Courtney Love and Taylor Momsen
Photo: Todd Williamson/ FilmMagic/ Donna Ward/ WireImage

It's a battle of the generations: Courtney Love started a Twitter war with "Gossip Girl" star and Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen, as well as the Veronicas.

Love took to her Twitter page to lash out at the young rockers, saying Momsen and Australian sister group the Veronicas are biting the former Hole frontwoman's act. Love tweeted: "Why does Taylor Whatsit deeply disturb me and why is the Blonde one from the verons or whatever they are called wearing my actual clothes?"

She also personally tweeted each of her intended targets. "I don't watch tv or read teen mags and gossip rags so I wouldn't know," she wrote to Momsen. "Do not still 'like my music' please."

Meanwhile, in a tweet to the Veronicas, she referenced how she felt they stole her look. "I asked you or your sister to just stop wearing the clothes she stole," she wrote, even though she later clarified that they hadn't actually stolen her clothes.

In past MTV News interviews, the "Gossip Girl" star has referenced being influenced by Love and her band Hole, as well as by Nirvana.

And earlier this week at her sweet-16 party in New York, Momsen addressed the fact that many times, her look is compared to Love's. "[You're] not the first person to say that," she said of the comparison. "And I love Hole, and they had a cool thing and a cool vibe, and I'm influenced by a lot of people."

• Taylor Momsen Tries To 'Bring Rock Back'

• Courtney Love
• The Veronicas

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea in 1999
Photo: MTV News

• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• AC/DC
• Jane's Addiction
• Metallica
• Beastie Boys

Courtney Love
Photo: MTV News

When you've been interviewing people for, oh, a hundred years or so, you build up quite a backlog of banter and chat. A lot of this stuff is inevitably ephemeral — the day will surely never come when anyone cares what Vanilla Ice ever had to say about anything. On the other hand, it is kind of interesting to look back on the vintage natterings of people who are still on the scene and still entertaining us, either with their work or with their dotty behavior.

We've been exhuming a ton of this stuff over the last several months — interviews from the vaults going back not only to the early '90s, but even beyond. Most of these ancient tapes are fun in one way or another; some are scary, which is even more fun. We're going to be posting these old interactions every Tuesday from now on, and if some of what you see seems a little silly at times, well, the past is filled with silly things. Much like the present.

May you never have a year as awful as Courtney Love's 1994. It started out fine, with Love and her band, Hole, putting the finishing touches on their second album, Live Through This. But then Courtney's husband, Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain, committed suicide (his body was found on April 8 at their home on Lake Washington, near Seattle), leaving Courtney with a baby daughter not yet two years old. Four days later, Live Through This was released, its title and some of its songs now sounding eerily predictive. It was the band's best record.

Two months later, Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff died in Seattle of a heroin overdose. Like Cobain, she was 27 years old.

Geffen Records was no doubt sympathetic about all of this, up to a point. But the label did need Hole to start touring in support of the new album, which had gotten rave reviews. So on September 1, the group returned to the road, playing its first concert in Toronto. MTV News set up a post-show interview with Courtney, and I flew up from New York that morning with producer Jane Sangster, a big Hole fan.

The show was pretty great. With Canadian bassist Melissa Auf der Mauer now onboard (she'd been recommended to Courtney by Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan), the band was full of fire. They played powerful versions of the new Live Through This material — "Doll Parts," "Miss World," "Violet"; and their leader — looking as usual like a debauched rag doll, happily yammering away at the crowd, smoking nonstop, planting one big boot on top of a stage monitor as she chopped out chords on her guitar — was in peak form.

Courtney is a natural star — as opposed to the pre-assembled variety so common in most musical precincts — because you never know what she'll do next. I'm pretty sure this is because she never knows what she'll do next. This is what makes her a good interview.

After the show, back at the Four Seasons Hotel, where the band was staying, we were ready for her: camped out in a conference room, backdrop tacked up, cameras ready to roll, we settled in to wait. We waited quite a while; then we waited quite a while more. We wound up cooling our heels for four or five hours — Madonna-level waiting. Finally, around five in the morning, Courtney appeared, smoking like a locomotive and acting as if she were right on time. I resisted an impulse to punch her in the neck. Then she sat down, and we started.

Like all really good interview subjects, Courtney is willing to discuss just about anything. She was funny about her anomalous trust-fund background, especially getting kicked out of England's ridiculously "progressive" Summerhill School. ("The whole idea was, don't go to class if you don't want to. And I didn't.") She was sweet talking about the friends who'd rallied around her after Cobain's death, like Michael Stipe of R.E.M. ("He called me two or three times a day, every day.") She said she was spooked by the feeling that the media were actually waiting for her to die, too, and insisted she was actually past the point of heavy drug consumption. ("I have nine, ten dead friends," she said, "not counting dead husbands and dead band members.") Her feelings seemed to flicker nakedly across her face; she didn't appear to be holding much back. Although who ever knows about that? By the time we finished, the sun had come out.

Courtney went on to become what tabloid editors gratefully embrace as a complete mess. She continued the off-beat movie career she'd begun in 1986 with "Sid and Nancy," and actually won a handful of critics' awards for her performance in the 1996 Milos Forman film, "The People vs. Larry Flynt." But then came the public flip-outs, the drug busts, the child-custody battles, the plastic surgery. And her relationship with the surviving members of Nirvana appears to have grown chillier with each passing year. (Thanks to Courtney's apparent need for money, Kurt Cobain's music is now being licensed for things like video games.)

But nobody ever expected punks to age gracefully, and Courtney is pretty clearly a punk-for-life kind of girl. But she never burned out, and it doesn't look like she'll be fading away anytime soon, either. Let's keep rooting.

Enjoy digging through The Loder Files? You'll find more here, and there's much more to come from the vaults — check back every Tuesday!

• The Loder Files: A Trip Inside The MTV News Vaults

• Courtney Love
• Kurt Cobain
• Hole
• Nirvana

Madonna
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Time to pucker up for Madonna's next album — Billboard.com reports that the singer has settled on the title for it: Licorice. The effort, which will reportedly feature "Candy Shop" and "The Beat Goes On" (featuring Pharrell), is due in late April and will be Madge's last effort for longtime label Warner Bros. Kanye West is said to be a guest on "The Beat Goes On," according to the site, which also reports that Madonna's vintage track "The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" will get an update on the new disc. ...

Jessica Sierra pleaded not guilty on Thursday (December 6) to charges of disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest and violating conditions of her parole on earlier felony battery and possession charges, according to The Associated Press. The former "American Idol" finalist was arrested early Sunday morning outside a bar in Ybor City, near Tampa, Florida, after causing an unspecified disturbance while working inside the establishment. Sierra's lawyer reportedly said he is consulting with doctors to map out a comprehensive drug and alcohol plan for the ex-"Idol" contestant, who is currently being held without bail. Sierra is to remain in jail at least until her next hearing on December 20. ...

Gym Class Heroes, the Academy Is ... and Relient K will help anchor next year's Warped Tour, according to Alternative Press. Every Time I Die, From First to Last and the Bronx are also among the first 18 bands named for the summer trek, with the dates yet to be announced. ... Speaking of summer fests, Bonnaroo will take place June 12-15 in Manchester, Tennessee, Billboard.com reports. The lineup will be revealed in late January or early February. ... Your chance to download Radiohead's In Rainbows is about to end. The band has announced that the InRainbows.com Web site will close Saturday. But you can still plunk down $80 for the box set at Radiohead's online w.a.s.t.e. store, while supplies last. ...

Ne-Yo and Macy Gray are joining Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and others as they pitch in for presidential aspirant Senator Barack Obama. Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls will play at an Obama fundraiser in Universal City, California, on Monday, while Gray, Tweedy and others will perform at the senator's Friday event in Obama's hometown of Chicago. On a related note, Wilco will set out for a two-week U.S. tour in February. ... Paris, you've got nothing on Britney — Spears outdid Hilton on eBay in terms of related items sold this year. AP reports that 34,345 Brit-related items were sold, compared with 27,377 for Paris. A mere 8,099 items related to Lindsay Lohan were auctioned, while on the movies front, "Transformers" beat out Harry Potter with 442,342 and 344,825 related items sold, respectively. ...

Indie-rockers, state attorneys general and anti-smoking activists are finding themselves on the same side, oddly enough — some of them are reportedly peeved about an ad for Camel cigarettes that appeared alongside a cartoon-heavy indie-rock feature in the magazine's November 15 issue, Pitchfork reports. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has stopped promotions for its "The Farm" marketing campaign after nine attorneys general sued the company over the ads, according to North Carolina's Winston-Salem Journal. More states are reportedly expected to also sue R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which could face a fine of more than $100 million for violating a 1998 agreement between 46 states and tobacco manufacturers. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement banned the use of cartoons to sell market cigarettes in 1997, effectively killing off Joe Camel. Also being debated, according to Pitchfork, are Camel-sponsored concerts that have featured the Flaming Lips, Band of Horses and the Faint. ...

Alicia Keys will ring in the new year with a performance on the roof of New York's Rockefeller Center as part of Carson Daly's shindig on NBC, People.com reports. The show, which will air December 31 at 11:35 p.m. ET, will also feature Lenny Kravitz performing in Times Square. Keys will sing two songs from her latest album, As I Am. ... LL Cool J, Rev Run, Petra Nemcova, Brett Ratner and other celebs have ponied up items for an ongoing online charity auction staged by Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund. "Diamonds Give" features 15 lots of donated diamond pieces and runs through December 16 on eBay. ...

It sounds like U2 might be going back to the future on their upcoming album. The band, which flirted with dance beats and techno on such albums as 1991's Achtung Baby, is incorporating trance, metal and Moroccan influences on its new disc, according to an interview with Bono in The Independent. The singer said fans will "feel the difference. ... Normally when you play a U2 tune, it clears the dance floor. And that may not be true of this. There's some trance influences." He also said the yet-untitled and unscheduled album has some "very hardcore guitar" and "real molten metal" from guitarist the Edge that doesn't sound "like anything we've ever done before, and we don't think it sounds like anything anyone else has done either." Though he wouldn't categorize the album as "world" music, Bono said its sound was inspired in part by a religious music festival the guys attended in Fez, Morocco, where they were exposed to Sufi music. "It was a real humbling thing for a punk-rock shouter, listening to these people who just close their eyes for 40 minutes and sing the most sophisticated melodies." So far, U2 have recorded enough material for two records, he added. ...

Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson recently hung with locals, bathed in an irrigation ditch in their boxers and visited an orphanage in Peru this week, according to AP. An image that surfaced shows the two, who reportedly stayed at a cheap hotel room that cost less than $50 per night, smiling and waving in Cuzco. Cameron Diaz, Bill Gates and others visited the area earlier this year. ... Courtney Love has a new video on her hands ... kind of. A clip featuring manga character Princess Ai — whose universe of properties was co-created by Love — will premiere at the New York Anime Festival on Saturday. "Princess Ai: Broken Leash," which includes live action, animation and music, will appear as part of a CD/DVD anthology due in fall 2008. ... It's hard to keep old punks down. After their recent reunion tour of England this year, punk grandfathers the Sex Pistols will hit the road again next summer, according to Reuters. Guitarist Steve Jones did not give any specifics about the 2008 tour on his Los Angeles radio show on Wednesday, other than to say that the group might play an upcoming charity show at London's Royal Albert Hall organized by Who singer Roger Daltrey. ...

And the battle over James Brown's estate goes on. According to AP, two former trustees for the late singer's estate say the judge who is handling the disputes made them resign in late November. In recently filed court documents, Buddy Dallas and Alford Bradley reportedly said they want to retract their resignations and that South Carolina Circuit Judge Jack Early used "improper judicial influence." They are also seeking for the appointment of their successors to be overturned.

12.5.07

Unlike Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, Kiefer Sutherland is not getting off easy with his DUI — the "24" actor has been sentenced to 48 days in a Los Angeles County jail for his September 24 arrest and violating his probation. The actor must start serving his sentence at the Glendale City Jail prior to March 30, UsMagazine.com reports. He has also been sentenced to five years of probation, must finish a year-and-a-half-long alcohol-education program and go to weekly therapy sessions for a half-year. Sutherland, who had a previous DUI before his fall arrest, had been pulled over by police after making an illegal U-turn and reportedly blew twice the legal blood-alcohol level during a breathalyzer test. He issued a statement after entering a no-contest plea in early October, saying, "I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on '24' and at 20th Century Fox." ... Contrasting with Sutherland's devastating news, Richie caught a break on Wednesday when her court-mandated anti-drinking program granted the socialite a leave of absence, according to People. Coordinators at the program were reportedly worried for Richie's safety, with her rep saying such leaves of absence are granted to people with medical conditions and that she did not get special treatment. Richie is eight months pregnant and has to complete the 18-month program as part of her DUI plea deal ...

Bad news for Vanessa Hudgens: A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday (December 5) that a breach-of-contract suit by her former lawyer can go forward, according to CBS News. Brian L. Schall is suing the "The High School Musical" star for breach of contract, although Hudgens has argued that she was a minor at the time she signed the agreement and therefore isn't bound to it. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Tricia Ann Bigelow said the matter of Hudgens disaffirming her contractual obligations within a reasonable time period is a "factual issue," and that Hudgens' decision to wait until she was 18 years and 9 months old to reject the contract is an issue for either a jury decision or a motion for summary judgment. The next hearing in the case is slated for January 15. ... Lindsay Lohan might be facing another setback too: Raymundo Ortega, the busboy who is seeking $200,000 in damages stemming from Lohan's collision with his van in October 2005, says he has proof the starlet was drinking before the crash, according to The Associated Press. He reportedly filed papers Tuesday. ...

An interview with T.I. that was conducted prior to his October arrest on gun charges appears in the December/January issue of Rap-Up magazine, which features him and Nicole Scherzinger on alternate covers. The rapper said he has a new urban-clothing line on the way — called "A King of Oneself" — and also revealed his interest in a different type of endeavor: commercial construction. "I want to build a Home Depot or a Wal-Mart, shopping centers," he told the mag. Tip cited Tupac as the rapper who had the most influence on him growing up — and called out some other big names for keeping him out of trouble. "Sometimes I be wildin' out, then [Suge Knight says,] 'Man, you got too much going on, you can't do that. It ain't like the old days,' " said the rapper, who is currently under house arrest. "[Jay-Z] will tell me the same thing, [Diddy] tell me the same thing, Kevin Liles — everybody trying. Wyclef is another one. People, I guess, just care." ...

For her part, Nicole Scherzinger named Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as the singers she admires the most. She also talked about someone else you may have heard of — Kanye West — and why the tracks he produced for her solo debut didn't make the cut. "I wasn't able to really finish them in time," said the singer, whose Her Name Is Nicole LP is due January 29. "When I have the right time and the right album, I wanna finish those songs. There was talks of putting Common on one of them." Scherzinger also talked about shooting her "Whatever U Like" video with the other Rap-Up cover artist, T.I. "When we did the video it was crazy 'cause we were all up in each other's grills, like [director] Paul Hunter really made us go there, but it was great. He's a professional. Paul was making us tug on each other; we were hard-core for a hot second." ...

Jay-Z celebrated his 38th birthday with Beyoncé in Paris on Tuesday, according to People.com. The couple reportedly holed up in a hotel suite, took a drive around the city, ate at L'Avenue restaurant and caught a cabaret show. ... Pete Wentz, Chris Brown, the Jonas Brothers and Corbin Bleu all made Teen magazine's list of the 50 Hottest Guys in Hollywood — but Zac Efron takes the cake by topping the bunch. ... Keira Knightley stripped down for the revealing cover of the latest issue of Interview magazine. "How does that always happen?" the "Atonement" actress asked herself, in the interview, of taking off her clothes. "Because I say yes, I suppose." ...

Styles P, Hurricane Chris and Fabolous will bring some yuletide cheer to Russell Simmons and Rev Run's eighth annual Youth Holiday Party in New York on Tuesday, with MTV News' own Sway acting as one of the emcees. For the festivities, the Simmons brothers and their Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation will turn the Fillmore at Irving Plaza into a winter wonderland, raffling off prizes like an Xbox 360 and tickets to a taping of "106 & Park." Kids will also get Target gift cards. ...

Journey are counting a new singer among their ranks: Arnel Pineda. The Filipino crooner, who previously covered the band's songs with his group the Zoo, is the third Journey singer in two years — he follows Jeff Scott Soto, who left the fold earlier this year after filling in for Steve Augeri, who split with the band in 2006 due to medical reasons. "I know they'll expect me to sound exactly like 'the voice,' " Pineda said in a statement, referring to yet another former Journey singer: Steve Perry. "But that will never happen. I know there's only one Steve Perry in this world." "Arnel doesn't sound synthetic and he's not emulating anyone," added guitarist Neal Schon, who discovered the singer's Zoo clips online. "I tried to get a hold of him through YouTube and I finally heard from him ... but it took some convincing to get him to believe that it really was me and not an imposter." ...

Deerhunter, Black Dice, Fischerspooner and others have chipped in unreleased new songs for Living Bridge, a two-CD collection of songs by bands who have previously recorded at Brooklyn, New York's Rare Book Room Studio. The 25-song package will hit stores February 26 and christen Rare Book Room Records, a new label. ... The Breeders will be back in '08 with a new disc hitting stores April 8. Mountain Battles will arrive six years after the band's previous effort, Title TK, which the band took nine years to put out following its most successful album, 1993's Last Splash. The Pixies-affiliated group is also due to tour throughout the year, hitting up South by Southwest and Coachella along the way. ... Peaches will sweeten up New Year's Eve this year by counting down the clock in downtown Los Angeles as part of Hard NYE's bash. She will also perform, as will Justice. ...

Paula Abdul was a "disaster" on "Saturday Night Live" when she hosted the show two years ago — so says Tina Fey in the January issue of Playboy. "I was pregnant at the time and probably a little moody, but I remember thinking, 'She's a disaster!' " Fey said. ... Vivica A. Fox booked herself on Wednesday on charges of driving under the influence, TMZ.com reports. A judge ordered on Monday that the actress be booked or face a bench warrant. ... Charges were dropped against Jonathan Rhys-Meyers after he apologized for creating a drunken fracas at an airport in Ireland earlier this year. The actor, who faced two charges of public drunkenness and breach of peace, said through his lawyer that he intends to make a donation to an unspecified charity. ...

The one guy who seemed kind of charmed by Borat's antics in last year's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" has joined the parade of people suing the fake Kazakh reporter. According to Reuters, driving instructor Michael Psenicska's suit against the film's makers and star Sacha Baron Cohen claims that he was tricked into participating in a film that he was led to believe was a "documentary about the integration of foreign people into the American way of life." Psenicska said he was paid $500 in cash to give Borat a driving lesson and described the experience as "surreal," saying Cohen drove erratically down residential streets, drank alcohol and yelled to a female pedestrian that he would pay her $10 for "sexy time." Psenicska is seeking $100,000 in compensatory damages and additional punitive damages for being misled, and for the emotional harm he allegedly continues to suffer. Psenicska said if he had known the true nature of the film, he never would have participated. The studio behind the flick said the suit had no merit and that Psenicska was a willing participant in the film. ...

Eddie Vedder is making his first video appearance since his spot in Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" clip 15 years ago. Mr. Ed is supporting his soundtrack to "Into the Wild" with a video for "Guaranteed." ... Saosin can't get enough of the road — the band, which toured for most of 2007, has rolled out a new 2008 itinerary. The California rockers will take Armor for Sleep and the Bled along for their jaunt, which starts January 21 in Tucson, Arizona, and ends February 14 in Chico, California. ... The sounds made by the creepy creatures in Will Smith's new movie "I Am Legend" might seem familiar to Faith No More fans — Mike Patton is the one behind them. The always-busy musician, who previously lent his voice to video games like "The Darkness" and "The Portal," is also delving into the film world with "A Perfect Place," a noirish short film for which he composed the music. ...

The family of Justin Barker, the white student who was allegedly beaten by six black classmates last year in Jena, Louisiana, has filed a civil lawsuit against the teens, their parents, the local school board and a seventh student who was not charged in the case, USA Today reports. The lawsuit claims that the attack on Barker was of "such extreme nature so as to require emergency medical care and treatment for the harm inflicted by the attack, and resulting in extensive and permanently disabling injuries." The suit, filed Thursday, also alleges that employees of the LaSalle Parish School Board were not adequately supervising students or maintaining discipline. ...

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will flex his rock muscle on Friday at a fundraising show featuring Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy performing solo alongside buzz band the Cool Kids, Third Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins, Jill Sobule and local indie bands the Changes and Canasta. The "Change Rocks" show will take place at the Riviera Theatre in Obama's hometown of Chicago, with tickets ranging from $50 to $500 apiece. ... Hillary Clinton's campaign has had a change of heart. Less than a month before the Iowa caucuses, Clinton has dropped her controversial campaign theme song, "You and I" by Celine Dion, and replaced it with "Blue Sky" by Colorado 1990s college faves Big Head Todd and the Monsters, according to ABC News. ...

We can see now why comedian Dave Chappelle might have walked away from that $50 million Comedy Central deal: He'd rather be doing stand-up. Chappelle broke his own endurance record on Sunday with a set at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, California, that lasted six hours and 12 minutes, besting his previous mark, set in April, by a good five minutes. Club owner Jamie Masada told AP that Chappelle was on a mission. "Dave was determined to keep his record because he recently heard that Dane Cook was planning on trying to break [his] record," Masada said. ... R&B singer Avant has signed to Capitol Records to release his next album, due in the summer. The multiplatinum crooner was previously signed to MCA, before the label folded into Geffen Records, through which he released four albums and a string of hit singles, including his breakout "Separated." Avant's yet-untitled next album is expected to include production from Rodney Jerkins and Mr. Collipark, among others.

• Madonna
• Gym Class Heroes
• Alicia Keys
• Radiohead
• The Academy Is...

Britney Spears (file)
Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Britney Spears fans must be asking themselves why the singer risks getting behind the wheel anymore. According to a video posted on TMZ.com, the singer blew through a red light and made an illegal turn against oncoming traffic, with her two sons in the backseat of her Mercedes as she was driving in Los Angeles on Thursday. The footage also apparently shows Spears' court-appointed monitor ducking in the passenger seat. The video came to light following Thursday's emergency hearing in her child-custody dispute with Kevin Federline, her ex-husband. Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan hadn't seen the footage by the time the hearing commenced, and there's no word yet if this will affect his motion to prevent Spears from driving with her kids. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told MTV News on Friday that authorities weren't planning to cite Spears with any traffic violations because they hadn't been made aware of any unsafe left turns. The spokesperson also said police hadn't heard anything further about Spears recently running over a cop's feet. ...

Weezer fans, the countdown for a new album has begun. The band's mysterious AlbumSix.com Web site has posted release dates for two upcoming projects: Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, which is due December 11, and the simply titled Album Six, which is poised for an April 22 release. ...

Chamillionaire invited old pal Paul Wall to perform with him onstage at a BET Black College Tour stop at Texas Southern University earlier this week. The once-feuding Houston rappers performed their classic collaboration, "N Luv Wit My Money." ...

The nominees for this year's People's Choice Awards rolled out Thursday — and not surprisingly, they're the usual suspects who have been cropping up in other awards competitions throughout the year. Beyoncé is up for three awards; while Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5 and Daughtry landed two nods each. Also in the running in various categories are: Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, Linkin Park, the Killers, John Mayer, Ne-Yo, Plain White T's, Timbaland, Shop Boyz and Shakira. As for the movie contenders, Matt Damon, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and others are all in the running. The awards show will air January 8 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. ...

Radiohead have been busting out some surprise covers on Radiohead.tv, which has featured live webcasts by the band for the past two days. Alongside live versions of their own songs, Radiohead have ripped into Björk's "Unravel," the Smiths' "The Headmaster Ritual" and New Order's "Ceremony," according to RollingStone.com. ...

Prince is "not suing his fans," his U.K. tour promoter AEG Live insisted in a recent statement, according to TheDailySwarm.com. Earlier this week, Prince fan sites claimed to have been hit with cease-and-desist letters from his lawyers demanding the sites remove all images, artwork and fan-submitted pictures related to the singer. "Prince is not suing his fans, is not looking to penalize fans and nor is he looking to or inhibiting freedom of speech in any way," the statement reportedly read. "In fact, he is simply looking to provide Prince fans with exclusive music and images entirely free of charge, and bypassing unofficial and unauthorized phony fan sites that exploit both consumers and artists." AEG did, however, single out the fan sites that assembled to create a new URL, PrinceFansUnited.com. While the promoter said mediations are being conducted between the parties to resolve the issue, it claimed, "The three sites in question have falsely positioned themselves as representatives of millions of Prince fans. In fact, many have come out in support of Prince at his official site and even on the messageboards of the unofficial sites in question." More revealing perhaps is that, according to the reported statement, Prince is taking on ThePirateBay.com, the self-proclaimed world's largest BitTorrent tracker. "They are in fact exploiting copyrighted material for their commercial gain," the statement claimed. "The site has flouted constant legal notices from artists and corporations throughout the world while cashing in on advertising monies. All the time, they keep up the pretence of being an anarchist, 'free music' fan site when it is really a massive moneymaking venture." ...

ThePirateBay.com is likely hoping it doesn't meet the same fate as Demonoid, a Canadian BitTorrent tracker that recently folded after coming under fire from the Canadian Recording Industry Association, according to Idolator.com. The CRIA has allegedly threatened the company that had been renting servers to Demonoid, which had moved its hosting company from the Netherlands to Canada because the latter country reportedly has less strict copyright-infringement laws. ... This year's Bang! Festival is a bust. The two-day event, which was set to feature Kanye West and Smashing Pumpkins as headliners and go down this weekend in Miami, has been postponed, according to the Bang! Web site. No reason was announced for the postponement, although tickets can be refunded at point of purchase. ...

Neverland Ranch is safe ... for now. That's the word from a spokesperson for Michael Jackson, who denied reports Thursday that the embattled singer's mansion is facing foreclosure. A day after notice of default on Neverland was made public, spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain issued a statement saying Jackson was never in default on the loan. Bain explained that Jackson's former advisers refinanced the loan in 2006 and that the loan matured last month, and now he's refinancing again. "Mr. Jackson is in the final stages of refinance and will not lose Neverland Valley Ranch," Bain said. The copy of the default notice posted on the Web site of local station KSBY-TV said that as of October 12, Jackson owed $23,212,963 on a $23 million loan. ...

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to terminate the nearly weeklong Hollywood writers' strike. According to Reuters, the actor-turned-politician said on Thursday that he has taken on an unspecified backstage role in trying to end the strike, which is already having a serious impact on shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "24." Schwarzenegger revealed during a press conference at the State Capitol in Sacramento, "I'm talking to the parties that are involved because I think it's very important that we settle that as quickly as possible, because it has a tremendous economic impact on our state." He did not, however, specify his role in the talks. ... Ellen DeGeneres has also made her feelings about the strike known — she has crossed the picket line, People reports. While her talk-show peers have taken an indefinite hiatus, the TV host is continuing to film her daytime program, "Ellen." She skipped her monologue on Friday (November 9), saying she was doing so in honor of her writers. As for the rest of the show continuing, she qualified on her show, "It's sweeps, which is a very important time in television, because that's when you do your best shows, your funniest material." The Writers Guild of America responded to DeGeneres on Friday, saying it was "extremely disappointed to see that Ellen has chosen not to stand with writers during the strike," according to UsMagazine.com. "Ellen's peers who host comedy/variety shows have chosen to support the writers and help them get a fair contract, Ellen has not. On her first show back, Ellen said she loves and supports her writers, but her actions prove otherwise." ...

Krist Novoselic, former Nirvana bassist and current member of Flipper, kicked off his Seattle Weekly blog this week. In his first entry, he posted about Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's iconic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video and anarchy, one of the clip's prevalent themes. "Indeed, [ex-Bikini Kill singer and Cobain friend] Kathleen Hanna wrote, 'Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit' on Kurt's apartment wall," he said in the post. "I recall seeing it and thinking, 'Too much cheap red wine!' I don't know why she wrote it, but I know for sure that Kurt Cobain did not have any odor problems. Even though his place was a mess, he took care of his hygiene. This person would soak in the bath night after night only listening to the Beatles." ...

A rededication ceremony for the Peace Garden at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia, is set for Saturday afternoon. The ceremony will begin with a drumline procession into the Peace Garden, followed by a performance from Pac's Kids (students from the center's outreach program); a prayer for peace from the late rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur; and a ribbon-cutting. The free ceremony will end with the release of butterflies. The rededication comes three weeks after vandals defaced a statue of Tupac Shakur in the garden by pasting racist messages on it and hanging a wooden cross around its neck. Earlier this week, a man was charged with felony second-degree criminal damage to property in connection with the incident. Kenneth Anthony Wilson, 43, is being held in DeKalb County jail on a $1,500 bond, though a police spokesperson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that authorities doubt Wilson, who is black, had a racial motive in the incident. ...

Hallmark has filed a motion seeking the dismissal of Paris Hilton's lawsuit. The heiress is suing the company for a half-million dollars for using her photo and "That's hot!" catchphrase on one of its cards. Hallmark argued in a statement that, "Hilton has become a household name, based in large part on her efforts to draw attention to herself," according to "Access Hollywood." "Having done so, she has subjected herself to public scrutiny and the parodist's pen. The First Amendment does not allow her to respond by welcoming the fawning and flattering, but silencing the critical and comical." ...

Winona Ryder, mommy dearest to ... Spock? You read it right — the 36-year-old actress will play the mother of Zachary Quinto's character in J.J. Abrams' upcoming "Star Wars" reboot, Variety reports. She joins Simon Pegg, Eric Bana and other previously announced members of the cast. ...

The popular Pandora Radio Web site made the jump to cell phones on Thursday when AT&T announced that it will offer personalized radio stations from Pandora on eight of its cell phones. As on the Web site, AT&T users can type in a song or artist and start listening to a personalized station within seconds on their handset, according to a press release from AT&T announcing the deal. Songs heard on Pandora can also be bookmarked and purchased later at the AT&T Mobile Music Store. The service is free for five days and then costs $8.99 a month.

11.08.07

T.I.'s planned Thanksgiving Day celebration just got a whole lot quieter: The rapper has withdrawn his request to host a holiday bash at his home in suburban Atlanta, The Associated Press reports. The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has been under under house arrest as he awaits his trial on weapons charges. ...

First Britney Spears asked fans to "Gimme More" — now she's asking them, do you want a "Piece of Me"? The singer has announced the latter track as her next Blackout single. Spears might have some good luck on her side, as the song was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, the same team behind her Grammy-winning track "Toxic." ...

Kanye West, Wyclef Jean and Nelly will compete for the Music Award honor at the upcoming J.A.M. Awards, a Jam Master Jay- and Run-DMC-inspired event intended to reflect the positive aspects of rap. Jim Jones, DJ Kay Slay, Bumpy Knuckles, Lord Finesse and EPMD have joined the show's performance roster, which already included Snoop Dogg, Mobb Deep, Papoose, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Marley Marl, DMC and more. Two more categories have also been announced for the event, which is being put on by Hot 97, the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music and other organizations: Chuck D, Will Smith and esteemed Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West are up for the Justice Award; while Spike Lee, graffiti artist Lee Quinones and Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson will face off for the Arts Award. The ceremony will be held November 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. ...

Jay-Z is busy shooting videos for and touring behind his new American Gangster album, but that's not stopping him from making business deals. His joint venture Scion recently acquired Artful Dodger after paying $15 million for the apparel company. "They represent what's next and new in fashion," Jay-Z said in a statement. ... Chris Brown, LeAnn Rimes and Usher have been added to the roster of artists set to perform at Movies Rock, which will take place at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on December 2 and air December 7 at 9:00 p.m. on CBS. Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez and others were previously announced as performers. ...

Former "American Idol" Carrie Underwood repeated as Female Vocalist of the Year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards. The singer also took home a trophy for Single of the Year for her hit "Before He Cheats" in a show that featured a performance from surprise Billboard albums chart-toppers the Eagles as well as another "American Idol" alum, Kellie Pickler. She broke down crying while singing "I Wonder," a tune about her estranged mother, who left the family when Pickler was 2 years old. ... Don't expect KT Tunstall to be congratulating Underwood on her new prizes — the Scottish singer/songwriter lashed out at the country star in an interview due to appear in the new issue of Steppin' Out, which hits newsstands Wednesday. Tunstall, whose songs have been used in "Idol," sounded off on Underwood's Grammy win for Best New Artist, saying, "It's pretty weird when the Best New Artist is someone from a reality TV show who sings other people's music. It's also very weird when Carrie Underwood thanks God and Simon Cowell. That's pretty scary! I would hope the Best New Artist is somebody who's writing their own music. Or at least something original." Tunstall didn't mince words about Britney Spears' recent troubles either, saying, "It's frustrating that there's this anti-intellectualism going on with all the magazines who cover her. It's almost like the days of gladiators. The people are begging for death. ... On a spiritual level, I don't want to be part of it. I don't want to feed into it." ...

Lily Allen has signed on to host a new BBC3 entertainment show, according to the U.K.'s Guardian. Assorted celebrities and unsigned bands will join the starlet on "Lily Allen and Friends," and the audience will consist of her online friends. It will air early next year. ... Mya is slated to appear Thursday night at an event benefiting the North Shore Animal League America, an animal-rescue and adoption group. It will be held at the Night Hotel in New York. ... Alchemist is amped to work with Eminem again, according to a new interview he gave to Complex magazine. "If anything, I would bring [a new track] to him, load it into him, let him compute the things that I'm going through, the sounds that I'm finding. Let's interpolate this Eminem style." He added, "I feel like the best out of my connection with Em hasn't happened yet." ...

Joel Madden are Nicole Richie are preparing for their first child, but everything isn't going according to plan in the couple's lives. They have been denied sale of a home in a gated community in Southern California because residents there are concerned about paparazzi swarming in, Us Weekly reports. The magazine also says a baby shower is planned for later this month. ...

More than 100 celebrities — including Kanye West, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Evanescence's Amy Lee, the Beastie Boys, Bright Eyes, Cobra Starship, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz — have signed on to create personalized lunchboxes for an online auction to benefit a pair of hunger-relief organizations: the Food Bank for New York City and South Africa's Lunchbox Fund. The auction will go live on December 7 at midnight at TheLunchboxAuction.org and run through December 21. Other stars participating in the event include David Bowie, Elton John, Casey Affleck, Eva Mendes, Interpol, Jessica Biel, Cat Power and Courtney Love. ...

Despite Courtney getting involved in a good cause, she's also going off the handle again — and this time, Madonna is in her sights. In a typically incomprehensible, profanity-laden post on her MySpace page, she wrote, "madonna is a great business woma but come on she s weak as an artista nd we akl lknow it — i like madge — but as a relevant musician — its a joke." The exhausting rant is 3,700 words long. ... As for the aforementioned Cat Power, the track list for singer Chan Marshall's upcoming covers album, Jukebox, has been shuffled a bit and will now feature a limited-edition bonus disc with covers of songs by Moby Grape, Nick Cave, Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline and Lil Wayne's all-star squad, Hot Boys. Also slated for inclusion on the January 22 album are covers of songs by Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday and James Brown. ... In related news, Brown's estate is already tangled in a dispute with one of the late rock icon's backup singers who says she is Brown's fourth wife, but now another woman has come forward with a similar claim, AP reports. In court papers recently filed in South Carolina, 73-year-old Velma Warren Brown says she had three children with the late singer and lived with him for 17 years — and that he never served her with divorce papers. ...

The Blood Brothers have finally made an announcement concerning their future. Basically, the band has no future. "After 10 years of making music as the Blood Brothers, we have made the collective decision that our time together has come to an end," the band said in a statement. "We feel extremely fortunate to have spent such a deeply memorable and amazing part of our lives with each other. At this point, however, we feel it's best that our futures move forward on separate paths. We'd like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the bands we've played with, individuals who have helped us make our records, and fans who have come to our shows and picked up our music throughout the years. Your friendship, support and love hold such a profoundly special place in each of our hearts. We hope that the memories you attach to our music are as fond as those you have given us." ...

Ozzy Osbourne's tour sure is seeing a lot of drama. In addition to a recent pre-show police sting in Fargo, North Dakota, and a flurry of arrests at Ozzy shows, a young fan was tasered and arrested after allegedly fighting with officers during Osbourne's concert in Sioux City, Iowa, on Sunday, according to a report in the Sioux City Journal. The 16-year-old Sioux City boy, who has not been named, was allegedly trying to start a mosh pit near the end of the show when security called Sioux City police to help remove the boy. Three police officers reportedly tried to take hold of the boy, who was allegedly swinging his arms and being aggressive. After police told him to stop resisting, he refused, after which he was tasered. One officer was slightly injured in the incident, for which the boy was charged with misdemeanor counts of interference with official acts, failure to obey a police officer and assault on a police officer. In related news, the Los Angeles Times reports that a Beverly Hills, California, physician who has been accused of over-prescribing addictive drugs to Osbourne and other celebrities has been publicly reprimanded by the Medical Board of California. Three years ago, the board accused Dr. David A. Kipper of gross negligence in the care of eight patients and threatened to take away his medical license. Osbourne has also filed his own complaint with the board and said the pills he'd been prescribed had a negative impact on his life. "I couldn't talk. I couldn't walk," he told the Times. "I could barely stand up. I was lumbering about like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It got to the point where I was scared to close my eyes at night — afraid I might not wake up." ...

A Perfect Circle mastermind Billy Howerdel has started a new project dubbed Ashes Divide. A song from the band, "Enemies," can be heard on the group's MySpace page. According to the page, the band is signed to Island/Def Jam. ... Bruce Springsteen showcased three songs at a charity event for wounded U.S. troops in New York on Wednesday night, AP reports. The Boss also auctioned off his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a cool $85,000 at "Stand Up for Heroes," which featured Conan O'Brien as MC and some joke-telling by Robin Williams. Stephen Colbert, James Gandolfini and others were in attendance at the event, which was expected to draw more than $2.5 million for Bob Woodruff's Family Fund, a benefit group started by the ABC newsman who was previously injured in Iraq. ... Many hit songs these days rely on other artists' samples — and now the latter are finally getting their due. Samples that have appeared in songs by Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Beastie Boys, Madonna, Dr. Dre and others have been dug up from the archives for the new collection Droppin' Science. The February 12 release will be available as a 10-track CD or 13-song digital album. ...

What do you get when you put Vincent Gallo and Eric Erlandson together? A new band: Rriiccee. Gallo, who wrote and directed "Buffalo 66" and "Brown Bunny," previously released two solo albums, while Erlandson made a name for himself as a guitarist for Hole. Their new abstract project, which may eventually embrace additional members, will formally introduce itself with a tour starting in December — but doesn't plan to record any music or even release anything. "We've chosen not to go into a studio in a traditional way like other bands have done in the past," Gallo said in a statement. "We've chosen to remain open, to grow and change more naturally, and when we play live, the music is often created during the performance." Rriiccee previously played at Japan's Fuji Rock Festival and at a show in San Francisco. ...

"Barfly" actor Mickey Rourke was arrested Thursday in Miami Beach, Florida, on suspicion of driving under the influence — on a scooter, according to AP. He reportedly made a U-turn at a red light and swerved multiple times. "I'm not drunk, I didn't even drink that much," he reportedly said before being taken to police headquarters and failing a breath test. He is being held on $1,000 bond. ...

Are you a "unique" "Star Trek" fan? Not "unique" as in especially devoted, but rather fans who have "long necks, small heads, bug eyes, large foreheads [or] oversized ears"? Then you're in luck. Those are some of the attributes the makers of the J.J. Abrams reboot are requiring as they hunt for extras to appear in the film, according to BBC News. But if you don't match any of those descriptions, fear not — the studio is also looking for "ultra perfect or ultra plain-looking people." Auditions will be held Saturday in Burbank, California. ...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore's much-talked-about appearance on NBC's "30 Rock" will air on Thursday evening. The former vice president and environmentalist plays himself but also acts as if he can hear troubled whales calling in the episode, which spoofs NBC's "Green Is Universal" campaign. The show has many days of shooting planned for a 10th second-season episode amid the writers' strike, according to the Los Angeles Times. ... In other strike news, West Hollywood, California's Roxy Theatre is allowing Writers Guild of America members to go to shows for free — so long as the concerts in question haven't already sold out, according to Variety. All the members have to do is show their union membership card.

• Why Is The Writers' Strike Important?
• Do Britney Spears And T.I. Need Promotion Anymore?

• Britney Spears
• Michael Jackson
• Tupac
• T.I.
• Kanye West

T.I.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

T.I.'s planned Thanksgiving Day celebration just got a whole lot quieter: The rapper has withdrawn his request to host a holiday bash at his home in suburban Atlanta, The Associated Press reports. The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has been under under house arrest as he awaits his trial on weapons charges. ...

First Britney Spears asked fans to "Gimme More" — now she's asking them, do you want a "Piece of Me"? The singer has announced the latter track as her next Blackout single. Spears might have some good luck on her side, as the song was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, the same team behind her Grammy-winning track "Toxic." ...

Kanye West, Wyclef Jean and Nelly will compete for the Music Award honor at the upcoming J.A.M. Awards, a Jam Master Jay- and Run-DMC-inspired event intended to reflect the positive aspects of rap. Jim Jones, DJ Kay Slay, Bumpy Knuckles, Lord Finesse and EPMD have joined the show's performance roster, which already included Snoop Dogg, Mobb Deep, Papoose, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Marley Marl, DMC and more. Two more categories have also been announced for the event, which is being put on by Hot 97, the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music and other organizations: Chuck D, Will Smith and esteemed Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West are up for the Justice Award; while Spike Lee, graffiti artist Lee Quinones and Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson will face off for the Arts Award. The ceremony will be held November 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. ...

Jay-Z is busy shooting videos for and touring behind his new American Gangster album, but that's not stopping him from making business deals. His joint venture Scion recently acquired Artful Dodger after paying $15 million for the apparel company. "They represent what's next and new in fashion," Jay-Z said in a statement. ... Chris Brown, LeAnn Rimes and Usher have been added to the roster of artists set to perform at Movies Rock, which will take place at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on December 2 and air December 7 at 9:00 p.m. on CBS. Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez and others were previously announced as performers. ...

Former "American Idol" Carrie Underwood repeated as Female Vocalist of the Year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards. The singer also took home a trophy for Single of the Year for her hit "Before He Cheats" in a show that featured a performance from surprise Billboard albums chart-toppers the Eagles as well as another "American Idol" alum, Kellie Pickler. She broke down crying while singing "I Wonder," a tune about her estranged mother, who left the family when Pickler was 2 years old. ... Don't expect KT Tunstall to be congratulating Underwood on her new prizes — the Scottish singer/songwriter lashed out at the country star in an interview due to appear in the new issue of Steppin' Out, which hits newsstands Wednesday. Tunstall, whose songs have been used in "Idol," sounded off on Underwood's Grammy win for Best New Artist, saying, "It's pretty weird when the Best New Artist is someone from a reality TV show who sings other people's music. It's also very weird when Carrie Underwood thanks God and Simon Cowell. That's pretty scary! I would hope the Best New Artist is somebody who's writing their own music. Or at least something original." Tunstall didn't mince words about Britney Spears' recent troubles either, saying, "It's frustrating that there's this anti-intellectualism going on with all the magazines who cover her. It's almost like the days of gladiators. The people are begging for death. ... On a spiritual level, I don't want to be part of it. I don't want to feed into it." ...

Lily Allen has signed on to host a new BBC3 entertainment show, according to the U.K.'s Guardian. Assorted celebrities and unsigned bands will join the starlet on "Lily Allen and Friends," and the audience will consist of her online friends. It will air early next year. ... Mya is slated to appear Thursday night at an event benefiting the North Shore Animal League America, an animal-rescue and adoption group. It will be held at the Night Hotel in New York. ... Alchemist is amped to work with Eminem again, according to a new interview he gave to Complex magazine. "If anything, I would bring [a new track] to him, load it into him, let him compute the things that I'm going through, the sounds that I'm finding. Let's interpolate this Eminem style." He added, "I feel like the best out of my connection with Em hasn't happened yet." ...

Joel Madden are Nicole Richie are preparing for their first child, but everything isn't going according to plan in the couple's lives. They have been denied sale of a home in a gated community in Southern California because residents there are concerned about paparazzi swarming in, Us Weekly reports. The magazine also says a baby shower is planned for later this month. ...

More than 100 celebrities — including Kanye West, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Evanescence's Amy Lee, the Beastie Boys, Bright Eyes, Cobra Starship, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz — have signed on to create personalized lunchboxes for an online auction to benefit a pair of hunger-relief organizations: the Food Bank for New York City and South Africa's Lunchbox Fund. The auction will go live on December 7 at midnight at TheLunchboxAuction.org and run through December 21. Other stars participating in the event include David Bowie, Elton John, Casey Affleck, Eva Mendes, Interpol, Jessica Biel, Cat Power and Courtney Love. ...

Despite Courtney getting involved in a good cause, she's also going off the handle again — and this time, Madonna is in her sights. In a typically incomprehensible, profanity-laden post on her MySpace page, she wrote, "madonna is a great business woma but come on she s weak as an artista nd we akl lknow it — i like madge — but as a relevant musician — its a joke." The exhausting rant is 3,700 words long. ... As for the aforementioned Cat Power, the track list for singer Chan Marshall's upcoming covers album, Jukebox, has been shuffled a bit and will now feature a limited-edition bonus disc with covers of songs by Moby Grape, Nick Cave, Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline and Lil Wayne's all-star squad, Hot Boys. Also slated for inclusion on the January 22 album are covers of songs by Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday and James Brown. ... In related news, Brown's estate is already tangled in a dispute with one of the late rock icon's backup singers who says she is Brown's fourth wife, but now another woman has come forward with a similar claim, AP reports. In court papers recently filed in South Carolina, 73-year-old Velma Warren Brown says she had three children with the late singer and lived with him for 17 years — and that he never served her with divorce papers. ...

The Blood Brothers have finally made an announcement concerning their future. Basically, the band has no future. "After 10 years of making music as the Blood Brothers, we have made the collective decision that our time together has come to an end," the band said in a statement. "We feel extremely fortunate to have spent such a deeply memorable and amazing part of our lives with each other. At this point, however, we feel it's best that our futures move forward on separate paths. We'd like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the bands we've played with, individuals who have helped us make our records, and fans who have come to our shows and picked up our music throughout the years. Your friendship, support and love hold such a profoundly special place in each of our hearts. We hope that the memories you attach to our music are as fond as those you have given us." ...

Ozzy Osbourne's tour sure is seeing a lot of drama. In addition to a recent pre-show police sting in Fargo, North Dakota, and a flurry of arrests at Ozzy shows, a young fan was tasered and arrested after allegedly fighting with officers during Osbourne's concert in Sioux City, Iowa, on Sunday, according to a report in the Sioux City Journal. The 16-year-old Sioux City boy, who has not been named, was allegedly trying to start a mosh pit near the end of the show when security called Sioux City police to help remove the boy. Three police officers reportedly tried to take hold of the boy, who was allegedly swinging his arms and being aggressive. After police told him to stop resisting, he refused, after which he was tasered. One officer was slightly injured in the incident, for which the boy was charged with misdemeanor counts of interference with official acts, failure to obey a police officer and assault on a police officer. In related news, the Los Angeles Times reports that a Beverly Hills, California, physician who has been accused of over-prescribing addictive drugs to Osbourne and other celebrities has been publicly reprimanded by the Medical Board of California. Three years ago, the board accused Dr. David A. Kipper of gross negligence in the care of eight patients and threatened to take away his medical license. Osbourne has also filed his own complaint with the board and said the pills he'd been prescribed had a negative impact on his life. "I couldn't talk. I couldn't walk," he told the Times. "I could barely stand up. I was lumbering about like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It got to the point where I was scared to close my eyes at night — afraid I might not wake up." ...

A Perfect Circle mastermind Billy Howerdel has started a new project dubbed Ashes Divide. A song from the band, "Enemies," can be heard on the group's MySpace page. According to the page, the band is signed to Island/Def Jam. ... Bruce Springsteen showcased three songs at a charity event for wounded U.S. troops in New York on Wednesday night, AP reports. The Boss also auctioned off his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a cool $85,000 at "Stand Up for Heroes," which featured Conan O'Brien as MC and some joke-telling by Robin Williams. Stephen Colbert, James Gandolfini and others were in attendance at the event, which was expected to draw more than $2.5 million for Bob Woodruff's Family Fund, a benefit group started by the ABC newsman who was previously injured in Iraq. ... Many hit songs these days rely on other artists' samples — and now the latter are finally getting their due. Samples that have appeared in songs by Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Beastie Boys, Madonna, Dr. Dre and others have been dug up from the archives for the new collection Droppin' Science. The February 12 release will be available as a 10-track CD or 13-song digital album. ...

What do you get when you put Vincent Gallo and Eric Erlandson together? A new band: Rriiccee. Gallo, who wrote and directed "Buffalo 66" and "Brown Bunny," previously released two solo albums, while Erlandson made a name for himself as a guitarist for Hole. Their new abstract project, which may eventually embrace additional members, will formally introduce itself with a tour starting in December — but doesn't plan to record any music or even release anything. "We've chosen not to go into a studio in a traditional way like other bands have done in the past," Gallo said in a statement. "We've chosen to remain open, to grow and change more naturally, and when we play live, the music is often created during the performance." Rriiccee previously played at Japan's Fuji Rock Festival and at a show in San Francisco. ...

"Barfly" actor Mickey Rourke was arrested Thursday in Miami Beach, Florida, on suspicion of driving under the influence — on a scooter, according to AP. He reportedly made a U-turn at a red light and swerved multiple times. "I'm not drunk, I didn't even drink that much," he reportedly said before being taken to police headquarters and failing a breath test. He is being held on $1,000 bond. ...

Are you a "unique" "Star Trek" fan? Not "unique" as in especially devoted, but rather fans who have "long necks, small heads, bug eyes, large foreheads [or] oversized ears"? Then you're in luck. Those are some of the attributes the makers of the J.J. Abrams reboot are requiring as they hunt for extras to appear in the film, according to BBC News. But if you don't match any of those descriptions, fear not — the studio is also looking for "ultra perfect or ultra plain-looking people." Auditions will be held Saturday in Burbank, California. ...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore's much-talked-about appearance on NBC's "30 Rock" will air on Thursday evening. The former vice president and environmentalist plays himself but also acts as if he can hear troubled whales calling in the episode, which spoofs NBC's "Green Is Universal" campaign. The show has many days of shooting planned for a 10th second-season episode amid the writers' strike, according to the Los Angeles Times. ... In other strike news, West Hollywood, California's Roxy Theatre is allowing Writers Guild of America members to go to shows for free — so long as the concerts in question haven't already sold out, according to Variety. All the members have to do is show their union membership card.

11.07.07

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.

• T.I.
• Britney Spears
• Kanye West
• Jay-Z
• Chris Brown

Jay-Z
Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

If you thought Jay-Z was a little premature in announcing his "retirement" four years ago, you're not alone. The hip-hop mogul admits in a new interview with XXL that he "pulled the retirement ripcord too many times." He added, "I want to never say that again. ... People looking at me like, 'Please shut up.' I was looking at [my retirement movie] 'Fade to Black' the other day. I was embarrassed. I couldn't watch. I'm not playing with you. I had to turn it off. I was cringing." On November 6, Jay-Z will issue American Gangster LP — the second album he has put out since making the "retirement" announcement in 2003. ...

Prosecutors in Philadelphia have withdrawn charges against Beanie Sigel after the rapper resolved a dispute over a rental car he had kept long past its return date, The Associated Press reports. Sigel (born Dwight Grant) had rented a 2007 Nissan Altima from Payless Car Rental in July but didn't return the vehicle by its August 13 due date. He also failed to contact the rental company. The car was reported stolen September 6 and was later returned October 5, just as detectives headed to Sigel's home to inquire about the car. Sigel has accumulated $5,000 in late fees, but he has since paid them, which caused prosecutors to withdraw the charges. ...

A Kurt Cobain biopic based on "Heavier Than Heaven," the widely praised 2001 biography of the late Nirvana singer written by Seattle journalist Charles Cross, will be executive produced by Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, according to Variety. The script for the yet-untitled film is slated to be written by "Kite Runner" screenwriter David Benioff, and Universal Pictures is funding the film. The producers have not addressed whether they have the rights to Nirvana's music for the film or which parts of Cobain's life it will cover. ...

Naomi Watts has officially pecked her way into the "Birds" remake, Variety reports. The actress is the first castmember to be announced for the new take on the Alfred Hitchcock classic, while "Casino Royale" director Martin Campbell is reportedly in talks to helm the flick, which will be produced by Michael Bay and is eyeing a 2009 theatrical release. Watts will play Melanie Daniels, a role originally taken on by Tippi Hedren, who recently sounded off to MTV about her distaste for the controversial project. ... What would Fashion Week in Southern California be like without Paris Hilton? The heiress helped close out Petro Zillia's closing show, dubbed "So L.A.," Thursday night in Culver City — although she apparently missed her sister Nicky's spring Chick collection earlier in the week. ...

Bruce Springsteen, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall, Bob Dylan and others are featured on Serve2, a recently released Hard Rock International compilation disc that benefits the Artists Against Hunger & Poverty arm of the World Hunger Year project. Unreleased tracks by those artists — plus Mat Kearney, O.A.R., the Hold Steady and more — will be featured on the set, which is available at Hard Rock Cafes. ... In addition to reuniting for some upcoming shows in November, it appears the Verve have been busy cooking up some new tunes, with the possibility of a new album in 2008. Bassist Simon Jones wrote in his blog that among the band's first new tracks in a decade are the songs "Sit and Wonder," "Judas," "Appalachian Springs," "Mona Lisa" and "Rather Be." ... U.K. shoegazers Swervedriver are also re-forming, bringing their 10-year hiatus to a close. The group is planning a worldwide tour for early next year. ... American Music Club will deliver The Golden Age — their second post-reunion effort, in fact — February 5. The track list hasn't been revealed yet. ...

Hellyeah have set November 13 as the release date for "Below the Belt," their new live DVD. The set will feature footage from the day the hard-rockers got together for the first time, along with performance footage from the making of their album, their first studio sessions and live clips from their world tour. The DVD will also boast personal interviews, as well as a few surprises. ... Irate Aerosmith fans are filing a lawsuit against the band for nixing its September 26 concert on the Hawaiian island of Maui last month, according to The Honolulu Advertiser. The class-action suit claims the band bailed from the sold-out show so it could play a bigger one in Chicago instead; that the late cancellation was unnecessary; and that it caused many fans to lose money they spent — somewhere between $500,000 and $3 million in total — on plane tickets, car rentals and hotels. The suit was filed on behalf of all ticket holders, and, under state law, plaintiffs could be eligible for triple their losses in damages and up to $5,000 if age 62 or over. ...

Stone Roses mastermind Ian Brown is giving his music a classical makeover by enlisting an orchestra to rework his hits. The singer's fifth solo release, The World Is Yours, was released last month, and Brown plans to play a set of classical concerts to put an interesting twist on his famous works. More details will be revealed in the coming weeks. ... Eels are putting out a 10th anniversary best-of set and a collection of rarities, both of which will feature a DVD and land in stores January 15. The sets will be called Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996-2006 and Eels Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006. ...

South African reggae star Lucky Dube was shot and killed in an apparent carjacking attempt on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa. AP reports that Dube, 43, died when he tried to drive away during the incident and crashed into a tree after being shot twice by two unknown male assailants. Dube's son had reportedly gotten out of the car shortly before the singer was shot.

10.18.07

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Jay-Z
• Beanie Sigel
• Courtney Love
• Hellyeah
• Lucky Dube

Hilary Duff
Photo: Mat Szwajkos/ Getty Images

Hilary Duff is becoming a waitress for "Greta," an upcoming teen interracial romance, Reuters reports. In the flick, which is currently filming in New Jersey, Duff's character is hot for one of her co-workers, a cook (Evan Ross). The movie is being helmed by music-video director Nancy Bardawil (Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire). ...

Don't expect to hear much more from Eve this year. The rapper's first LP in five years, Here I Am — which has been bumped numerous times — won't drop until 2008, according to Billboard. No reason has been given for the delay of the album, which has already been preceded by two songs, "Tambourine" and "Give It to Me" (featuring Sean Paul). ... It looks like Eve can commiserate with the Wu-Tang Clan, at least a little bit: According to a post on the group's MySpace page, fans will have to wait three weeks longer for Wu's long-awaited fifth album, The 8 Diagrams. The album — which features guest appearances from P-Funk mastermind George Clinton and Dani Harrison, son of late Beatle George — is dedicated to the memory of Ol' Dirty Bastard and was originally scheduled to drop on the anniversary of his death, November 13. But now the LP has been bumped from that date to December 4. ...

Beyoncé has rescheduled the November 1 concert that was originally planned for Malaysia and will perform instead in Jakarta, Indonesia, on that day, Reuters reports. The Malaysia show was nixed last week amid protests by local Muslim groups upset that she reportedly refused to obey the country's strict dress code for performers. ... As previously hinted, Rage Against the Machine will headline Big Day Out, the fest that will roam through Australia and New Zealand early next year. The Arcade Fire, Björk, LCD Soundsystem and others will play all six dates on the trek, which runs from January 18 in Auckland, New Zealand, through February 3 in Perth, Australia. ...

According to an article in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair magazine, financial improprieties aren't the only secret disgraced boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman may have been hiding. Interviews with Pearlman's former associates allege that the man behind the careers of 'NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and LFO made advances toward a number of the young men he shepherded to fame. Speaking to former Pearlman protégés and their parents, the article relates stories of young singers emerging from Pearlman's room late at night, buttoning their pants and joking with each other about whether Pearlman had performed a particular sex act on them, with one former assistant referring to the man who enjoyed the nickname "Big Poppa" as a "sexual predator." According to the article, Pearlman — currently in jail and accused of embezzling more than $300 million from investors — acted inappropriately with members of the BSB to the point where several of the bandmembers' mothers suspected "there might have been some strange things going on." In another alleged incident, an aspiring singer was summoned to Pearlman's Miami mansion in the middle of the night to take out the garbage, and when he asked what he needed to do to get into the band, he said, "[Pearlman] leaned back in his chair, in his white terry-cloth robe and white underwear, and spread his legs. And then he said, and these were his exact words, 'You're a smart boy. Figure it out.' " The November issue of Vanity Fair will be on newsstands October 9. ...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson seems to be taking his new pigskin-comedy flick to heart. The actor announced Tuesday (October 2) that he and his wife, Dany Garcia Johnson, are donating $1 million to help his alma mater, the University of Miami, renovate its football facilities. It's the largest gift a former Hurricane student athlete has ever given to the school's athletic department, and the football team's locker room will be named after Johnson according to The Associated Press. The actor separated from his wife, also a University of Miami alumna, earlier this year but the couple have said they are still close. "Dany and I have always said that being a student athlete here at the University of Miami has always been a tremendous part of our lives," Johnson said Tuesday. "The skill sets that we learned here as student athletes, talking about commitment, talking about sacrifice ... those skill sets are invaluable." ...

Courtney Love has settled a lawsuit brought against her by the attorneys who represented her in legal battles with the surviving members of Nirvana, the Seattle Weekly reports. Katherine Hendricks and O. Yale Lewis claimed that Love owed them more than $340,000, plus interest, for their work on a 2002 suit that Love filed against Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl. Love, controller of the share of Nirvana's business that had belonged to her late husband, Kurt Cobain, allegedly did not fully pay her lawyers, even though she eventually earned at least $9 million as a result of that suit. Love settled with Hendricks and Lewis for an undisclosed sum, and the settlement went into effect on September 17. According to court records, Love paid the Seattle attorneys more than $1 million for their work on the Nirvana suit, but they claim she still owed them $341,000, plus as much as $200,000 in interest. ... Nicolas Cage encountered a most unwelcome houseguest when a man broke into the actor's home in Newport Beach, California, early Monday morning, "Access Hollywood" reports. Robert Furo, 45, has been charged with first-degree burglary and has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial hearing for Furo, who is in custody, is set for October 10.

Morrissey's marathon 10-night stand at the Palladium in Hollywood, which was due to be his last sweep through the U.S. in the near future, has hit a snag — and a burst water pipe is to blame. The shows planned for Tuesday and Thursday have been canceled due to the safety issue, leaving Moz with an eight-night stand beginning Friday. Tickets for the canceled gigs will be honored at either the Monday or October 9 shows, with refunds available at point of purchase for those unable to attend. ... Tuesday has been named "Bruce Springsteen Day" in Hartford, Connecticut, AP reports. Governor M. Jodi Rell announced the designation, which coincides with the Boss' decision to open his upcoming tour Tuesday night at the Hartford Civic Center. Also on Tuesday, Springsteen released his new Magic LP with the E Street Band. ... Matador Records plans to reissue post-punk outfit Mission of Burma's back catalog early next year. The first two discs, 1982's Vs. and 1985's The Horrible Truth About Burma, will be repackaged and expanded. ... Flyleaf will release a two-CD/one-DVD limited-edition version of their self-titled album on October 30. The set will feature a number of videos and acoustic versions of some of the album's tracks, as well as additional bonus content. ...

Placebo drummer Steve Hewitt has quit, according to frontman Brian Molko. "Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage and in couples — in this case, a triple," the singer wrote in a statement. "People can grow apart over the years. To say you don't love your partner anymore is inaccurate considering all that you've been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realize that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak." ...

Aaron Gillespie, drummer for Underoath and frontman for the Almost, has been sidelined temporarily so that he can heal from an infection on his hand. The infection was caused by a finger blister he incurred from performing, and he had to undergo minor surgery to take care of the problem. Gillespie will sit out the next week of the Almost's tour, with drummer Kenny Bozich filling in for him. ... Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman broke his foot while filming two videos last week and will need four to six weeks for the injury to heal. The band plans to reschedule its U.S. and European tours and is also set to host a release party for its forthcoming album, Ire Works, at a yet-to-be-determined locale on November 13.

10.01.07

Lindsay Lohan's father, Michael, will spend five days with the troubled starlet at a remote lodge in the Utah mountains as part of her recovery, People reports. The two saw each other for the first time in three and a half years when Michael visited Lindsay at the Cirque Lodge rehab center in early September. "It can only help her recovery," Lindsay's mother, Dina, told People in an e-mail of the visit, which is set to begin Tuesday morning. "It's time to mend. He is visiting Lindsay alone because we are giving her dad a chance to make amends." ...

Britney Spears may not have wowed audiences at the VMAs with her dancing, but fans are still apparently digging her music. Spears' current single, "Gimme More," sits atop the digital-sales charts on iTunes and is at #8 on the iPhone ringtone charts, just before former love Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack." ...

Heidi Montag has admitted to Us Weekly that she did indeed undergo breast augmentation and rhinoplasty earlier this year, as had been previously speculated. The "Hills" star told the magazine, "I've always been very insecure about my body. ... If I was with a guy and there was a girl next to me with big boobs, I would be like, 'Oh my God, he's looking at her!' ... I hated my nose too. I have my dad's nose, which is huge." Startlingly, Montag suggested the medical procedures might have mattered even more than life itself. "Right before I went in, I was like, 'What if I don't wake up? Oh, this is scary.' Then I thought, 'I don't care. If I don't wake up, it's worth it.' I just wanted it so badly." ...

Last week was all about partying for September birthday boys T.I., Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne. The three celebrated their birthdays several days ago at T.I.'s Club Crucial in Atlanta with a joint salute to themselves. On Friday, Wayne hosted his official 25th b-day party in Miami with a Harlem Renaissance-themed yacht party called the "Black and White Baller Bash." Diddy, T.I., Juelz Santana and Rick Ross were some of the 300 people cruising with Weezy F. Baby. And on Sunday, Young Jeezy went so fly with his birthday party that he held it in an Atlanta airplane hangar. T.I., Chingy, Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo and Yung Joc came out to that bash. ... Speaking of one of those partygoers, Juelz Santana is reaching out to the kids by joining the Stay in School Concert set to go down October 17 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. Jim Jones, DJ Cipha Sounds and Lil Mama are also participating in the event, which is being put on by the Entertainers 4 Education Alliance — a nonprofit helping provide at-risk youth with positive alternatives to negative behavior through education. ...

Lil Wayne and Fabolous' Monday (October 1) concert at the University of Florida, Gainesville, will help spread drinking and driving awareness, the campus' Independent Florida Alligator reports. A portion of the proceeds from the show will go to the Corey Dahlem Benevolent Fund, which was set up after the police officer was killed by a drunk driver following the school's basketball-championship game in the spring. ... Hold your breath: Kanye West has started a blog. He recently launched a blog on Kanye UniverseCity and has put up a clip of his recent performance on "Saturday Night Live," party pics, videos by Lupe Fiasco and Feist and more. ...

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are doubling their fun with a joint tour, which launched Friday with a two-night stand in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but while the two are hoping their relationship helps their careers, Lopez's former flame Ben Affleck says their romance hurt his acting reputation. "It was probably bad for my career," he told Details of their relationship, which lasted from 2002-'04. "What happens is this sort of bleed-over from the tabloids across your movie work. I ended up in an unfortunate crosshair position where I was in a relationship and [the media] mostly lied and inflated a bunch of salacious stuff for the sake of selling magazines. And I paid a certain price for that." ...

Paula Abdul is getting ready for the seventh season of "American Idol," which starts in January — but she might be expecting something even bigger in the near future. She told USA Today that having children is "the next step in my life," adding that she would like to give birth "definitely within the next two years. I thought by now I'd have three grown children." Adbul, who has been roaming the country as part of the "Idol" auditions, also said: "With modern medicine, people are having kids in their 40s and even up until their late 40s. In their 50s, they're having their second child. If it doesn't happen naturally like that, I would always consider adopting." ... Pamela Anderson's application for a marriage license with former Paris Hilton beau Rick Salomon has been granted by Clark County, Nevada's Marriage License Bureau, according to The Associated Press. The license means the couple can get married any time during the next year. Anderson had previously been married to Kid Rock and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. ...

Looks like the Spice Girls haven't lost their "girl power" — the reunited group's London concert, set for December 15 at the O2 arena, sold out in a mere 38 seconds, BBC News reports. Three more dates — for December 16 and 18 and January 2 — have been added to the reunion run and will be sold exclusively to fans via e-mail. ... Ghostface, Rakim and Brother Ali will hit the tarmac together as part of the inaugural Hip Hop Live! tour, which will span an October 29 gig in Los Angeles through a November 21 show in Philadelphia. The innovative show will find the rhyme-slingers backed by a 10-piece instrumental band, the Rhythm Roots Allstars. ... Nikki Sixx, Butch Walker, Felix Da Housecat, Howie B and Kelis have joined the international judging panel for the 2007 Diesel:U:Music Awards, which will take place Wednesday at London's Koko Club. They will vote based on music the participating artists uploaded at Diesel-U-Music.com. ...

Ex-Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo has opened up to Revolver about "Mourn," a "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott tribute track that appears on his band Down's latest album, III - Over the Under. "That's a very hard, hard song for me to really ... honestly, the song speaks for itself," he said. "It's about feeling isolated from my family in Texas, feelings about the obvious ... deep, deep, deep feelings every day. You know, I've been very quiet ever since [Dimebag's death], but it's all good. I decided a while ago that, yes, absolutely there is a proper time to mourn, and that he deserves a celebration of his life, and that's the path that I've chosen. Every action I do, I think of him. Every push-up I do, I think of him. Every time I hit a line, or I'm working in the studio, I can hear him saying, 'You can do better.' So that's what gets me through the hard times, the trying times, is his positivity." ...

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello's alter ego, the Nightwatchman, has been named the support act for System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's upcoming North American solo tour. Morello will play his own headlining date October 11 in Nashville and then join Tankian in Chicago (October 12), Toronto (October 14), Boston (October 15), New York (October 17), Philadelphia (October 18) and Atlanta (October 20). ... Deftones frontman Chino Moreno's Team Sleep side project will take to the road in November for a string of gigs. Joining them on the trek will be former From First to Last frontman Sonny Moore, Monster in the Machine and Strata. The tour kicks off November 29 in Orangevale, California, and continues through December 16 in San Francisco. ... The Mars Volta's next album won't drop until next year. Bedlam in Goliath, which had been planned for a fall release, has bumped to January 29 for unknown reasons. ...

Sylvester Stallone and the crew of his "Rambo" sequel, "John Rambo," witnessed firsthand the aftermath of horrific atrocities happening in Myanmar while filming the movie along the country's border, according to AP. "I witnessed the aftermath — survivors with legs cut off and all kinds of land-mine injuries, maggot-infested wounds and ears cut off," Stallone, who returned to the U.S. eight days ago, told the wire service Monday (October 1). "We hear about Vietnam and Cambodia, and this was more horrific." The actor left neighboring country Thailand before the Myanmar government began cracking down on pro-democracy protests last week. ... Nelson Mandela is planning a fifth AIDS awareness concert, for December 1 in Johannesburg, South Africa, AP reports. "I am very delighted that we are engaging the youth in schools, communities and through the media breaking the silence and stigmas around HIV and AIDS and making them realize that the power to beat the pandemic lies in their own hands," Mandela said in a statement. More than 30 to-be-announced international and local acts — and 50,000 concert attendees — are expected for the event, which is being held in conjunction with World AIDS Day. ...

Duran Duran are headed to Broadway. The English new-wave veterans will play a nine-show run at the Barrymore Theatre in New York during the first two weeks of November to promote the upcoming release of their Red Carpet Massacre album, which drops November 13. The group will play the entire LP — which features production from Timbaland and Danjahandz and a cameo from Justin Timberlake — each night, then sprinkle in some classic hits. Tickets will cost $75, $125 and $150. ... Add the Pipettes to the growing list of bands canceling U.S. treks due to visa problems — the British female pop trio has postponed a series of dates on its upcoming North American tour. The outing was originally set to start Tuesday in Chicago but will now launch October 25 in Los Angeles. ...

David Gilmour says he has no desire to reunite with his Pink Floyd bandmates, despite a recent European poll in which fans clamored for the band to do so. He claims he's focused on his solo career. "I can't see why I would want to be going back to that old thing," he explained recently to Rolling Stone. "It's very retrogressive. I want to look forward, and looking back isn't my joy. I don't know how one puts it, but going back into all that just wouldn't bring me joy. It's my time of life to be selfish — please myself." Last week, digital-music firm Music Choice published a poll in which 26 percent of respondents said Floyd top their list of bands they'd like to see reunite. ...

Tuesday could be a pivotal day in the ongoing war between the Recording Industry Association of America and rogue downloaders. According to Wired magazine, the RIAA will face off in a courtroom with a Minnesota mother in the first copyright jury trial that could set a precedent on the amount of proof a jury would have to consider to find a defendant liable for copyright infringement. The mother, Jannie Thomas, has adamantly claimed she did not download the 1,702 audio files she is accused of sharing on Kazaa in 2005. ...

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has closed "Thanksgiving," an installation of pictures by American photographer Nan Goldin that are owned by Elton John, at the singer's request amid a police investigation over whether a photo of two girls violates child-pornography laws, AP reports. ... A man who pleaded guilty in a plot to extort more than $1 million from Tom Cruise for the actor's stolen wedding photos was found dead in his home, according to an AP report. Investigators believe David Hans Schmidt, 47, who had been under house arrest and faced up to two years in federal prison, committed suicide. He was found dead in his home Friday afternoon after police noticed a tracker placed on him had not moved, and he had not checked in.

• Hilary Duff
• Beyoncé
• Eve
• Rage Against the Machine
• Arcade Fire

Mary J. Blige
Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

"MTV Unplugged" is plugging back in. Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Kenny Chesney and the Police will be featured in upcoming installments of the intimate acoustic-performance series. An upcoming episode featuring Bon Jovi — who some say inspired the program with their acoustic set at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards — will be presented in three variations on different channels, with each tailored for a specific audience: June 22 (MTV); June 23 (VH1, VH1 Classic, Music High-Definition); and June 24 (CMT). Dates for the other programs have not been announced yet. ...

T-Pain performed — sans vocal enhancer! — at S.O.B.'s in New York Thursday night, running through a number of hits, including "Sprung," R. Kelly's "I'm a Flirt" remix and his latest hit, "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," for which Yung Joc surprised the crowd and joined in for his guest verse. "I'm too big for this sh--," a winded T-Pain said after dancing around with Joc. "Y'all got me out here like I'm Chris Brown!" ... T.I. hosted an album-listening session in New York at Manhattan nightspot Manor on Thursday night, previewing songs from his forthcoming T.I. vs T.I.P. The Atlanta MC was joined onstage by DJ Drama. The duo spun tracks including the Wyclef-assisted "You Know What It Is," set to be the second T.I. vs. T.I.P. single. ...

Fergie's Taco Bell obsession is starting to pay off, TMZ.com reports. According to a letter obtained by the site, Taco Bell President Greg Creed is offering Fergie and her fans free Fourthmeals at any local Taco Bell near a stop on her tour. All Fergie has to do is contact the restaurant a week in advance. ... The Jackson family auction raked in a two-day total of $1.5-$2 million, Agence-France Presse reports. ...

Paula Abdul told People she's "just fine" following the online leak of a phone call in which a sobbing Abdul talked about her strained relationship with her ex-publicist, but that "it hurts." "That was a private conversation. That was a violation of my privacy and totally illegal," she added. In the call, the "American Idol" judge also discussed having Addison's disease, a disorder that causes muscle weakness. But she told People: "I haven't been diagnosed with it. I'm just exhausted. Sometimes I have really low blood-sugar levels. It's all because I work very hard, that's it." ... Paris Hilton isn't heading behind bars until Tuesday, but she's already starting to disappear from public view. A South Korea sportswear company has temporarily suspended TV and print ads featuring the heiress, Agence-France Presse reports. ... In other Hilton news, the heiress will not be allowed to give TV interviews while in jail, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday (June 1), The Associated Press reports. Baca added that authorities are trying to prevent cameras from being smuggled into the Los Angeles County jail in Lynwood, and that deputies and jail employees have been told to treat Hilton like the other inmates. ...

Is TomKat's litter about to grow bigger? "Yes, definitely," Katie Holmes responded in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight," when asked if she is ready to have more children with Tom Cruise. "We're having the best time, it's so amazing." The programs airs Monday. ... Ben Affleck received a standing ovation Friday after giving a commencement speech at Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia, AP reports. The actor praised Joe Kindregan, a disabled student he met in 1998; since then, the two have partnered to raise money to find a cure for ataxia-telengiectasia, the rare genetic disease Kindregan suffers from. ... Hugh Grant will not be prosecuted for allegedly kicking and tossing baked beans at a photographer, AP reports. The actor was arrested following the incident, which occurred on April 24. ...

Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson? Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright isn't known for his pop-star duets, but Jane magazine asked him which of the bubbly blondes he'd rather collaborate with, and he didn't have to think twice. "Britney, by far," he said in an interview published in the magazine's June/July issue. "I love her. I think she's the emblem of our times." ... Courtney Love will be taking the stage Friday night at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, a source close to the singer confirmed. Love will be the special guest at Linda Perry's concert and will play some new material in a four-to-five-song set. ...

The All-American Rejects will release a DVD, "Tournado," July 10. The offering revolves around a live performance shot while the band was touring in support of 2005's Move Along, and will feature behind-the-scenes footage. ... Iggy Pop supplies the voice of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in an upcoming Comedy Central cartoon. The rocker will portray Lil' Rummy, a child who is the bully figure in the channel's "Lil' Bush" series, which debuts June 13. The show portrays the Oval Office's main players as tykes ready to rule the world. Dave Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy will lend their voices to guest roles. ...

Ja Rule will join Salt-N-Pepa, "The Wire" actors Idris Elba and Hassan Johnson, radio host Ed Lover and others Saturday afternoon in Queens, New York, for the "Repping for Life" town-hall meeting to discuss gang intervention and prevention campaigns. The event is open to the public and begins at York College at 3 p.m. ... Chrisette Michelle joined the Roots onstage Thursday night at the Highline Ballroom in New York. The Def Jam singer and Philadelphia collective performed a string of songs at a Tanqueray- and Giant-magazine-sponsored event. ...

Godsmack plan to release a box set later this year, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, 1997's All Wound Up. The set will compile the group's four studio albums, the acoustic EP The Other Side, and a DVD featuring short documentaries about the making of each album. ... Between the Buried and Me, the Red Chord, Cephalic Carnage and the End will hit the road this summer for a 15-date North American tour. The run kicks off July 27 in Pittsburgh, and dates are booked through August 11 in Wilmington, North Carolina. ...

Two days after iTunes started selling thousands of EMI artists' songs without copyright protection comes word that EMI, Google and YouTube have signed a licensing deal that will give YouTube users access to the record label's audio and video catalog, according to Billboard. The label's roster includes Gorillaz, Coldplay and Lily Allen. ... Bands playing in Nevada must call themselves "tribute" acts if they don't have at least one founding member, thanks to a new law. If bands don't do so, it will be considered deceptive trading practice. ... NBC Universal networks will air "Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis" in various incarnations on July 7. For the climate-change awareness concerts — which will feature Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Madonna and many more — NBC will present a three-hour special hosted by Ann Curry and Carson Daly; Bravo will air 18 hours of live concert coverage and highlight clips; Sundance and Universal HD will broadcast concerts live all day; Telemundo and Mun2 will air specials featuring Latin performers; CNBC will air seven hours of coverage; and MSNBC will feature exclusive coverage throughout the day.

05.31.2007

With summer wide open for rappers now that 50 Cent has pushed his album back to September, Kanye West is looking to capitalize. Def Jam confirmed that the release date for West's forthcoming Graduation has been pushed up to a late August release from its original September date. No specific date has been announced yet, but in true Kanye fashion, the rapper broke the news of the switch himself, on his latest mixtape Can't Tell Me Nothing — which shares its title with Graduation's first single, co-produced by West and DJ Toomp. ...

50 Cent will preview tracks from Curtis at a one-off show at London's Hammersmith Palais on July 2, MTV UK reported Thursday (May 31). Tickets for the concert, presented by MTV Base, go on sale Friday. ...

Jessica Alba, Alicia Keys, Liv Tyler, Elton John and others have signed a petition urging G8 leaders to keep their word to impoverished countries. Many poverty experts say promises that were made in 2005, including increasing aid levels, supporting the Global Fund and addressing the shortage of health-care workers in Africa and elsewhere, have not been met. The petition, which can be found here, is open for signature until Tuesday — the day before President Bush and other world leaders descend on Germany for a G8 summit. ...

Nicole Richie is "nervous" she might be punished with jail time, like her friend Paris Hilton, she told Ryan Seacrest on his "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" radio show Wednesday morning. Richie, who was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in February, said she knows she has to "take responsibility" and "deal with whatever consequences" come her way. She also said she's been out of the limelight lately because she's been touring with boyfriend Joel Madden of Good Charlotte — and that she hasn't been in rehab recently, as some have speculated. ... Lindsay Lohan's lawyer has told "Best Week Ever" that the singer/actress' 21st birthday party is still on track for July 2 at Las Vegas' Pure nightclub. ... A Los Angeles County judge has issued a bench warrant for Tom Sizemore, TMZ.com reports. Last week, the actor pleaded not guilty to five felony drug counts, including transportation and possession of crystal crystal methamphetamine. ... The Jackson family memorabilia auction being held Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas drew roughly $500,000 its first day, The Associated Press reports. A set of gold and platinum albums presented to the family for sales of "We Are the World" sold for $20,000, while a military-style shirt worn by Michael Jackson went for $24,000. ...

The "Shrek" series will conclude in 2012 with a final fifth volume, to follow a fourth, origin-story installment in 2010, DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg told Australia's The Age newspaper. "It's a finite story, has been from the beginning, and I think that's part of its integrity, part of its strength, that we're not thinking this up as we go," he said. "Ultimately, we will come back to understand how Shrek arrived in that swamp. We will reveal his story." ... Hogwarts will soon have a campus in Orlando, Florida. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park within a theme park, is expected to open in late 2009 at Universal's Islands of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort. The park will feature rides and other interactive experiences as well as shops and restaurants, and will be "faithful to the visual landscapes of the films," including re-creations of Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. "The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed," J.K. Rowling said in a statement. (See sketches of the park, including Hosgmeade Square and Hogwarts, right here.) ...

Dr. Louis Pena, the coroner who testified Tuesday that actress Lana Clarkson's death was a homicide, acknowledged Thursday that crime-lab mistakes were made while collecting evidence at Phil Spector's mansion, AP reports. Pena said Clarkson's body was mistakenly moved, compromising at least one item from the crime scene in the process, and also said the medical findings could not establish who held the gun that fired the bullet that killed Clarkson. Pena said the actress had gunshot residue on her hands but that it doesn't necessarily mean she fired the gun. In a hearing the jury did not witness, lawyers argued over whether jurors should hear about a diary Clarkson kept. After Pena testified that he had not considered doing a "psychological autopsy" on Clarkson, since he had determined her death was not a suicide but a homicide, a Spector defense attorney asked him if he considered documents found in her computer. That includes "The Story of My Life," a composition in which she discussed having drug problems and talked about a seeing visions of a dead actress who committed suicide. The prosecution said the writings had not been authenticated and therefore could not be relied upon. "If you have the words of a deceased ... how do you keep that away from the jury and away from an expert who could have considered it," Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said. ...

Master P and Romeo's father-son collaboration Hip-Hop History is due September 4 — the same day that 50 Cent's Curtis is scheduled to hit stores. "The date was not chosen to compete with Curtis Jackson's delayed release, but rather to create balance in the marketplace and give kids a freedom of choice," according to a statement posted on P's MySpace page, which also states that proceeds from the album will fund scholarship programs. Master P and 50 have recently clashed over P's announcement that he would not use profanity in his lyrics. ... "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will join finalists Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle for a performance on NBC's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," airing July 4 at 9 p.m. They will join their seven fellow finalists to kick off the Idols Live tour July 6 in Sunrise, Florida. ... The stars have been shining bright lately for Bright Eyes. The band, which is amid a seven-week residency at New York's Town Hall, has been joined in recent nights by Norah Jones, Lou Reed, Ben Kweller, Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, ex-Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and Gillian Welch. ...

Jermaine Dupri has signed Harlem sensation Jason Fox — responsible for the street hit "Aunt Jackie," a tune that complements the flamboyant New York City dance of the same name — to Island Urban Music. The dance has been an online smash, with kids appropriating the moves in homemade video clips. "I think we're seeing the life of hip-hop coming back with songs like 'Aunt Jackie,' " Dupri said in a statement. "It's the kids acting like kids used to act when I was growing up, and I love it because, to me, hip-hop has been too-cool-for-school lately. It's time for a change." ... Shop Boyz popped into Canal Room in Manhattan, New York, Wednesday night for a surprise performance of their hit "Party Like a Rockstar" during the MixtapeKings.com relaunch party; Disturbing Tha Peace rapper Serius Jones also performed and Kool DJ Herc manned the boards. ... Bo Bice has pulled the plug on the end of his acoustic tour and is returning to the studio in order to get his second album in stores by mid-September. Bice's shows scheduled for Tucson, Arizona (June 3); Odessa, Texas (June 7); and Dallas (June 9) have been canceled.

05.30.2007

Fat Joe is wanted for questioning by police in Miami Beach, Florida, as a witness to a double murder that occurred outside a restaurant in South Beach over the Memorial Day weekend. The police report states that the Terror Squad leader allegedly was in the company of Lessli Paz of New York and Joey Navarro of Florida in a Cadillac Escalade truck when Jermaine "Wufgang" Chamberline approached the vehicle and fired a weapon on the two men, killing them both. However, Jeffrey Lichtman, Fat Joe's attorney, told MTV News: "The cops never contacted Joe directly. I called the cops, I told them he is out of the country on music business, but if they want to speak to him, we will. The police then told me they already apprehended the [alleged perpetrator,] but they may take us up on the offer. And we have not heard back from them since." ...

Harry Potter fans have two fewer days to scratch off on their calendars. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will be hitting theaters Wednesday, July 11, instead of on July 13, Warner Bros. confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (May 30). ...

Busta Rhymes, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Eve, Rick Ross and Rich Boy are on the lineup for Boost Mobile's RockCorps concert in Atlanta, scheduled for June 9. Volunteers have until the day of the show to fulfill the commitment required to get into the event, which serves as a thank you to young people making a difference in their communities. Taking Back Sunday will be headlining upcoming events in Portland, Oregon; Houston; Philadelphia; and Chicago. Check out the RockCorps site for volunteer opportunities. ...

Would you share your dreams with Jeezy? What if he could make them come true? The rapper is inviting fans to e-mail their wish (100 words or less) to dreams@corportatethugzent.com. Young Jeezy will review each dream and choose one to fulfill. "If it wasn't for certain people supporting me, I don't think I'd be able to accomplish what I have," Jeezy said in a statement announcing the contest. "That's why I'm doing this for my fans. ... I wanted to show them how thankful I am that they're helping me realize my dreams. For me, this whole contest, and even my career, will make me feel like I've accomplished a lot if I can help someone else realize their dreams too." Submissions will be accepted until June 21, and the winner will be announced July 23. ...

Paula Abdul found her purpose in life on "American Idol," she said in an interview featured in the new issue of OK! magazine. "Being a judge on 'American Idol' overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she said. "My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success." Abdul also responded to claims about her sometimes strange behavior on TV, saying, "I'm sick of it. I've never been drunk. I don't do recreational drugs. It's defamation of character." ...

Harry Potter isn't getting expelled from school — school libraries in Gwinnett County, Georgia, that is. The Associated Press reports that a judge on Tuesday upheld a previous decision against Laura Mallory, who had argued that the fiction series is trying to indoctrinate kids into witchcraft. The mother of four, who was not represented by an attorney at the hearing, said she still wants the volumes removed and might take the case to federal court. ...

Rihanna has been added to the Live Earth concert lineup in Tokyo, which will also feature Linkin Park, as previously reported. ... The fallout from Brandy's deadly December 30 car crash continues. In papers filed last Wednesday, the 28-year-old singer sued Mallory Ham — who was cited in a previous suit for alleged reckless and careless driving — contending that Ham caused the accident that resulted in the death of a woman. According to AP, Brandy's suit denies allegations made against her in a previous lawsuit, requests a jury trial and asserts her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Ham filed a countersuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday claiming that Brandy "recklessly, wantonly, unlawfully and maliciously" operated her car. Ham seeks compensation for unspecified medical bills, pain and suffering, legal costs and punitive damages.

Ozzy Osbourne will own #3 on the next Billboard albums chart with his Black Rain — and tells Details that he knows he's fortunate to be around to enjoy the success. "I've been terribly lucky," Osbourne said in the June/July issue. "When I had my ATV accident, I was going not more than three or four miles an hour, and I ended up in a coma for eight days. My heart stopped twice. I don't remember any of it. I went back to the hospital after the accident and the doctors were telling me, 'Your left lung was completely full of blood. You broke your rib, your collarbone, your neck — you're lucky to be alive' " — and for more than just the most obvious reason, the singer explained. "If I had been going 120 miles an hour it would have been a cool way to go — but four miles an hour? Ozzy Osbourne?!' " ...

Pixies frontman Frank Black — or, should we say, Black Francis — will return September 11 with a new album, Bluefinger. The record, which Black will release under his decades-old Francis moniker, features 11 tracks and was recorded when the singer was, as he puts it, "gripped" by the spirit of late Dutch musician and painter Herman Brood. "Thank you Herman. You were at the distant edge of my vision for years when suddenly I was under your influence like a cloud of opium, like the scent of the house of the rising son," Black said in a statement. "Herman Brood did turn me back into Black Francis. Funny how things work out. You just never know." You totally don't, dude. ... iTunes started selling thousands of songs without copyright protection on Wednesday, including tracks by EMI artists Coldplay, Pink Floyd and Norah Jones, AP reports. The iTunes Plus songs do not feature digital-rights management, have a higher sound quality and are priced 30 cents more than typical 99-cent songs. The unrestricted content will allow some iTunes tracks to work on Microsoft's Zune and other portable players. ...

Sorta crunchy/ sorta Christian Philly rockers Mewithoutyou would like to have dinner with you — and 200-300 of your closest friends. On their current headlining tour, which runs until June 29, Mewithoutyou are inviting fans to join them in pre-show potluck dinners — where "two hours before doors [open] fans are invited to the venue to eat and drink and talk and sing and get to know each other." In addition to the food, MWY are encouraging fans to bring "a board game, horseshoes, piñata, song, dance, prayer, juggling pins, unicycle, etc." to the festivities, and want you to know that "they are open to presentation and lesson ideas as well." But the good vibes don't end with the pre-show potlucks: any and all fans "skilled at non-guitar instruments" are invited to join the band onstage during their live set. For more information, check out the band's MySpace page.

• Mary J. Blige
• John Mayer
• T-Pain
• Chris Brown
• T.I.

The White Stripes' Jack White
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

The news happens all the time, even while you're catching up on beauty sleep. 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:

There's a year of waiting until "Iron Man" is in theaters, but you don't have to hold out that long for a taste of the hero's adventures. We hung out in Tony Stark's office and even got to interact with his iconic mask and goof around with Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau — and we're sharing it all with you. Plus take a rare peek at two scenes as they're being shot. ...

"American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks has a busy schedule ahead, what with a three-month tour coming up and a debut album due "before Thanksgiving," so she's already giving her first record some serious thought. "I'd love to do a duet with Mario or Chris Brown," Sparks told us. "But let's see what happens. ... And I'm going to be doing the tour and trying to find songs at the same time. And then after the tour, it's gonna be record, record, record, write, write, write." ...

Theater employees may find you annoying, credits watchers, but Hollywood keeps delivering treats to the faithful who stick around until the very last line rolls. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is the latest blockbuster to reward moviegoers' patience, but it certainly isn't the first. Check out our favorite post-credits scenes — yes, "Napoleon Dynamite" and "The Matrix Reloaded" make the cut, along with a Muppets gem from way back.

Quote of the Day: "If you have to go to the bathroom, go. You ain't gonna get in trouble." — Diddy at his Wednesday night listening party

Here's what everyone else is talking about:

If you play the White Stripes album early without permission, Jack White will find you and tell you what he thinks. And it probably won't be good. Chicago DJ Electra learned this the hard way on Wednesday, when White called her from Spain to say he didn't appreciate the early spin — which led to terrible-quality MP3 radio rips floating all over the Internet. Electra turned to her blog to tell her side of the story. "I don't think I did anything wrong, and I don't think I am helping to ruin the music industry," she said in the post. "I think I made people excited for the new White Stripes record. I know that was our intention." In other Stripes news, the band announced Thursday that they have had to push back the September 4-13 dates for their U.S. tour due to "unforseen scheduling issues." ...

Linda Perry's show at the House of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on Friday night (June 1) will feature a very special guest, PerezHilton.com reports. Courtney Love is rumored to be playing a set of her own following Perry's performance. ...

The Police's reunion tour has already survived an "unbeLIEVably lame" show according to one critic. Look out, Sting — he's sitting right behind you. Yes, Stewart Copeland took to the forum on his Web site Thursday to share a frank account of the band's Wednesday night show in Vancouver with fans. "We are the mighty Police and we are totally at sea," the drummer wrote, noting a series of small errors that most concertgoers surely missed, including a less-than-stellar jump by Sting and a momentarily out-of-sync "Message in a Bottle." Instead of duking it out over the rough gig, Copeland said band laughed this "disaster gig" off. "It usually takes about four or five shows in a tour before you get to the disaster gig. But we're the Police so we are a little ahead of schedule," Copeland noted. ...

Paris Hilton shouldn't go to jail, Nicky Hilton told People — fair enough, it is her sister and all. But her reasoning may be a little off. "I think she should definitely be punished, but going to jail for a traffic violation is pretty absurd," Nicky said. Of course it was a probation violation, not a traffic violation that earned Paris her 23-day sentence. She is scheduled to report to jail on Tuesday. ...

Marilyn Manson's Eat Me, Drink Me is in stores Tuesday, but the entirety of the album is already streaming on Manson's MySpace page. ...

The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr. is writing a screenplay. New York magazine reports that he is adapting the Charles Bukowski novel "Pulp." Hammond said he won't direct the film, which has a $3 million budget, but he does have some casting ideas ("I already have people in mind. I have it in my head — I could do it now," he said) and plans to be part of the process. "I wouldn't want someone to ruin my script. I don't think they'd let me direct, but I'd want to be somewhere in the picture like that." ...

Japanese director Hideo Nakata ("The Ring 2") and producer Taka Ichise ("The Grudge") are teaming up to direct "Inhuman," a horror project for 20th Century Fox, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The two previously teamed up for "Ringu." ...

Fifteen New Zealand actors who appeared in the "Lord of the Rings" films sued New Line on Wednesday in an effort to get a slice of the merchandising pie, Variety reported. The actors claim that, according to their contracts, they are entitled to a cut of the millions of dollars that fans spent on LOTR gear.

• 'Iron Man' Set Visit: Behind The Mask

• "Iron Man"

• The White Stripes
• Courtney Love
• The Police
• Paris Hilton
• Marilyn Manson

Gwen, T.I., Pharrell, Luda And More Hit The 2006 Billboard Music Awards

• Gwen Stefani
• Pharrell Williams
• Ludacris
• Janet Jackson
• Chris Daugherty

Outrageous Moments

• Kelly Clarkson
• Madonna
• Britney Spears
• blink-182
• Michael Jackson

Jamie Foxx, Ashlee Simpson, Ciara, More At The Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party, 2.7.06

• Jamie Foxx
• Ashlee Simpson
• Ciara
• Mary J. Blige
• Ludacris

Grammy Parties 2006

• Britney Spears
• Kevin Federline
• Maroon 5
• Chingy
• Christina Milian

Courtney Love Live In New York, 03.18.2004

• Courtney Love

Courtney Love's Wild Night

• Courtney Love

46th Annual Grammy Awards Green Carpet

• Beyoncé
• Christina Aguilera
• 50 Cent
• G-Unit
• Justin Timberlake

• Courtney Love