation trial, the singer's lead attorney told prospective jurors in the case that they can expect to see many more stars on the witness stand.

On the first day of questioning of the more than 240 potential jurors, Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said that NBA star Kobe Bryant, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, Elizabeth Taylor and illusionist David Blaine are among the celebrities the defense plans to call in the case, according to The Associated Press. Other potential star witnesses include veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley, relatives of late actor Marlon Brando, and former child actors Emmanuel Lewis and Macaulay Culkin.

In addition to the accuser and his family, Mesereau's list also includes Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb, comedian Chris Tucker, talk-show hosts Larry King and Maury Povich, and guru Deepak Chopra, according to a Reuters report.

Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville asked the jurors not to be distracted by the hype of the case or to prejudge. "I'm not bought and paid for," Melville told the jurors, according to the AP. "I have not made up my mind in this case and I want to select a jury that feels exactly the same way. You might be able to relax a little bit if you think of this as a job interview."

The remaining potential jurors were weeded out from a pool of 700-plus after filling out a questionnaire that asked them, among other things, if they'd followed a 1993 accusation of alleged abuse involving Jackson. Each side can eliminate as many potential jurors as it wants if it believes the person has an obvious bias. Both the defense and the prosecution also have 10 peremptory challenges, which allows them to remove jurors with no explanation.

The final jury will consist of 12 jurors and eight alternates. The AP reports that defense attorneys will likely try to eliminate parents of young children who could be more sensitive to the issue of child abuse and that prosecutors will probably search for people with a high opinion of law enforcement.

Both sides agreed to immediately dismiss an 81-year-old man who told them he had a serious health issue.

For full coverage of the Michael Jackson case, see "Michael Jackson Accused."

• Michael Jackson
• Nick Carter

John Mayer at the Grammy Style Studio on Wednesday
Photo: Jesse Grant/WireImage.com

HOLLYWOOD — You have to admire Isaac Brock's bluntness.

"Right now I'm just freeloading," the Modest Mouse singer said Wednesday as he sipped on free wine and sorted through free clothes at the Grammy Style Studio. "It feels like a trade show."

Brock was one of several artists who hit the first day of the Grammys' second annual official fashion showcase, where nominees, performers, presenters and other celebrities are showered with the latest, coolest and often priciest clothing, accessories and gear of the new year (see "What Goes With A Golden Gramophone? The Grammys Offer Advice").

Whether it's Oakley's Thump MP3-player sunglasses, a pair of Stitches jeans or the colorful dress shirts in Ted Baker London's spring line, it's all here for the taking — if you're famous, that is.

"I just got these Michael Kors orange aviator sunglasses, which will be good for driving in," Jesse McCartney said as he flipped through Tommy Hilfiger jackets. "This is my jam right here: Low key but kinda funky."

"I lost 123 pounds, dawg, so I can grab off the rack," Randy Jackson added as he picked out a similar coat, albeit with patches. "I'm switching my look to a little more preppy."

Jackson eventually walked past the Jamin Puech purses (which Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone are apparently carrying) to the Black Eyed Peas to congratulate them on their Grammy nominations.

Meanwhile, Nick Carter and A.J. McLean tried on accessories from Hoodwink, a London company that customizes Nike shoes, gloves, headbands and wristbands with jewelry. "I really like this," McLean said as he slipped on a wristband.

The Backstreet Boys joined Brock, McCartney, Jackson, the Peas and Mario at the Grammy Style Studio at Ocean Way Recording Studios in the afternoon and then returned at night for the reception.

	Photos: Mayer, McCartney, More At Grammy Style Studio 02.09.2005

While McLean mingled with designers, Carter chatted with 311 singer Nick Hexum, who arrived with tennis star Venus Williams and requested a Jack Daniels from the bar (sorry, only sponsors Heineken, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Little Penguin wines and Bacardi's Island Breeze rum available). Lil Jon's Crunk!!! was also served, and as a rep from the energy drink boasted, "Crunk!!! isn't just a drink, it's a lifestyle."

Maybe that's what John Mayer needed, as the visibly exhausted singer arrived late after performing with Kanye West down the street at the House of Blues. Or maybe a presentation from Sony on their new portable briefcase TV might spark the techie singer/songwriter's interest.

Whatever the case, Mayer had better get energized, as several other "gifting" suites have been set up around Los Angeles for Grammy week. The idea is that the artists will actually wear some of the free clothing or accessories to the Grammys, giving the companies massive exposure.

With the Black Eyed Peas, however, that won't be the case.

"My clothing line launches next week, so my, Taboo's and Apl's [outfits] are being made now," Will.I.Am revealed. "It's off the hook — iamclothing.net, check it out."

Now that's exposure.

As this year's Grammys approach, you can get all the latest news on the show, the scene and the nominees in our Grammy news archive. On the big night, February 8, be sure to tune in to MTV at 7 p.m. for our "All up in the Grammys" preshow. Plus check out videos of the nominees and more right here on mtv.com.

• John Mayer
• Jesse McCartney
• Modest Mouse
• Nick Carter
• A.J. McLean

Christina Aguilera, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, More Arrive At The 2006 MTV Movie Awards

• Christina Aguilera
• AFI
• Gnarls Barkley
• Rihanna
• Fall Out Boy

Monster Island Highlights

• Nick Carter

Monster Island Meet the Cast

• Nick Carter

• Nick Carter

2002 Latin Grammy Awards

• Justin Timberlake
• *NSYNC
• Nick Carter
• Backstreet Boys
• Nelly Furtado