Thirteen years ago this week, Paula Abdul was filling the gap between being a Laker Girl and being an "American Idol" judge by selling millions of copies of her debut album, Forever Your Girl. MTV News crashed a Los Angeles party where she was celebrating her success with several of her new Hollywood pals.

"Well, I've seen her on MTV and stuff," observed actress Molly Ringwald, "and she seems like a really great dancer. I mean a really great, great dancer."

" 'Straight Up' is my favorite," gushed Eddie Murphy, "and I like the album a lot. Paula's a real sweet girl."

"She sings it for me live, so I don't need the record," bragged Abdul's then-boyfriend, John Stamos.

Eventually, MC Skat Kat's rooftop dance partner was roped into giving a speech. "Everyone at Virgin Records, I thank you from the bottom of my heart because you believed in me when no one had to," Abdul said, "and you really took a risk with me. ... You've helped me live out my dream."

So after selling 6 million records and scoring four #1 hits, what does Paula Abdul do next? Nope, not Disneyland. "As soon as I get finished with my next album, I'm gonna be doing a big [U.S.] and world tour, so I'll be going everywhere," she said.

While Abdul was marveling at her runaway success, karaoke kings Milli Vanilli (shh ... it was still a secret in 1990) were marveling that critics had the nerve to trash their debut LP, Girl You Know It's True. The curious Euro-pop duo — German-born Rob Pilatus and his largely silent partner, Fab Morvan — had sold 10 million albums, which has to prove something, they said.

In a Time magazine interview (in which we assume they did their own talking), Pilatus boasted: "Musically we are more talented than any Bob Dylan. Musically we are more talented than Paul McCartney. Mick Jagger, his lines are not clear. He don't know how he should produce a sound. ... I'm the new modern rock and roll. I'm the new Elvis."

Seriously, the guy actually said that. See for yourself how the Rob and Fab musical revolution turned out next time VH1 has a "Behind the Music" marathon.

One artist who does have staying power, that butt-baring "Mask" mommy Cher, was shooting a video for the title track of 1989's Heart of Stone 13 years ago this week. In the clip, directed by Marty Callner, the singer is surrounded by images of the people and events, both personal and historic, that have formed the backdrop of her life.

"I said, 'Marty, I have this idea,' and he said, 'Well, I have an idea too. ... You tell me your idea first.' So I said, 'I feel like I wanna do this ... ' When I finished telling him, he said, 'All right, we're not gonna do my idea. My idea's nothing like that. I wanted to put you in a boxing ring and do some weird stuff.' "

As the video attests, Cher has seen a lot in her life.

"One time Bette Midler and I were ... doing a special with Elton John and Flip Wilson, and Bette was at my house and Mick and Bianca came over," the diva dished. "We're all sitting around, and Bianca was acting very strange and she turned the light off, and we're all sitting around having a party. And so Mick said, 'You're really rude. Turn the lights back on. This is really stupid. ... You know, sweetheart, you and Bette would really get along because she hates men too.' Bianca looked at him and said, 'No, darling. No, I just hate you.' And she got up and left. I went, 'Well, this is really interesting. They're a fun couple. We should have them over more often.' "

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• Paula Abdul
• Milli Vanilli
• Cher

Add two more to the population of Nellyville: Eve and Fabolous both say they have been added to the Nellyville tour, which kicks off October 3 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Amerie is also opening up in some cities. ...

Foo Fighters will release "All My Life," the first single from their forthcoming album One by One, on 7-inch vinyl through Sessions Records on September 24. The single will include a cover of the Ramones' "Danny Says" on the B-side, with Foo guitarist Chris Shiflett handling lead vocals, according to the band's Web site. Foo fans can also preview "All My Life" on Netscape Music ...

Shakira, Juanes with Nelly Furtado, and Thalia will join Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives as performers at the third annual Latin Grammy Awards on September 18. Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Love Hewitt, comedian Cheech Marin, actors Hector Elizondo and Esai Morales and singer Laura Pausini are the latest presenters added to the show, which will be broadcast on CBS. ...

Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell and his wife, actress Leighanne Wallace, are expecting a baby boy by the end of the year. "The only thing we have to deal with now is our puppies being jealous," the couple said in a statement. ... Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett suffered a surfing injury September 1 and will be out of commission for about two weeks. The axe-slinger needed six stitches after his board cut his armpit in the accident. ...

Following in the wake of P.O.D., Incubus will reissue their last album, Morning View, with a bonus DVD on October 1. The extra material will include live tracks, a U.K. video for "Are You In?" and the obligatory behind-the-scenes footage. ... Public Enemy, Dilated Peoples and Blackalicious will hit the road together for 21 dates beginning September 14 in Richmond, Virginia. Chuck D and cohorts are promoting their new album, Revolverlution, which features new material and four past favorites remixed by fans. ...

Coolio, Tiffany, Vitamin C and former Milli Vanilli member Fabrice Morvan are among the entertainers who will participate in Fox's "Celebrity Boot Camp," premiering September 30. The reality special will follow several entertainers as they endure physical and mental challenges. ...

"House of 1000 Corpses" actor Dennis Fimple, who played Grandpa in Rob Zombie's as-yet-unreleased horror flick, has passed away, according to Zombie's Web site. Fimple appeared in such movies as "Maverick" and "King Kong," and was a bit player on several popular television series throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. ...

Founding members of the Black Rock Coalition, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid and turntablist DJ Logic, are about to drop a collaborative album under the name the Yohimbe Brothers called Front End Lifter (September 10). The beat-heavy rocktronic album features guest spots from Prince Paul, Slick Rick and the original members of Living Colour. ... The new Travis song "Love Will Come Through" will be available on the band's official Web site for free on streaming audio starting September 6, but if you want to add it to your collection you'll have to wait 'til November 15, and you'll have to pay. Funds will go to the U.K.'s Spinal Injuries Association, an organization that helps those with injuries similar to that recently suffered by Travis drummer Neil Primrose in a swimming pool accident. ...

The Essential Heart Collection, a 2-CD package featuring hits from the band's Capitol Records and Epic Records eras, is due October 8. "Crazy on You" and "Barracuda" are among the 37 songs gathered on the collection. ... Joan Osborne will release the covers record How Sweet It Is on September 17. The disc will feature classic hits by Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, the Spinners and others. ... The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt will be hitting shelves on September 24. The LP features 21 classics from the Grammy-winning vocal chameleon, including "When Will I Be Loved?" "Heat Wave" and "Blue Bayou" as well as other hits spanning Ronstadt's 26- year career. ...

09.03.02

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Former Van Halen frontmen Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth canceled their Saturday concert in Darien Lake, New York, and their Sunday concert in Syracuse, New York, due to Hagar's health, according to the Associated Press. New York State Fair official Joe LaGuardia stated it may have been due to recent health problems affecting Hagar's voice; refunds are being offered for ticket holders at both events. ... John Doe (X), Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses) and Grant-Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) have joined forces for the acoustic Exile Follies Tour. The 13-date outing kicks off on September 18 in Atlanta and is scheduled to run through an October 5 date in San Francisco. ...

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• Eve
• Foo Fighters
• Shakira
• Justin Timberlake
• *NSYNC

Milli Vanilli's Rob Pilatus has died in Germany according to the Sunday issue of the German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag."

The paper says that the troubled former pop-star was found dead Friday in a Frankfurt hotel room. The cause of death was unknown at press time, but a combination of drugs and alcohol is suspected. Producer Frank Farian told the paper that Pilatus had just completed a round of drug rehabilitation and was scheduled to travel to India for more treatment when he died.

Pilatus, alongside Fabrice Morvan, was half of the fashion-savvy dreadlocked dance duo that rocketed to fame in the late 1980's, only to be shot down in 1990 when it was revealed they didn't sing on their own records, leading to the revoking of their Grammy award. Pilatus continued to get press attention long after the duo's demise with an array of arrests mostly stemming from various drunken altercations.

The son of a German stripper and an American soldier, Pilatus was adopted by a physician and his wife in Munich at the age of four and ran away from home at 14. He tried his hand at DJ-ing and modeling and eventually became a champion breakdancer. He was in the States for a breakdance competition when he met up with Morvan, a Frenchman in town attending a dance music conference, at a Los Angeles disco.

Once back in Munich, the two hooked up and attempted to find work as back-up singers, then formed their own act. From most reports, Pilatus had a passable voice and Morvan's was considered quite good. They gained popularity and came to the attention of famed German producer Frank Farian. Farian readily agreed to audition the two, but found their vocals lacking. He agreed to sign them, but only as frontmen. Farian assigned them some already recorded music, dressed them up and put them out to the public as Milli Vanilli in 1988 with songs like "Girl You Know It's True."

While the duo may not have sang their way to the top, their good looks, smooth moves and some of the greatest hair in the business certainly helped propel the band to sales totaling 30 million singles and 14 million albums. Unfortunately, their sudden success also propelled their egos -- they didn't endear themselves to the press or fans when they compared themselves in interviews to Elvis and the Beatles.

It all came crashing to a halt when Pilatus and Morvan demanded that Farian allow them to sing and threatened to expose the scam. Farian called a surprise press conference in November of 1990 and announced the hoax himself, firing Pilatus and Morvan in the process. Farian, who had faced similar miming accusations with his previous group, seventies disco group Boney M, escaped relatively unscathed and went on to produce/manufacture hit European bands including La Bouche and No Mercy. The much maligned Pilatus and Morvan went on to record an album as Rob and Fab, but it failed miserably.

Morvan then launched a solo career, playing shows around Los Angeles and recording an album, "Love Revolution," due for release this Spring.

Pilatus began a downward slide that included at least one suicide attempt and several arrests. Oddly enough, Pilatus, bailed out of jail by Farian during one of his escapades, returned to Germany and realigned himself with the producer. He also retained an agent and began seeking movie roles.

A PR spokesperson for Morvan, Ilene Proctor, confirmed to MTV News via email that Pilatus and Morvan hadn't spoken since 1995, although she says Pilatus had been in touch with Morvan's management. Proctor also made it clear that Morvan has not forgiven Farian, whom, she said, is "again profiting from the boys."

Proctor adds that she hopes a pending movie deal will tell the true tale. "We are talking with major movie studios who are very anxious to help us tell the real Milli Vanilli story," says Proctor. "The whole story, the real story has never been told."

Pilatus was 32.

• Milli Vanilli

December 1 [10:00 EDT] -- One half of Milli Vanilli, the duo who were stripped of their Grammy and disgraced after it was learned they did not actually sing on their recordings, is now reportedly a wanted man in Los Angeles.

According to the Associated Press, a judge in Van Nuys Municipal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Rob Pilatus after the former Milli Vanilli performer failed to appear at a hearing for an alleged probation violation. The warrant is reportedly the second such document issued against Pilatus, with the first reportedly handed down on October 6.

The performer is reportedly on probation for four misdemeanor convictions handed down last year.

Along with his Milli Vanilli partner, Fab Morvan, Pilatus earned chart-topping success and a "Best New Artist" Grammy in 1990 with their breakthrough hit "Girl, You Know It's True." It was soon revealed that the duo did not sing on their albums, and lip-synched during performances, prompting the National Academy of Recording Arts And Sciences to strip the duo of their Grammy Awards.

• Milli Vanilli