T.I.
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

T.I. is under house arrest as he awaits his trial on weapons charges — but he doesn't want that to get in the way of the holidays. The rapper (real name: Clifford Harris) has asked a judge to let him host a Thanksgiving Day celebration at his home in Jonesboro, Georgia, according to The Associated Press. On Tuesday, his attorneys requested that a list of family members be given "approved visitation to have dinner with the defendant" from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on November 22. T.I. isn't allowed to have visitors without prior approval and can't have more than three visitors at a time, with minor exceptions. His October 26 release on bond is being supervised by a monitoring service, which would also be present for the Thanksgiving celebration. ...

Lawyers for Britney Spears and Kevin Federline will be in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday for an emergency hearing in their ongoing custody dispute, TMZ.com reports. The hearing was reportedly called by Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, who is alleging that the singer has not followed drug-testing procedures. Neither Spears nor Federline are expected to show. In other Brit news, her longtime photographer and friend Mark Lidell revealed to "Extra" what went wrong at the notorious OK! magazine photo shoot earlier this year. "Paparazzi absolutely killed and ruined our day ... they were everywhere ... and it made our shoot absolutely impossible." He said Spears later told him, " 'Mark, if you want me to come back afterwards, I'll do my best and get back' ... but she had to go and finish off the music video [for 'Gimme More']." ...

Embattled pop star Amy Winehouse has been granted a visa allowing her to enter the United States but will still not be making any of her previously scheduled appearances, her publicist confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (November 7). The "Rehab" singer was set to appear at the mtvU Woodie Awards on Thursday and as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" (which is now in reruns anyway, due to the writers' strike) this weekend. Some speculated Winehouse's recent visa troubles were thought to have something to do with her recent arrest for marijuana possession in Norway. Winehouse will next visit the States in January to kick off her U.S. tour. ...

Lily Allen doesn't show much skin when she performs — but she's stripping down to model lingerie as part of a new six-figure deal, according to MTV UK. Like Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dita Von Tesse and Kate Moss before her, Allen has signed with risqué clothing company Agent Provocateur. The singer has also recently modeled for a shampoo company and is working on a TV show. ...

Michael Jackson's Neverland nightmare might be coming true — according to TMZ, the estate has gone into foreclosure per a Notice of Default report for California's Santa Barbara County. The singer was reportedly delinquent on a $23 million loan as of October 12. ...

Lil Wayne, Against Me!, Juelz Santana, Arctic Monkeys and Fat Joe, all in the same place? Indeed — you'll find those artists, as well as Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lady Sovereign, Pete Doherty and others, showcased in "The Vice Photo Book," a new volume culling shots from the magazine's 13-year history. The 336-page tome will be sold for $45 at bookstores starting in December. ...

Swizz Beatz and T-Pain took the stage on Tuesday night at the "Women of King" Calendar party held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. Q-Tip, radio personality Wendy Williams and Dres of Black Sheep were all on hand as D-Nice manned the turntables at the shindig, which was sponsored by Remy Martin. ... Talib Kweli, Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae got together onstage at Belvedere Vodka's Apollo Lounge in New York's Harlem neighborhood on Tuesday night in an effort to draw more young people to the famed Apollo Theatre. Fonzworth Bentley was in attendance. ...

Diddy got a break on Tuesday when a district attorney in New York decided not to charge him with assault in an alleged incident last month. Well, now comes more good news for the music mogul, albeit of a very different variety: His YouTube search for someone to hold his umbrella has ended, he announced on Tuesday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He gave the job to Heather Thompson, who remarked, "I understand who the star is in this relationship." Diddy said he's looking for four assistants in total, so his YouTube quest goes on. ...

In what could amount to a case of Jessica Alba mirroring Madonna, the "Fantastic Four" actress, who doesn't have any stage experience, has been approached to star in a new Broadway production of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" in which Madge previously starred, the New York Post reports. According to the Post, James Gandolfini is being considered for one of the male lead roles. ...

My Bloody Valentine fans, the wait is over — that reunion album you've been hoping for is a go, and apparently it's even happening this year. TheDailySwarm.com reports that on Monday VBS.tv will launch an exclusive video interview between My Bloody Valentine mastermind Kevin Shields and Ian Svenonius (Weird War, the Make Up) as part of the online TV channel's "Soft Focus" series. In the conversation, Shields reportedly said a yet-untitled album — which involved the band getting back in the studio for the first time since 1995 — will be dropping this year. "It sounds like what we sounded like — different but not radically different. People will go, 'Yeah, it sounds like My Bloody Valentine,' " he reportedly said. ...

Sub Pop — the record label that boasts "Podfisting our way to your blog. Or whatever" as one of its current slogans — has launched a new digital-download music store. Among the initial 200 offerings in the store, which will eventually incorporate out-of-print material, are releases by the Shins, Sleater-Kinney, David Cross, Low, Band of Horses and Iron and Wine. Customers who purchase files through the store will be able to download them multiple times, which also means that fans will be able to get additional bonus tracks or improved sound quality if and when the releases are enhanced. ...

Radiohead's name-your-own-price album scheme has resulted in only two of five listeners paying for the band's new In Rainbows LP, but the noble pursuit might have landed Radiohead some additional profits. Billboard reports that the band's seven previous albums have sold 35.8 percent more copies since Radiohead made the In Rainbows announcement on September 30. ...

Pete Doherty showed signs of improvement in his ongoing battle with drugs last month when a judge gave him a suspended jail sentence after seeing signs of progress — but now there's more bad news for the Babyshambles frontman. "Peter sadly relapsed last week and is now looking to check himself back into a rehab clinic so that he can try to continue the hitherto excellent attempts he had made to break free of heroin," his record label, EMI, said in a statement, according to AP. The announcement was made after a video of Doherty recently injecting himself with heroin surfaced online. According to EMI, Doherty considers the incident "a stupid, stupid action for which I feel only shame." ...

Cowboy Junkies go to church: The Canadian alt-rockers recently returned to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, where they recorded 1988's The Trinity Session, to commemorate the album, which many consider to be their most important work. Ryan Adams, Vic Chestnutt, Jeff Bird and Natalie Merchant joined the Junkies for The Trinity Revisited, a reworking of the album that is coming out in the form of a DVD/CD set on February 26, in time for the original effort's 20th anniversary. ...

Actors have been showing their support for the writers' strike in recent days, but former Disney chief Michael Eisner has a much different take on the protest: In a word, it's "stupid," he says. "I've seen stupid strikes, I've seen less stupid strikes. ... This is a stupid strike," he reportedly remarked during a panel discussion at a conference in New York on Wednesday, Reuters reports. "It's a waste of their time," he added. "[The studios] have nothing to give. They don't know what to give." ...

Politically inclined music fans are probably familiar with HeadCount, the voter-registration that teamed with the Dave Matthews Band, the Allman Brothers Band and other artists to register 50,000 people for the 2004 election. Well, the volunteer-run group is coming back for next year's races — and has an even loftier goal in mind: to register 200,000 new voters. HeadCount — which more recently became aligned with O.A.R. as well — is seeking volunteers to join its street teams, which will register people at future concerts. Go to HeadCount.org for more info. ...

Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Hank Thompson died of lung cancer on Tuesday, days after he canceled his tour, AP reports. October 8 — which turned out to be the day of his last show — had been declared "Hank Thompson Day" by Texas Governor Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy. Thompson was 82.

11.06.07

Britney Spears is giving an early Christmas gift to ex-husband Kevin Federline — $120,000, for the legal bills he has amassed in his child-custody battle with the pop singer, the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed to MTV News on Tuesday (November 6). Commissioner Scott Gordon made the ruling in light of the "disparity between the parties' income" and that "the vast majority of the ... litigation deals with [Spears'] conduct," according to documents released Tuesday, TMZ reports. As it was revealed last week, Spears earns approximately $737,000 each month, while Federline made $7,436, after business expenses, in all of 2006. Federline's lawyer had originally requested $160,000, the total costs for Federline's fees, according to UsMagazine.com. He currently receives $15,000 a month from Spears in child support and $20,000 in spousal support, which expires November 15. ...

Should Stephen Colbert be pointing his finger at Barack Obama's camp for his presidential bid being shot down in South Carolina? According to CNN, two of the Illinois senator's supporters called state Democratic Party officials to urge them to keep the "Colbert Report" host off the primary ballot. Obama's campaign is denying that it had any connection to the phone calls. "Democrats in South Carolina, including supporters of ours, had strong feelings on both sides of the ballot issue, and ultimately it was South Carolina Democrats who made this decision," said Kevin Griffis, Obama's South Carolina communications director. At least one member of the executive council — which denied Colbert's bid by a 13-3 vote — said he felt pressured by former State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum to oppose Colbert's bid to be on the ballet, according to CNN. Tenenbaum is a well-known Obama supporter, and his camp has embraced her endorsement publicly. "She said it wouldn't be fair to the other candidates. That he [Colbert] wouldn't be sincere. That he was only running in one state," said the official, who requested anonymity, according to CNN. "The Obama people, they just didn't want him at all." Tenenbaum said that was a mischaracterization, telling CNN, "I called them to see what they were thinking and if they had made up their mind. I am a volunteer in that campaign, and so I am not a staffer. And I thought it could have taken votes away from a lot of people." South Carolina State Representative Bakari Sellers, who has also endorsed Obama, revealed to CNN that he also made calls to members of the executive council in an attempt to persuade them to deny Colbert's bid. "I placed the calls as a concerned Democrat, realizing that we are a country in despair," Sellers said. "It is not a time for games or to make a mockery of the process." It's unclear what effect the calls had on the executive council's vote. ...

Obama's got someone else on his side — Borat. In a recent Reuters interview, the crazy Kazakh spilled that he would like to see the junior senator from Illinois be president ... er, "premier." "I cannot believe that it possible a woman can become Premier of US and A," he said, clearly referencing Democratic candidate Senator Hillary Clinton. "In Kazakhstan, we say that to give a woman power, is like to give a monkey a gun — very dangerous. We do not give monkeys guns any more in Kazakhstan ever since the Astana Zoo massacre of 2003 when Torkin the orang-utan shoot 17 schoolchildrens. I personal would like the basketball player, Barak Obamas to be Premier." Borat gave the interview to hype the Tuesday release of his new book, the not-so-concisely titled "Touristic Guidings to Minor Nation of U.S. and A. and Touristic Guidings to Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." He had previously planned two books but wound up combining them into one volume. ...

When 50 Cent famously said earlier this year that he would retire if he were to lose to Kanye West in their much-hyped album showdown, his critics were apparently listening. Christian media watchdog group the Resistance is demanding that the rapper keep his promise and quit, according to TMZ. "It is time for 50 Cent to be a man of his word and retire," Mark Dice, a spokesman for the group, reportedly said. "The world will be a better place when this satanic piece of filth retires and stops making music." The group is also asking for people to go to 50 Cent's MySpace and post comments asking him to quit. ... Jay-Z unleashed his American Gangster album on Tuesday, but don't go looking for it on iTunes — it won't be available there. In a statement issued Tuesday, the hip-hop mogul said he isn't selling the album on iTunes because he doesn't want the songs available for individual purchase. "As movies are not sold scene by scene, this collection will not be sold as individual singles," he said. That's probably just as well for Universal Music, which distributes Jay's Def Jam label — earlier this year, the company's chief, Doug Morris, refused to re-up a multi-year contract with iTunes to put Universal music in the online store. Morris has been trying to enlist other industry heavyweights to team up for a competing online music service. ...

Chris Brown has his hands full with a just-released new album, Exclusive, and an upcoming movie, November 21's "This Christmas," but he's taking on another project — and this one's for a good cause. Brown is starring in a new video that encourages middle school students to get interested in math and fundraising. The video — which incorporates elements of the singer's "Run It" clip and will be shown in thousands of schools — is part of the Math-a-Thon program St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been running for almost three decades. Students who participate in Math-a-Thon complete math problems after getting pledges from family and friends, and the money raised is used to help children with cancer and other diseases. Brown visited the Memphis, Tennessee, hospital last year and has been a steady supporter. "We can all make a difference in the lives of others," Brown said in a statement. "I'm proud to help St. Jude. I feel like I'm just a regular person helping out." ...

Backstreet Boys, Joss Stone, Grizzly Bear, Band of Horses and Garth Brooks have all been forced to scrap their planned late-night talk-show appearances this week due to the ongoing writers' strike, RollingSyone.com reports. ... Prepare to be judged — by Will.I.Am. The Black Eyed Pea will be among the preliminary-round judges for a Super Bowl-related battle-of-the-bands competition being put on by Doritos. The band that wins "Crash the Super Bowl 2" will get a major-label contract and see its original song air during the big game on February 3. Voting is being held at SnackStrongProductions.com. ...

A man has been charged in connection with vandalism at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Georgia last month, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kenneth Anthony Wilson, 43, was charged late last week with a felony second-degree charge of criminal damage to property and is being held at jail in DeKalb County jail on a $1,500 bond. The building had been defaced and a noose had allegedly been hung around the neck of a statue commemorating the deceased rapper, though police later said the object was actually a cross hung on a string. Police also said defamatory stickers and papers were left on the statue and that a pair of underwear had been wrapped around its head. A police spokesperson told the newspaper that authorities doubt Wilson, who is black, had a racial motive in the incident. ...

Though they still haven't spoken in detail about the nervous condition affecting drummer Meg White which forced them abandon their world tour this summer, the White Stripes announced on their Web site that they've been in the studio and have cooked up some new tunes. The post reports that "the White Stripes have just filmed an exciting new video and recorded three never-before-heard original songs (with a special collaboration) and one unique new version of a song from their latest album, 'Icky Thump.' " No information was given about the release date of the new music or the debut of the video. ... Danish lo-fi rockers the Raveonettes have a new home: Vice Records. The duo's fourth album, Lust Lust Lust, will drop early next year. ...

Prince has beef — with his fans. Lawyers for the singer have been hitting Prince fan sites with cease-and-desist letters demanding that the sites remove all images, artwork, fan-submitted pictures related to Prince, including ones of tattoos and license plates that refer to him, according to RollingStone.com. A handful of Prince fan sites have assembled to create a new site, PrinceFansUnited.com, and said in a post on it that they vow to "defend their position in the proper court of law, as well as fully prosecute any claims to which they are justly entitled." ... Expect to hear music again at legendary New York punk club CBGB, which closed last year — but if you go there to check out a band, expect to be surrounded by men's clothes when you do. The space will soon be home to a new John Varvatos boutique, Billboard.com reports, but the fashion designer told the news outlet that he plans to hold in-store performances at the location and will be integrating the permanent CBGB stage into its design as well. ...

Jimmy Page has more to say about his fractured finger, which forced Led Zeppelin to postpone their hugely anticipated reunion show last week. The guitar icon, who apologized for the concert's postponement on Monday, spoke to reporters at the Classic Rock Awards, according to BBC News. While he said the injury would take "a little while to heal," he also admitted that, "I've broken fingers before, a lot worse than this." "It's a nuisance because it's really needed," he added of his finger, saying that the damage wasn't permanent. The concert has moved to December 10, though it will still be held at London's O2 arena. BBC News also reports that Meat Loaf was not at the awards to receive his classic-album award — the singer, who seemed to have declared an end to his career when he ended a recent concert midway and canceled two shows last week, is reportedly recovering from a bout of acute laryngitis. According to BBC News, it was the illness that caused Meat to cancel two subsequent shows on his U.K. tour. ...

Move over, Elvis Presley — Garth Brooks is now the best-selling solo artist in history. The Recording Industry Association of America recently honored Brooks with a Special Career award for selling 123 million units in total. Presley has sold 118.5 million units. ... Country singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, the eldest of late country icon Johnny Cash's five children, reports on her Web site that she will have brain surgery for a "rare but benign condition." The condition caused Cash, 52, to cancel four November dates on her Black Cadillac tour, but she said she expects to fully recover from the unnamed ailment and start touring again in the spring after she finishes work on her new album.

• 50 Cent, Akon, Common, RZA, Busta Rhymes Back T.I.

• T.I.
• Britney Spears
• Michael Jackson
• Lil Wayne
• Against Me!

Amy Winehouse
Photo: Getty Images/ Stuart Wilson

First Amy Winehouse pulled out of shows in Norway and Denmark two weeks ago, then she pulled the plug on her V Festival appearances last week — now the U.K. starlet is shelving her remaining 2007 North American tour dates until next year. "Due to the rigors involved in touring, Amy Winehouse has been advised to postpone her upcoming September U.S. and Canadian tour dates," Winehouse's publicist said in a statement Tuesday (August 21), according to The Associated Press. "Amy's European and U.K. tour dates in October and November remain in place. Plans are being made to reschedule her U.S. tour for early 2008. Until then, Amy has been ordered to rest and is working with medical professionals to address her health." It is unclear whether the change in her North American tour plans will affect Winehouse's previously announced performance at the VMAs on September 9. ...

Forget 50 Cent — Kanye West considers Justin Timberlake his biggest rival. In an interview with XXL magazine for its October issue — which hits stands September 11 — Kanye called Justin his "biggest inspiration and biggest competition," adding that "he's the only other person that gets an across-the-board response and respect level — black radio, white radio. If Justin hadn't come out and killed the game, I can't say that my album, singles and videos would be on the same level that they're on. We push each other. I look at me and Justin like Prince and Michael Jackson in their day." ...

Award-show nominations and #1 records don't seem to be enough for Nelly Furtado this year, so the Canadian beauty decided to add directing to her lengthy list of 2007 accomplishments. Furtado recently made her debut behind the camera shooting a clip for the Loose song "Do It" with co-director Aaron A., her tour documentarian. The video was filmed on location in Detroit during a tour stop and included her dance team, among others. Furtado also announced that she will re-release Loose with bonus material — including her cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" — this fall. ...

Spike Jonze has launched a series of diary-style video interviews through online-broadcast network VBS.TV. The series will capture Jonze interviewing and traveling the world with various artists and entertainers, including the premiere guest, M.I.A. The set kicks off this week with a six-part episode that follows Jonze and M.I.A. around London and at the singer's various enclaves. An interview with Kanye West is scheduled to go live next week. ...

R. Kelly appeared Tuesday in a Chicago court where prosecutors and defense attorneys ironed out a few more details in the R&B singer's child-pornography trial before jury selection starts September 17. After the prosecution tried for a reversal, Judge Vincent Gaughan upheld his ruling that the media and public could view the sex tape that allegedly depicts Kelly having sex with an underage girl and is at the heart of the charges. Gaughan said he wouldn't reconsider his original ruling because the girl who prosecutors say is in the video isn't cooperating with investigators and denies that she's the person on the tape. Had she said she was, the judge would give her victim status and protect her from a public viewing. Instead, he ruled Tuesday that the state can't call her a "victim" but must instead call her an "alleged victim" or the "state's witness." To attempt to prove that she is in fact the girl on the tape, the prosecution wants to call an expert witness to testify that denial is a common issue with victims of child pornography, but the defense argued that the theory is not backed up by science. Judge Gaughan delayed ruling on this, as well as whether an expert could testify that the veins in Kelly's hand are consistent with those in the hand of the man in the video. He is expected to rule on those matters at the next hearing, on September 10. ...

Another day, another problem for Foxy Brown. The troubled rapper is being accused of lying to police during a traffic stop on Wednesday in suburban Mahwah, New Jersey. According to Bergen County's The Record, Brown (born Inga Marchand) was pulled over for talking on a cell phone and failing to stop at a stop sign while driving her SUV. After a check found that the car's registration had been suspended, Brown, 27, reportedly gave officers a different version of her real name and a birth date that was a year off. When the information didn't come up, Brown then gave her correct information, at which point the officers found out that her license was suspended. She was taken to police headquarters and given seven traffic tickets and released. The traffic tussle came one day after Brown was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a New York neighbor with a BlackBerry. But still, Brown has some good news to help take her mind off things — according to the New York Post, she said outside a store in New York earlier this week, "I'm getting married in September. I'm pregnant." ...

With Jane's Addiction on ice and his latest project, the Panic Channel, without a label deal, Dave Navarro has taken up a new side gig: porn-movie director. The guitarist has shot a feature-length adult film titled "Dave Navarro: Broken," the first in a series of flicks to be directed by celebrities. The film for Teravision — owned by adult star Tera Patrick and rocker husband and former Biohazard member Evan Seinfeld — is due September 27 and features an all-star cast of porn actors and actresses (Victoria Sin, Spyder Jonez, etc.). ...

Ben Lee really likes the new Against Me! album, New Wave. In fact, the Australian pop singer likes it so that he has posted a song-for-song cover album on his MySpace page and blog that are available for download or streaming. He's even cooked up his own cover for the effort, Ben Lee Sings Against Me! New Wave — it replaces the fearsome panther on the Florida punk band's original with a less ferocious kitty cat. ...

Devra Robitaille, one of Phil Spector's ex-employees, testified Tuesday that he once threatened her at gunpoint when she attempted to leave his house. The scenario is similar to the ones outlined by four additional women during the music producer's murder trial. After the defense announced it was conditionally resting its case — and that Spector would not be taking the stand during the trial — the prosecution called Robitaille as a rebuttal witness, contrary to the wishes of the defense. She recalled being in Spector's house during a party in which he became heavily intoxicated, after which she said she was going to go home. "He said no and locked the door," testified Robitaille, who added that she had a romantic relationship with Spector. "I remember standing in the lobby with a door in front of me, and when I turned, there was a gun pointed at my temple. ... It was like a long-barreled shotgun." She added that Spector repeated three times, " 'If you leave, I'll blow your f---ing head off.' " Robitaille said he eventually put down the gun and let her leave. ...

Some Lollapalooza footage — of performances by LCD Soundsystem and the Black Keys — finally went up on AT&T's Blue Room site last week, following the revelation that its webcast of the festival featured several edits of anti-President Bush comments made by Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder. Clearances are still being sought for Pearl Jam and other artists, while Lupe Fiasco's comments against Bush — which were also reportedly edited — have not been posted. ...

Five people were arrested early Sunday morning at a campground near the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, following the Warped Tour performance at the venue Saturday night. The Associated Press reported that sheriff's deputies were called out to the campground following reports of a person being injured at another nearby campground. When officials arrived, they reportedly saw a number of campers involved in fights and a comfort station with portable toilets and sinks that had been set on fire. Some of the 400 campers in the area allegedly set additional fires and pelted deputies with beer bottles, cans and rocks, shattering the windshield of a fire truck with debris. Those incidents led to five arrests for obstructing a law-enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and intimidating a public servant. ...

Additional shows for Van Halen's first tour in more than 22 years — with original frontman David Lee Roth — have been added in Philadelphia (October 3); Detroit (October 20); and Washington, D.C. (November 1). Tickets for the previously announced gigs went on sale over the weekend, and fans snatched them up fast — sellouts were reported in at least five markets so far. ...

Pete Doherty — who was arrested on suspicion of drug possession in London early Monday morning — was released Tuesday because authorities didn't get him to court on time. The charge of breaching bail conditions that he was facing has been dropped as a result of the technicality. ...

The Jacksonville, Florida, chapter of the NAACP is protesting an editorial cartoon that criticized the "no snitchin' " street mantra and ran in the Friday edition of The Florida Times-Union. The image shows a black man wearing a "Don't Snitch" T-shirt, holding a smoking gun and standing over a gunshot victim. Behind him are two children, one a girl with dreadlocks who also wears a "Don't Snitch" shirt and says, "I didn't see nuttin'." In the cartoon, the man responds, "Now that's a good little ho." The comic, which is captioned "The new rule of law!," also has a billboard in the background with an image of a rapper holding a gun below the words "rap your life away," with BET and Warner Music Group called out at the bottom of the billboard. According to local TV affiliate NBC12, on Sunday, a Times-Union editorial-page editor apologized for the "bad judgment" in using the word "ho" in the cartoon. "The object of the cartoon was to comment on the rise of a no-snitching culture, something that is widely in the news today," Mike Clark explained.

08.20.07

Lily Allen had some choice dirty words for President Bush and U.S. immigration on Saturday during her performance at the V Festival in Stafford, England. "This next one is about people who are awkward on the train, U.S. immigration officials and George Bush in general," she said before the song "Everything's Just Wonderful." The outburst, in which she referred to Bush as a "f---ing c---," came just days after Allen was forced to scrap U.S. dates and an appearance at the Video Music Awards in light of the revocation of her working visa in the U.S. "I've been banned from America. That's nice. Oh well, that means I can't go back there. Good," Allen said, according to MTV UK. ...

Wanna hang in the recording studio with Timbaland? The winner of MTV's charity eBay auction will be flown to Las Vegas, stay at the Palms Casino Resort for three days (September 7-9) to check out the VMAs, and hit the Palms studio with the mega-producer as well. Other items up for bid include VMA gift bags, poker-table felt and other memorabilia. Head to the auction — all proceeds of which go to the Staying Alive Foundation, which helps young people fight AIDS and HIV — before it ends Monday (August 20). ...

Good news if you've been digging Talib Kweli's new collabo with Justin Timberlake, "The Nature" — the track will appear as a bonus on Kweli's Ear Drum, due Tuesday. ... "They gonna mix it with Biggie, it was all a dream!": Keyshia Cole's tour rolled through New York on Sunday, with the singer performing at the Nokia Theatre. As one of the highlights, she brought out Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim to perform their hit "Let It Go." Newcomer J. Holiday opened. ...

It's not exactly Lilith Fair, but Avril Lavigne, Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow will anchor the first-ever Girlfrenzy, a daylong concert that will revolve around female artists and take place October 27 at Irvine, California's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Colbie Caillat, Antigone Rising and Sara Bareilles will also perform. ... The Friday premiere of "High School Musical 2" on the Disney Channel drew an estimated 17.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched basic-cable program in history. The first flick attracted 7.7. million in 2006, while the record was previously held by a "Monday Night Football" game that was watched by 16 million in 2006. ...

Gwen Stefani has stapled a seven-date West Coast leg onto her Sweet Escape tour. Sean Kingston will open for the singer when she hits Las Vegas (October 26); Tuscon, Arizona (October 29); San Diego (October 30); Stockton, California (November 1); Oakland, California (November 2); and Phoenix (November 8-9). ... Want to look just like Jessica Simpson? A recently launched e-commerce site, Seen On!, has more than 500 products associated with the actress. ...

We all know Kevin Federline the cocky rapper, but how about Kevin Federline the cocky rocker? That's the role Britney Spears' ex will play on the next season of "One Tree Hill" — he'll be the frontman of fictional band No Means Yes. ... Veronica Mars — er, Kristen Bell — is also doing the guest-appearance thing. She'll appear on a multi-episode arc on "Heroes" in October. ...

Dr. Dre is suing Death Row over the rights to his classic multiplatinum album, The Chronic. The producer/rapper (real name: Andre Young) filed a suit in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday in which he claims he created, produced and was the primary performer on the album's master recordings. In 1992 — before the album's November release — Dr. Dre gave Death Row a license to distribute the LP in trade for royalties. Four years later, he gave up his 50 percent ownership interest in the label, agreeing to give it the copyright as long as he continued receiving royalties. In 2000, Dre told Death Row he was overturning the agreement and wanted the copyright back after the label failed to pay him royalties. In the new lawsuit, he says he made good on his part of the original, and that the label and the Chapter 11 trustee involved with the label's bankruptcy case are violating his rights as the owner of the copyright by continuing to distribute The Chronic without his authorization. Dre wants the bankruptcy court to declare that the 1992 and '96 agreements have been rescinded, and force the label and trustee to pay restitution and restore the copyrights to him. Lastly, he's asking for a permanent injunction that would prevent Death Row from offering the copyrights for sale in the future without his written approval. ...

Method Man has agreed to visit 15 New York high schools to warn students about the dangers of drugs as part of a plea deal he reached earlier this year on a marijuana-possession charge. The Associated Press reported that the "How High" star (born Clifford Smith) is thrilled to give the talks, according to his lawyer, who added, "he's never been in trouble before. He's not a stereotypical rapper." Meth was arrested May 17 after toll-booth workers on the Brooklyn, New York, side of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel reported smelling marijuana smoke coming from his SUV. ...

A motley crew of opening acts will help Bon Jovi christen Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on October 25-November 10. My Chemical Romance (October 25-26), Big & Rich (October 28 and 30), Gretchen Wilson (November 1 and 3), Daughtry (November 4 and 7) and the All-American Rejects (November 9-10) will help the NJ native sons do the honors. ... Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose will make a guest appearance on the debut solo album from former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach. Angel Down will hit stores November 20 and feature Rose on two tracks: "(Love Is) a B---hslap" and a cover of Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle." ... The soundtrack to Rob Zombie's "Halloween" is set for release Tuesday and will feature 24 tracks, including Nazareth's "Love Hurts," Rush's "Tom Sawyer" and the Misfits' "Halloween II." ...

Pete Doherty was arrested on suspicion of drugs after being pulled over in a car with two other people in east London early Monday morning (August 20), following Babyshambles' Sunday performance at the V Festival. The three are in police custody at a London station. A magistrate warned Doherty earlier this month that he would face prison if he didn't prove that he was trying to stop using drugs. ... Emo rockers Piebald have called it quits. According to a statement from the band, the pop-punks will pack things up as soon as their current tour concludes September 7 in Englewood, Colorado. No reason was given for the breakup, but the statement claims, "This is a time of new beginnings, positive vibes and a congratulatory nod to the past. There has been talk of a few shows to give the band an official sendoff, but as of yet, those shows are not booked and unknown." ...

Police have charged some of the more than 80 people arrested during last week's Ozzfest stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, with "unruly behavior in the mosh pit." The individuals were charged with assault if they flailed their arms or legs in a way that police felt would hurt others. Meanwhile, in the wake of the arrests and two deaths that occurred at the venue during the show, the PNC Bank Arts Center has announced a total ban on alcohol outside the venue, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. The first show affected, a Velvet Revolver gig Friday night, found most patrons refraining from the typical hard-charging tailgating that usually goes on in the parking lot before shows at the venue, which has seen 500 arrests this season. ...

Uncle Kracker gave a statement to People magazine about being arrested on a second-degree forcible-sex-offense charge in North Carolina on Friday. "It's regrettable that someone would make this kind of allegation, not only because it's not the kind of thing I'd do, as the father of three girls, it's the kind of thing that I wouldn't stand for," the former Kid Rock DJ and solo singer said. "Anyone can say anything about anybody but it doesn't make it true or correct. This is one of those cases. I'm saddened that anyone might think I'm capable of this sort of thing." Kracker (born Matthew Shafer), was arrested early Friday morning after an alleged incident at a downtown Raleigh nightclub called the Ess Lounge; he was released later that day on $75,000 bond. Saturday night, Kracker took the stage in his hometown during a show by pal Kenny Chesney to duet on the tune "When the Sun Goes Down."

• Van Halen 'Jump' Headfirst Into Reunion Tour

• Amy Winehouse
• Kanye West
• Justin Timberlake
• Foxy Brown
• Ben Lee

Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Junko Kimura/ Getty Images

The news happens all the time, even while you're enjoying your weekend. Check out this brief rundown to bring you up to speed this morning — a quick heads up from your friends at MTV News.

Here's what we've got:

Snoop Dogg tells us that keeping beef to a minimum is the way to keep hip-hop alive in the long run. "If we're getting along and we're policing each other and we're able to communicate, then if I have a misunderstanding with you, I'm able to call you without calling Russell Simmons or Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson," he said, adding that those three men are "irrelevant." "They're not players," Snoop explained, "they're owners. You gotta get the players involved." Watch Snoop's RAW interview right here. ...

Beanie Sigel is back with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella after being caught in the middle of the Roc/ Dame Dash split, and told us that he started to wonder if Dash — who even picked him up when he was released from jail in 2005 — had ulterior motives. "You don't want to question your friend, or who you thought was your friend," Sigel said. "I was finding out a lot of stuff that wasn't right." ...

Evanescence are down a drummer and a guitarist, making Amy Lee the sole member remaining from the Fallen-era lineup. Guitarist John LeCompt claims he was fired, drummer Rocky Gray says he's been ordered to keep his mouth shut and Amy Lee reports that the band is "alive and well" without the two and won't miss a single tour date. ...

And "Spider-Man 3" was the box-office winner this weekend, earning $148 million and shattering a whole mess of box-office records, including biggest single day and best opening weekend. ...

Quote of the Day: "I think [Nelly is] doing a record with Bruce Springsteen. You know he always has to do one of those!" — Jermaine Dupri

Here's what everyone else is talking about:

Over the weekend, British tabloid News of the World published grainy screen captures of someone who may or may not be Lindsay Lohan in what appears to be a ladies room. There are also shots of some people (Does that one hand belong to the Maybe Lindsay or another woman?) who may or may not be using cocaine. This questionable evidence — Lohan said the photos are faked, according to PerezHilton.com sources — is accompanied by quotes from a person who claims to be a friend of Lohan's who details the actress' supposed hookups — and says she's doing this to help Linds. "The world can know what Lindsay has been doing and she can't lie about it to herself or anyone else." ...

Late Saturday, Paris Hilton told photographers waiting outside her home that her 45-day sentence for violating the terms of her probation was "cruel and unwarranted," Reuters reports. "I don't deserve this." And Paris' longtime spokesperson Elliot Mintz will not be doing the talking anymore, People reported Sunday. Shortly after Hilton was sentenced — Mintz sent her an e-mail apologizing "for any misunderstanding she received from me regarding the terms of her probation" — the two ended their longtime professional relationship. ...

According to TMZ.com, Akon has lost a sponsorship deal with Verizon following an incident at a concert in Trinidad last month, during which Akon did a sexually suggestive dance with a 15-year-old girl. The gossip site reported that a rep for the phone company simply said they'd ended their relationship with the singer for unspecified "reasons." ...

Blabbermouth.net reports that Dave Navarro has announced that Panic Channel are on hiatus. Frontman Steve Isaacs is heading to New York to "begin a new chapter of his life" according to Navarro's statment. "We didn't 'break up,' " he explained. "However, the distance certainly doesn't make it very easy for us to do anything right now. I guess we will just call it a hiatus." ...

Twisted Pictures, the minds behind the "Saw" series, will debut their next horror project online. The film, tentatively titled "The Internet Killer" will be posted in daily three-minute segments on Break.com, Variety reports. ... In other inside movie news, DreamWorks won the bidding war and will be bringing Peter Jackson's adaptation of "The Lovely Bones" to the big screen, Reuters reports. ... A version of the General Lee signed by members of "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV cast went for $9.9 million in an eBay auction on Friday. The orange 1969 Dodge Charger will be the biggest sale on eBay if the bidder comes through, The Associated Press reports. ...

"American Idol" producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have backed out of the Primetime Emmy Awards, claiming they are just too busy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The pair, who were expected to breathe new life into the show — Warwick promised the best Emmys to date when they were appointed in February — announced Friday that they are off the project. ...

And Pete Doherty was arrested again for alleged drug possession, BBC News reports. The singer was picked up in a traffic stop on Saturday and taken into custody for suspicion of carrying drugs. He was remanded on bail and must return for questioning next month.

• MTV News RAW: Snoop Dogg
• Flick'd: 'Spider-Man 3'

• Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Diddy, More At "Spider-Man 3" New York Premiere
• In Focus: Tobey Maguire
• In Focus: Kirsten Dunst
• In Focus: James Franco

• Lindsay Lohan
• Paris Hilton
• Pete Doherty
• Snoop Dogg

Jennifer Lopez
Photo: Mark Mainz/ Getty Images

She's a film, fashion and music superstar now, but it wasn't so long ago that Jennifer Lopez was making her living as a dancer. The former "In Living Color" Fly Girl and backup dancer for New Kids on the Block told MTV Tres that with the MTV reality show "Dancelife," she's out to show the world how hard dancers work. "I really know what it is to be a dancer, and what those struggles are and what it is, day to day, to be auditioning and have your feet hurt and your legs aching," Lopez explained. "It's a real hard life, and it's really underappreciated as an art form. ... We're following different dancers and their struggles and their lives." "Dancelife" premieres January 15 on MTV. ...

She may have already ditched partying partner and best-pal-for-a-minute Paris Hilton, but despite vowing to clean up her act, Britney Spears began 2007 much as she left 2006: in a nightclub amid controversy. Spears was the host of New Year's festivities at Las Vegas' Pure club, and, according to reports on gossip sites, she collapsed shortly after midnight and was carried out by bodyguards. Spears' manager Larry Rudolph, however, told The Associated Press that the singer "was not drunk. She was just tired and falling asleep." He denied reports that she passed out or had to seek medical attention. ...

Having reached an agreement regarding how to split their assets, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have taken the final step in their divorce proceedings, People magazine reports. While the couple were legally free to marry other people as of June, this resolution brings the couple's marriage to an official end. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. ... Will Ferrell's wife Viveca Paulin gave birth to the couple's second son, Mattias, early Saturday morning, AP reports. ...

Ashley Parker Angel is joining the Broadway cast of "Hairspray," a representative for the show confirmed. In a post on his MySpace page, the singer announced that he'll be playing heartthrob Link Larkin. "At a very young age I discovered my love of performing through the experience of live theater, so I am totally thrilled to be moving to New York and getting back to my roots!" the singer wrote. "This new direction has made me feel inspired in a way that I have not felt in a long time. ... This last year has brought me much success and I expect 2007 to be even better." Parker Angel will participate in the production from January 19 through April 15. ...

Don't send a wedding gift for Kate Moss and Pete Doherty just yet. A representative for the supermodel has denied reports that Moss married the troubled rocker on New Year's Day. Britain's Daily Mail had reported that the couple married in a Buddhist ceremony in the private garden of their $11,000-a-night luxury seaside villa in Phuket, Thailand, in front of a few family members and friends. "Contrary to various entirely false media reports today, there has not been any kind of marriage ceremony in Thailand," the model's representative said in a statement. "She is on holiday." British tabloid The Sun, which also reported about the Phuket ceremony, claimed the wedding was not legally binding and named January 18 as the couple's official wedding day. ...

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and drummer Abe Cunningham will serve as guest DJs Tuesday night (January 2) on Sirius Satellite Radio's Octane channel, beginning at 6 p.m. ... Guitarist Jason Truby has left P.O.D., according to the band's MySpace page. Truby, who replaced Marcos Curiel back in 2003, said his "decision to depart as a member is personal" and preceded last month's announcement that Curiel would rejoin the band. "I believe in P.O.D. and will be a part of P.O.D. forever," he wrote. "They are lifelong friends. Sometimes you have to follow the wind even when you don't know where it's leading." P.O.D. performed with Curiel for the first time in four years on New Year's Eve in New York as part of a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" broadcast. ... Victory Records has confirmed that frontman Mat Bruso has indeed left Massachusetts metalcore act Bury Your Dead "for personal reasons." The label claims there are "no bad feelings" over the move, but the departure has forced the band to pull off a U.K. tour with Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. Bury Your Dead, who have had three singers within the last five years, plan to begin their search for a replacement soon. ...

George Michael will appear in a London court January 11 to answer charges that he was operating a vehicle while unfit to drive, AP reports. The singer was arrested October 2 after being found passed out inside his car, which was blocking an intersection in north London. The singer, who was released on bail for the unfit-to-drive charges and was also cited for possessing marijuana, had previously received a warning for marijuana possession in February, and hit three parked cars in an April driving incident. ... The sons of two music legends are going at it in court. In a complaint filed last week, Lou Rawls Jr. claims four large dogs owned by Marvin Gaye III attacked him when he visited Gaye's Hollywood home in 2005, according to AP. In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Rawls Jr. says the dogs "bit, clawed and physically and mentally injured." He is seeking unspecified damages. ...

Hinder are stretching out their early 2007 a little longer. The band, which sets out with a January 13 show in Ketchum, Idaho, will now be on the road through March 3 in New Orleans. ... The Queers have posted two new tracks — "Houston We Have a Problem" and "I Think She's Starting to Like Me" — on the band's MySpace page. The tunes will appear on the punk act's forthcoming album, Munki Brain, due next month. ... Florida hard-rock act Endo have split due to "drama" within the band, according to frontman Gil Bitton's MySpace page. Endo performed on the second stage during Ozzfest 2003, and released their last LP, Songs for the Restless, in 2003, before being dropped by Columbia Records.

12.29.2006

Britney Spears may have dumped K-Fed, but now it's her turn to get the boot. Ruben Garay, the founder of the six-year-old Spears fan site WorldofBritney.com, has announced that he's closing up shop because "as Britney keeps losing her identity and credibility within fans and industry people, so is [WorldofBritney.com]." A disappointed Garay wrote that Britney is "done" and "no matter what anyone thinks or how they may disagree, it's very hard to maintain the respect needed to keep things going." ...

Christina Aguilera and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton are teaming up to host a New Year's Eve bash at New York's Hudson Hotel. The Sunday night celebration kicks off at 9 p.m. ... Don't expect to see Nelly Furtado at any shindigs, though — not in this country, at least. The singer will be kicking it abroad with a headlining gig at Andheri Stadium in Mumbai, India. ...

Lily Allen needs your help. In a message posted on her MySpace page Thursday, the singer wrote: "I am beside myself with worry because someone has stolen my dog Maggie May this morning. I am in Jamaica, [and] while I am here Maggie has been looked after by a friend she was stolen out of his van." She's offering a reward, and photos of the dog can be seen on MySpace.com/LilyAllen. ...

For the second year in a row, the Rolling Stones were the top concert draw in North America, according to Pollstar magazine. The hard-touring British legends sold $138.5 million worth of tickets for 39 shows across the United States and Canada, giving them the third-biggest total in Pollstar history — behind their own 2005 tour and that year's U2 outing. Second on the list was Barbra Streisand, whose first tour in a dozen years hauled in $92.5 million for 20 shows, with an average ticket price of $298. Country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were #3 with $88.8 million for 73 shows, followed by Madonna with $85.9 million for 34 shows. Ticket sales for the top 100 shows rose about 13 percent to $2.3 billion, breaking last year's record of $2.1 billion, mostly thanks to an 8 percent jump in the average ticket price from $56.88 to $61.45. ...

Paul McCartney's split with Heather Mills is getting nastier. On Thursday night, Mills McCartney reported the theft of two prized paintings, after which police went to Paul McCartney's country estate, according to The Associated Press. But a police spokesperson later confirmed that, after speaking with Mills McCartney and checking the premises, the paintings had in fact not been stolen and that the issue was a civil matter. ... Mike Tyson was charged with possession of cocaine and driving under the influence of drugs in Arizona early Friday morning (December 29), Reuters reports. The former boxing champ, who is due in court Friday, almost struck a sheriff's vehicle as he drove out of a driveway. ...

Finger Eleven will release their forthcoming LP, Them Vs. You Vs. Me, March 6. Fans can catch the band next month on the road with Hinder and Black Stone Cherry; that tour kicks off January 14 in Spokane, Washington, with dates scheduled through March 3 in New Orleans. ... Aqualung has set a March 6 release date for his second Stateside album, Memory Man. The British singer (a.k.a. Matt Hales) has sold more than 250,000 copies of his debut in the United States, thanks to the single "Brighter Than Sunshine." ...

Jay Farrar, Dar Williams, the Klezmatics and others will hail the Grateful Dead as part of the American Beauty Project. The artists will perform selections from the band's American Beauty and Workingman's Dead albums, both of which turn 35 next year, at New York's Arts>World Financial Center on January 20-21. ... Dead guitarist Bob Weir will take his Ratdog project to Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the Gathering of the Vibes fest August 9-12. The 12th installment of the event will also feature Los Lobos, Buddy Guy and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. ... And in yet more Dead news, the band's January 23, 1976, performance at the Cow Palace in San Francisco will be available Sunday and Monday as a free stream to mark the 30th anniversary of the concert. Head to Dead.net for details. ...

Family Values Tour alums Dir en Gray have aligned dates for their first U.S. headlining tour, Inward Scream. The Japanese metal band will head out February 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and wind down the trek February 25 in San Francisco. Dir en Gray will issue an EP, Agitated Screams of Maggots, exclusively to For Your Entertainment stores in January, and their second U.S. LP will drop in the spring. ... Despite perceptions of a slump, box-office sales were actually stronger this year than last, according to Reuters. Thanks to the record-breaking opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and the year-end blockbuster "Happy Feet," the year-end total is an estimated $9.42 billion. Last year's sum was $8.99 billion. ...

Radio broadcaster Entercom Communications has agreed to pay a $4.25 million fine to settle a payola lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, according to Bloomberg News. The suit claimed that the Pennsylvania owner of more than 100 stations paid kickbacks for playing certain songs on its stations. $3.5 million of the settlement will go to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, which will distribute it to nonprofit New York state companies to help finance musical education and appreciation programs. Entercom did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

• Jennifer Lopez
• Britney Spears
• Nick Lachey
• Jessica Simpson
• Pete Doherty

Kevin Federline and Britney Spears
Photo: Matthew Simmons/ Getty Images

Britney Spears plans to take her babies on the road — once she's in shape to tour again. The singer told People magazine in this week's cover story that her next child will help provide company for Sean Preston when she travels. "I think it will be good to have [a sibling] there with him," she explained. And once she gives birth in about a month, Spears will be counting down when she can start working out full force — probably about six weeks after her planned C-section. She plans to hit the gym daily and stick to a low-carb diet. "I'm so excited to really be able to sweat like I used to," she said. In the meantime, Sean's been logging time with different nannies while Spears is in the studio working on her new album, which she described as "cooler than ever — fun, upbeat, and sexy." "I've been going to the studio lately, and we've been trying out different nannies," she said. "It's hard [to leave Sean Preston]. ... I'm so torn right now." ...

A judge has reinstated rapper C-Murder's house arrest order, bringing an end to the rapper's month of freedom. According to The Associated Press, the decision comes just two days after a Louisiana appeals court ruled that the judge acted improperly when she lifted C-Murder's house arrest in July. Between now and the rapper's retrial on second-degree murder charges, he'll be confined to his home and barred from leaving it at any time, except to appear for court hearings. C-Murder stands accused of the shooting death of 16-year-old Steve Thomas, who was shot in the chest during a fight back in 2002 outside a nightclub in Harvey, Louisiana. ...

Pete Doherty pleaded guilty on Friday (August 18) to possession of heroin and crack, AP reports. The Babyshambles singer had been charged with seven counts and pleaded guilty to five of them. He will be sentenced on September 4. ...

Radiohead continue to get love from musicians of every stripe. High-brow pianist Christopher O'Riley has retooled the band's music for the chin-stroking classical set on two albums. And Dub Tribute to Radiohead: I'm Not the Only Record for You was released earlier this year — as was Exit Music: Songs for Radio Heads, a compilation of electronic covers. So it's little surprise that Radiohead are getting the crunk treatment at the hands of DJ Gyngyvytus. Skeet Spirit: A Crunk Tribute to Radiohead — eight instrumental tracks being offered by the DJ as free downloads — boasts "No Sizzuruprises," "Creepin' (On Dat Ass)" and "Talk Show Hoes" among the cleverly titled tributes to England's favorite dour rockers. And the Easy Stars All-Stars' Radiodread, a reggae comp featuring toasters such as Horace Andy and Citizen Cope, hits stores Tuesday. ...

Mos Def has joined the cast of Michel Gondry's "Be Kind Rewind," Variety reports. Danny Glover, Mia Farrow and Melonie Diaz have also signed on for the film, which stars Jack Black as a man who shoots remakes of blockbuster films — without the blockbuster budget — to help his friend keep a video-store job. The movie is set to begin shooting September 5 in New Jersey. ...

They may have changed Natalie Portman's life in "Garden State," but the Shins won't be transforming any others with their music — at least not this year. Originally scheduled for a fall release, the indie rockers' third album has been pushed back to 2007, according to Sub Pop. "It gives us great pleasure to say that it is just weeks from being done!" the band announced in a recent post on its Web site, even though the record's being bumped. "We can't leak any details, but we have never been more happy with anything that we've ever recorded before. And we can definitely say that it is due to the fact that we've been given so much time to perfect it. The record is the best we've ever done." The album is tentatively titled Sleeping Lessons. ... As Lifetime Television gears up for Saturday's premiere of "The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," the network is posing a question to essay writers: What is your lifelong dream and what steps must you take to achieve it? The top prize in the contest is a trip to Los Angeles for the "American Idol" season six finale. Entries will be accepted until September 16. Visit LifetimeTV.com for further contest details. ...

With Ozzfest behind them, Walls of Jericho have landed a slot on another huge tour: Korn's Family Values trek, which also features Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Dir En Gray. Walls of Jericho have been added to the second-stage bill, and will play their first gig Friday in Phoenix. The band's latest album, With Devils Amongst Us All, hits stores Tuesday. ... Online auction site eBay hath spoken, and no, electroclash goddess Peaches cannot sell her worn skivvies — even if it's in the name of charity. Peaches had placed her thong up for auction on the site in an effort to raise money for Three Gut Records' Tyler Clark Burke, who has been dealing with critical health problems and is been trying to buy a new house. The site prohibits the sale of used underwear, and eBay authorities halted the auction as soon as it was brought to their attention. ...

Ricky Jovan Gray was convicted Thursday of killing former House of Freaks bandmember Bryan Harvey, Harvey's wife Kathryn and their two young daughters. The family was found dead in its Richmond, Virginia, home in January. The jury took just 30 minutes to convict Gray, whose sentencing hearing continues Friday. He could face the death penalty. ... Roger Ebert remains hospitalized due to complications resulting from his treatment for a recurrence of salivary cancer, the film critic confirmed in a statement. Ebert, who had a portion of his jaw removed and reconstructed, said he will need rehabilitation to regain his strength and his voice, and asked for "the time and privacy to heal." "I don't have a crystal ball," he wrote to close the statement, "so I can't tell you when, but I sure look forward to being back on the movie beat." ...

How many times have you watched the Academy Awards and thought, "Wait a minute, these people are huge stars, get to borrow millions in diamonds and they get those fat gift baskets! What the hell?" Well, the Internal Revenue Service agrees with you. On Thursday, the IRS announced an "outreach program" to remind the entertainment industry that the lavish gift bags — worth anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 — that stars get at awards shows are taxable as income, according to a Reuters report. The tax service also announced a deal with Oscar presenter the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to settle the tax obligations of past Oscar gift-basket recipients through 2005, letting those stars off the hook. Though this year's stars will have to pony up, the Academy announced that the gift baskets will go away as of next year. ... And here's a study only a kid could love: The British journal Archives of Disease in Childhood has found that watching TV while getting an injection has a "painkiller" effect on children. In a study involving 69 children between the ages of 7-12, researchers found that the subjects were 50 percent more pacified by cartoons than their own mothers. Kids who had no TV to distract them logged much higher pain scores.

08.17.2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Britney Spears
• C-Murder
• Radiohead
• Mos Def
• Jack Black