Phil Spector at his sentencing on Friday
Photo: Pool/Getty Images

Famed "Wall of Sound" producer Phil Spectorwas sentenced to 19 years to life in prison on Friday (May 29) after being found guilty in April of second-degree murder in the shooting of actress Lana Clarkson.

Given his frail health and age, 69, the sentence was considered by many to be a life sentence for the once-prominent producer (Beatles, Ramones), whose sometimes-violent relationships with the women in his life have threatened to overshadow his pioneering musical accomplishments.

Spector's lawyer, Doron Weinberg, told The Associated Press on Friday that he plans to continue the appeals process. "He's doing fairly well," Weinberg said. "He's adjusting to the circumstances and settling down to wait out an appeal with high hopes. He feels he will win the appeal."

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler had little leeway in sentencing, according to the AP, as a 15-years-to-life sentence is mandated by law, and the only discretion available to him was whether to add three, four or 10 years to the sentence for personal use of a firearm. Spector must now spend at least 19 years in jail before being eligible for parole at age 88. If not granted parole, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Though the jury deadlocked in the first trial in the case in 2007, using the same evidence, a jury convicted Spector in the retrial, which began last year. Spector did not testify at either trial.

Prosecutors contended that after meeting B-movie actress Clarkson, 40, at the House of Blues club in Los Angeles in 2003 — where she was working as a waitress — the producer took her home to his Alhambra, California "castle," where she was shot to death in the home's front foyer. Spector had claimed that Clarkson killed herself by putting the gun in her mouth, but his chauffeur said he witnessed Spector emerge from the home holding a gun and heard him say, "I think I killed somebody."

he testimonies that ultimately did Spector in were from five women who had relationships with the reclusive producer over the course of the past 30-plus years. They said he'd threatened them with guns when they tried to leave him in a manner very similar to what allegedly occurred the night of Clarkson's death. Weinberg said his appeal will hinge on his assertion that the judge should not have allowed the women to testify because they prejudiced the jury against Spector.

Spector has been in jail since his April 13 conviction. Clarkson's family has filed a wrongful-death civil suit against Spector that has not yet been heard. Before the sentencing, the Los Angeles Times reported that Clarkson's mother, Donna, told the judge that the murder had devastated her. "All our plans together are destroyed. Now I can only visit her in the cemetery," she said.

• Phil Spector

Phil Spector arrives at Los Angeles Criminal Court on Monday
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Legendary producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of second-degree murder for the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.

The verdict was read in a Los Angeles courtroom shortly after 5 p.m. ET on Monday (April 13). The jury in the case — six men and six women — began deliberations March 26, trying to decide if Spector, 69, was guilty of second-degree murder or a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. They opted for the former, and Spector now faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and could serve a life sentence.

In 2003, Spector — known for his famed "Wall of Sound" production techniques and his work with acts like the Ronettes, the Beatles and the Ramones — was charged with the shooting death of Clarkson, 40, who was found dead in the foyer of the producer's Alhambra, California, home.

The case went to trial in 2007, with Spector's defense arguing that Clarkson was depressed after a recent breakup and shot herself, while prosecutors attempted to paint him as a gun-toting villain who had threatened several women in the past. They also had testimony from Spector's driver, who said he heard a loud noise inside the house and saw the producer leave the house, brandishing a pistol and saying, "I think I killed somebody."

After deliberating for 15 days, jurors told a Los Angeles superior court judge that they were unable to reach a verdict, and the case was declared a mistrial.

The retrial began late last year, and this time, the prosecution portrayed Spector as "a sadistic misogynist who had a three-decade history of playing Russian roulette with the lives of women when he was drunk," according to the Los Angeles Times. The producer's defense team maintained once again that Clarkson was depressed over her career and financial concerns and may have committed suicide after a night of heavy drinking with Spector.

At press time, it wasn't known when Spector will be sentenced, but moments after the verdict was read, Spector's attorney, Doron Weinberg, told reporters he plans to appeal the decision.

• Phil Spector

Phil Spector during closing arguments on Tuesday
Photo: Lawrence K. Ho-Pool/ Getty Images

Six years after actress Lana Clarkson died in Phil Spector's mansion, the jury in the Wall of Sound producer's second murder trial is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday (March 25).

According to The Associated Press, on Tuesday, Spector's attorney, Doron Weinberg, told the jury in closing arguments that Clarkson pulled the trigger on the gun that killed her, pointing to forensic evidence that included gunshot residue and DNA as proof that the actress committed suicide.

"Mr. Spector did not kill Lana Clarkson," Weinberg said. "That's what the evidence shows." At one point, the defense attorney brought out the gun that killed Clarkson, showed it to jurors and said the blood on its grip proved that she was holding it when it went off, noting that Spector's DNA was not on it, that there was no gunshot residue on his clothing and that the producer's DNA was not found under Clarkson's fingernails.

Weinberg urged jurors to ignore statements made the day before by prosecutors, who called Spector a "demonic maniac" in an attempt to paint the legendary producer as a madman with a violent history of threatening women with guns. Spector, 69, whose first trial in the case ended in a deadlocked jury in 2007, is charged with second-degree murder and faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted, though the jury can consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, which would send him to prison for up to 10 years.

"Every single fact says this is a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Weinberg said, according to the AP. "How do you ignore it? How do you say this could have been a homicide?" Weinberg had asked for a mistrial on Monday in the case, which has lasted nearly six months, arguing that prosecutor Truc Do was attempting to convict Spector based on his character rather than evidence.

Spector's chauffeur has testified that the producer — who has worked with everyone from the Beatles to the Ramones to Leonard Cohen — came out of his house on the night Clarkson died, February 3, 2003, and said, "I think I killed somebody." Spector invited the 40-year-old cocktail waitress and B-movie actress back to his mansion after meeting her that night at the House of Blues, where she was working. The prosecution has argued that the alleged murder was part of a pattern of violence toward women that Spector has shown in the past.

• Phil Spector

Kanye West
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A lawsuit stunted? Kanye West and Evel Knievel told a federal judge on Tuesday that they are resorting to a mediator in an attempt to settle the suit the legendary daredevil filed over West's "Touch the Sky" video, according to The Associated Press. In the clip, 'Ye takes on the role of Evel Kanyevel, which spurred the stuntman to sue the rapper for infringement over the use of his trademarked image. West and Knievel will share mediation expenses. ...

Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne lead the pack of Ozone Award nominees with six and five nods apiece, including Best Rap Artist (Male) and Best Rap/R&B Collaboration. The show is set to take place August 13 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami in conjunction with the TJs DJs Tastemakers Only Conference, slated for August 10-12. UGK, Lloyd, Akon, Plies and Three 6 Mafia are set to make appearances at the Ozone show. ...

John Legend isn't taking his involvement with Live Earth lightly — even though the concerts ended Saturday night, he told MTV News on Wednesday (July 11) that he's trying to get more proactive. "I've been reading different stories about the environment and I'm trying to learn more about different ways that, as [artists], we can do things about it. I know as [artists] we tour and we do other things that are pretty taxing to the environment and use a lot of energy, so I've been trying to learn more about ... how to tour more efficiently." On that note, the singer/songwriter is gearing up for a trip to the Caribbean's Turks & Caicos Islands, for their Music and Culture Festival. He's also planning to shoot a video for "Another Again," after which he'll get in the studio and start work on his next LP. He's hoping to turn the effort around by the middle of next year. ...

"Order of the Phoenix" just hit theaters Wednesday, but the midnight screenings alone have already drummed up an estimated $12 million for the flick, CBS News reports. The movie premiered at midnight on 2,311 screens in the U.S., and the sum places "Phoenix" second behind "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" for best preview revenues ever. ... In related news, count the Westin hotel chain among those eager to cash in on "Deathly Hallows" mania. The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, is offering fans of the J.K. Rowling novels the Stay for a Spell Harry Potter package (rates start at $179 with the code POTTER) to celebrate the July 20 release of the final chapter in the boy wizard's saga. Events at the hotel include a Potter slumber party, costume contest, the chance to eat like Harry and the gang — including a feast of butterbeer, chocoballs and ice mice — and a Hogwarts Shuttle to a local Barnes & Noble, where guests get the first crack at buying "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at midnight. ...

A new start date has been set in Nicole Richie's DUI trial: August 16. The delay will allow a defense expert, who is unavailable to appear in court until August, to challenge evidence in the case. ... Snow Patrol's Tom Simpson has hit a mogul — the keyboardist will face drugs charges in a British court later this month, BBC News reports. Simpson, who is accused of being caught with cocaine in June, was excused from a brief hearing at a Glasgow courthouse on Tuesday and is due back in court July 31. ...

Phil Spector's trial could get even more bizarre courtesy a new potential witness: one of late actor Raul Julia's sons. A lawyer for the surprise defense witness said Tuesday that Raul Julia Levy has "intimate knowledge" of deceased actress Lana Clarkson, as the two were close friends. "If everybody believes my client like I do, he's going to contribute to reasonable doubt," said the lawyer, John DeHart, according to the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, Henry Lee — the famed forensic expert who has grabbed many headlines during the trial — says he probably won't be testifying after all. "I'm off to China," he told AP on Tuesday. "It's up to the defense and my schedule whether I come back to testify. But it will cost a lot for them to bring me back." Lee had been considered the defense's secret weapon but became embroiled in controversy when a judge ruled that he removed a mysterious white object from the murder scene, violating evidence rules by not turning it over to police. The Times also reports that the California Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former Spector lawyer Sara Caplan on Wednesday, which means she will be forced to testify before the jury. Caplan was previously held in contempt for not testifying about the white object. ...

In celebration of the 10th anniversary (!) of Radiohead's landmark OK Computer album, music blog Stereogum.com has posted OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer — a track-by-track reworking of the LP by some of indiedom's brightest. Cold War Kids cover "Electioneering," John Vanderslice does "Karma Police" and Vampire Weekend take on "Exit Music (For a Film)." You can hear it all — plus read notes from each band and download the whole thing for free — by swinging the ol' browser over to Stereogum.com. ...

Lex Luthor's evil genius must be addictive — Kevin Spacey has signed on to reprise the role for "Superman: The Man of Steel," Variety reports. The film, to be helmed by "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer, will hit theaters in 2009. ... Just when you thought memories of Madonna's 1985 flick, "Desperately Seeking Susan," were gradually petering out along with its remaining VHS copies, the long-lost rom-com is getting resurrected — in the form of a stage production. A Blondie stage production, no less. BBC News reports that the musical — which is set to open October 12 at London's Novello Theatre — will incorporate hits by the New Wave band in addition to an original composition written by frontwoman Debbie Harry. ... In other stage news, Claire Danes is headed to Broadway — the actress will make her debut in a new revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," which opens October 21 at New York's American Airlines Theatre. ...

Liv Tyler names her favorite band in the August issue of Lucky — and it isn't Aerosmith (fronted by her dad, Steven Tyler) or even Arckid (her husband Royston Langdon's current act). So who's the lucky artist? "Kings of Leon are my favorite band ever," Tyler confessed. "They're so special, and I never tire of their music." ... Forest Whitaker will be honored by Russell Simmons and his Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation at the eighth annual Art for Life event, taking place July 28 in Long Island, New York. Reverend Run, L.A. Reid, and Damon Dash and his wife, fashion designer Rachel Roy, are among those expected to attend. ... Indie hip-hop guru El-P will play a free gig at the Urban Outfitters on 374 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, New York, on Saturday as part of the store's Free Yr Radio series. ... Superdrag's original crew is getting back together for six shows later this year. On the menu: Nashville (October 5); Chicago (October 13); Knoxville, Tennessee (October 20); New York (November 2); Boston (November 3); and Washington, D.C. (November 8). ...

Canadian indie-poppers Stars have put their new album, In Our Bedroom After the War, up for legal download — even though it's not officially due until September 25 — and their label, Arts & Crafts, is totally cool with it. A post on the label's site reads: "We hope you'll choose to support the band, and choose to pay for their album. However, we don't think it's fair you should have to wait until September 25 to do so. We believe that the line between the media and the public is now completely grey. What is the difference between a writer for a big glossy music magazine and a student writing about their favourite bands on their blog? ... As such, we are making the new Stars album available for legal download today, four days after its completion. ... We hope you will continue to support music retailers should a physical album in all its packaged glory be your choice of format." The band hits the road in support of the release starting October 17 in South Burlington, Vermont.

07.10.07

Diddy and girlfriend Kim Porter are splitting up, just months after she gave birth to twin girls, the couple announced Tuesday (July 10), according to The Associated Press. In a recent cover story in Essence, the two declared love for each other, although he admitted he was an "ex-player" and wasn't ready to marry Porter. "Do you really think that God meant for a man to have just one wife?" he said in the magazine. Diddy and Porter already had a son when he was seeing Jennifer Lopez, but Diddy eventually reunited with his former girlfriend, even after she took him to court seeking increased child-support payments. ...

More artists have been added to the bill for this year's Bumbershoot festival, which will be held September 1-3 in Seattle. Fergie, John Legend, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, (+44) and the Apples in Stereo are the latest acts to join the bill, with Head Automatica, Menomena, the Bouncing Souls and others climbing onboard as well. This festival is being anchored by the Shins, Wu-Tang Clan, Crowded House and Panic! at the Disco. ...

Justin Timberlake, T.I. and Usher made Stuff magazine's "30 Power Guys Under 30" list, which also includes actors Seth Rogen and Jake Gyllenhaal; athletes LeBron James, Reggie Bush, Tom Brady and Roger Federer; and blogger Perez Hilton. T.I. shares his secret to staying on top in the magazine's August issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday. "You must create a demand and then supply it," he explained. "You make so the market can't function at its best without you." ...

A Springfield has been chosen to host the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie" — but is it big enough to handle the hype? Vermont's Springfield — a small town of 9,300 people that has a 100-seat movie theater — will host the movie on July 27, thanks to an online poll it wasn't even invited to take part in at first, AP reports. A local Chamber of Commerce executive appealed for the town to be included, after which a video shot by a 17-year-old cameraman was submitted for consideration. The clip — which features a talk-show host dressed as Homer chasing a pink doughnut through the town — drew 15,367 votes, earning the town the premiere. ...

Alicia Keys is targeting October 23 as the release date for her next album, As I Am, according to Billboard. Keys debuted "The Thing About Love," one of the songs featured on the effort, at the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday. ... Raekwon is polishing off his next solo LP, Ice Water: Polluted Water, for an August 28 release. Method Man will pay a visit on the disc, but Wu-Tang Clan members aren't the only ones getting involved: Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Three 6 Mafia, Remy Ma and Jagged Edge are also on the VIP list. ...

Next time you strap on your "Guitar Hero" ax, you might want to have a top hat handy too — Slash will appear as an avatar in "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock." The Velvet Revolver guitarist, who is chipping in an original song for the game, will appear as a boss battle character. Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" will also be featured in the game. ... Nicole Richie can breathe a little easier, at least for now — her lawyer has forced another delay in her DUI trail, People reports. "The trial will not happen [Wednesday]," Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison told the outlet. "Richie's attorney filed a motion ... stating that their key witness, a drug expert, was unavailable for trial." Both sides have been called to court Wednesday to discuss the motion — but either way, the trial will be delayed for at least another day. ...

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is printed, so there's no going back on the ending, but fans are calling on author J.K. Rowling to "Save Harry" — even if he's already destined to die. In an online petition launched by British book retailer Waterstone's, Rowling is being asked to keep the series going past this seventh installment, whether Harry survives the finale or not. "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle famously killed off Sherlock Holmes, yet brought him back after years of demand from his fans and publishers," Waterstone's Wayne Winstone said. "Couldn't the same happen for Harry Potter?" ...

Avril Lavigne's alleged plagiarism ordeal has been grabbing headlines left and right, but fellow Canadian artist Chantal Kreviazuk isn't about to keep piling on the singer. On Tuesday, the singer/songwriter issued a statement retracting statements she made to Performing Songwriter Magazine in which she doubted Lavigne's writing abilities. "When I saw the track listing to Avril's new record, it caught my attention that she had the same title as a song I had sent her a while back. When I heard it, I immediately realized that it was a coincidence. The songs have nothing in common. I have always maintained that the song on Avril's album is completely different, having no similarity in melody or lyric, and Avril has in no way stolen my song. I simply never said that or thought it. My statements and any inference from my statements, which call into question Avril's ethics or ability as a respected and acclaimed songwriter, should be disregarded and are retracted. Avril is an accomplished songwriter, and it has been my privilege to work with her." Curiously, Kreviazuk issued the statement through Nettwerk Music Group — Lavigne is managed by Nettwerk Management. ...

Arcade Fire's Neon Bible and Feist's The Reminder are among the 10 finalists up for this year's Polaris Music Prize, which salutes the year's best Canadian LP. The prize — which comes with a $20,000 bonus — will be announced September 24. ... Against Me! have been added to this year's Saints & Sinners Festival. The band will headline the November 3 date, while Glassjaw are all set to close out the event's final night, November 4. Tickets go on sale July 20 for the festival, which will take over the Convention Hall Complex in Asbury Park, New Jersey. ... Megadeth will be touring the U.S. this fall with Ozzfest 2007 performers In This Moment, as well as the Confession. The trek is set to launch September 4 in Anchorage, Alaska, and is booked through October 6 in Norfolk, Virginia. ...

PJ Harvey — uh huh, her — has pegged September 25 as the release date for her eighth studio opus, White Chalk. Flood and John Parish, who previously collaborated with the singer/songwriter for To Bring You My Love and Is This Desire?, produced the effort, which also features contributions from Eric Drew Feldman and Dirty Three drummer Jim White. She debuted some of the new material at the Manchester International Festival over the weekend. ... Watch out, CNN — Michael Moore has you in his sights. The controversial director appeared on "The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer" on Monday to discuss his new movie "Sicko," only to find his interview prefaced by an unsavory segment on the flick by CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who attempted to dispel some of the film's points about the U.S. health care system. Moore erupted after that, refuting the segment and bashing the network for its news coverage in the lead-up to the Iraq war. The director's Web site quickly posted an extensive point/counterpoint response to Gupta's segment following the Monday interview. On Tuesday, Blitzter's program aired the more subdued second part of the interview. ...

The Cure, who are in the midst of recording their 13th studio LP, have decided to make it a double: A two-CD set will hit stores in October. While not much is known about the yet-untitled offering, the disc's new melodies will deal with relationships, politics, religion and materialism. A fall North American tour will follow. ... Moby has some fresh beef with the organizers of the Live Earth concerts — he's chiding them for selling meat at the shows. In a post on the vegan musician's blog, he says livestock breeding and the gases the animals emit is a huge contributor to greenhouse gases, according to a United Nations statistic. "The one thing that still stuns me ... is that almost no one in the 'stop global warming' camp talks about the environmental ramifications of animal production," he said. ...

Pogues guitarist Philip Chevron has been diagnosed with throat cancer, according to a post on the band's Web site. He will not join the Pogues on their North American tour this fall. A statement on the group's site read: "This decision to suspend his live work has the complete support of the other Pogues who wish him a good and complete recovery. Though it is not yet known when Chevron will return to live work, it is hoped that he will again be available towards the end of this year." ... A Beatles monument will be constructed in Hamburg, Germany, where the band launched its international career, BBC News reports. ... Want an iPhone? You might want to hold off on eBay for the moment — ABC News reports that Apple may be coming out with a cheaper Nano version of the device by the end of the year. "Our channel check suggests Apple is coming out with a second phone, a much cheaper one, in 4Q07," JPMorgan analyst Kevin Chan wrote in a note that was released Tuesday (July 10). He added that the new iPhone would be sold for about $300 and that as many as 40 million of them could be sold by the company next year.

• "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" Cover Art

• Kanye West
• John Legend
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• Phil Spector

Phil Spector (file)
Photo: Getty Images

The prosecution in Phil Spector's murder trial scored an early victory on Monday, when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler cleared the way for four women — all of whom claim the record producer threatened them with gun violence — to take the witness stand in the music legend's upcoming murder trial.

Each of the four women claim that, while out on dates with the producer, Spector waved or pointed guns at them, according to The Associated Press. Spector is charged in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson; he was arrested 10 months after her body was discovered at his Alhambra, California, mansion (see "Producer Phil Spector Charged With Murder").

The four alleged incidents occurred between 1988 and 1995 (see "Phil Spector Told Police He Shot Actress By 'Accident,' According To Transcripts"); Fidler refused to allow six other alleged incidents to be introduced.

Prior to making the ruling, Judge Fidler acknowledged that allowing such evidence was "a dangerous path to go down," but agreed with Deputy District Attorney Doug Sortino's argument that the incidents seemed to demonstrate Spector's recurrent use of guns to threaten or intimidate people, reports the AP.

Outside the courthouse, Spector — who pleaded not guilty to the charge and is currently free on $1 million bail — maintained his innocence, and insisted he "never pulled a gun on these women."

Spector's defense attorney Bruce Cutler dismissed the allegations as contrived, calling the women celebrity-chasing "acolytes and gold diggers" out for publicity, the AP said.

Fidler would not permit evidence from two cases, dating back to the 1970s, which led to criminal charges against Spector. The producer pleaded guilty in 1972 to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, and received a one year probationary sentence. Three years later, he entered a guilty plea on a misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm, and was handed two years probation.

• Phil Spector

50 Cent (file)
Photo: Kevin Winter

Nobody can accuse 50 Cent of being stingy. He invited a bevy of radio-contest winners and famous folk like Foxy Brown, Lil Scrappy, Funkmaster Flex, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh to his mansion in Connecticut for an album-release party Thursday night. The festivities took place at a club 50 actually has inside his house, and the whole G-Unit — with the exception of Game — performed. ...

Eminem, Paul McCartney, Dave Matthews, Sting and a host of other artists have donated signed items to an auction benefiting the Station Family Fund, the organization founded to offer relief to people directly affected by the fire at Rhode Island's Station nightclub in 2003. The auction is being run by the Mimi Fishman Foundation; more information can be found at www.stationfamilyfund.org. ... Ozzy Osbourne has pulled out of Friday night's (February 18) Music for Relief: Rebuilding South Asia concert at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California, due to a family emergency. Osbourne was supposed to join Los Angeles' all-star rockers Camp Freddy (featuring Dave Navarro and Matt Sorum, among others) for a few songs. Linkin Park, Jay-Z and No Doubt are among the acts who will perform. ...

Phil Spector's trial for the 2003 murder of B-movie actress Lana Clarkson will begin on September 16, a judge ruled on Thursday, according to Reuters. The legendary record producer is accused of shooting Clarkson at his home near Los Angeles. Spector has claimed that Clarkson committed suicide. ... One of the alleged conspirators in the Murder Inc. drug-money scandal was sentenced to prison Thursday on separate charges of gun possession. Tyran "Ta Ta" Moore, who had refused to cooperate with the federal investigation of Murder Inc. and its connection to drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, was sentenced to prison for six years, with an additional three years of supervised release, a probation-like condition which requires him to continue treatment for substance abuse. As for McGriff, he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on charges of murder and racketeering on Thursday. He's facing the death penalty if convicted. ...

Will Smith has been tapped as master of ceremonies for the March 19 AIDS benefit concert in George, South Africa, which will feature 150 local and international stars who have agreed to perform for free, according to Reuters. The actor/rapper will introduce acts including Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor, Annie Lennox and India.Arie at the 46664 concert, named for former South African president Nelson Mandela's prison number. ... Prince will be honored with the NAACP Vanguard Award at the March 19 NAACP Image Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, according to Reuters. Prince is already up for two awards, while Usher leads the pack with five nominations. The show will air on March 25 on FOX. ...

FOX's "The O.C." will release the fourth installment in the show's mixtape series on April 5. The O.C. Mix 4 features "Scarecrow," off Beck's upcoming album, Guero; "The View," from Modest Mouse's 2004 album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News; and a cover of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova" by Matt Pond PA. Also included are tracks by the Futureheads, Pinback and Sufjan Stevens, among others. ... Conor Oberst currently melts the hearts of indie girls everywhere as the dreamy frontman of Bright Eyes. But that wasn't always the case. And now you can own the proof. Currently up for bid on eBay is the 1995 Creighton Preparatory High School yearbook, featuring the freshman picture of a bespectacled, baby-faced Oberst. Currently, the high bid tops $200. ...

First Jessica and Ashlee Simpson traded barbs over Ice Breakers, and now another sister act is shilling for the mints. Hilary and Haylie Duff star in a commercial where they disagree supposedly for the first time ever. "We agree on absolutely everything," Hilary said in a statement. "So when she thought that Ice Breakers Liquid Ice was liquid and I thought it was ice, well, I knew she had to be right, and she knew I had to be right!" The sisters are also offering an online sweepstakes to go on a Beverly Hills, California, shopping spree with the two of them. ... Xzibit is embarking on a 10-city tour, starting March 18 in San Francisco. The rapper will hit Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Detroit before wrapping things up in Chicago on April 4. ... Danger Mouse has completed production on the new Gorillaz album, Demon Days. The album is due out May 24. ...

"Amerrrrrrricccca, have you heard?/ There's a brand new dance called 'The Bird.' " Well maybe not too new. "The Bird" has to be about 20 years old, but on Thursday night at the Apollo Theater in New York, Morris Day and the Time were flapping their wings just like they did in the Purple Rain days. Mo and co. performed, singing all their hits (except a much-called-for "Ice Cream Castles"). The Ohio Players opened up. ... Richie Sambora taped a guest appearance last week for the CBS sitcom "Still Standing," in which he plays a character named Reverend Roach. Though the Bon Jovi Web site lists the guitarist's episode as airing February 28, a spokesperson for the show said that the episode will now air at a later date, "probably May." ...

02.17.2005

Christina Aguilera was completely surprised when her boyfriend, Jordan Bratman, proposed to her last week, she told People magazine. Her beau of two years had filled their hotel room with rose petals, red and pink balloons, and gift boxes, each filled with a present and a poem. The last box held a 5-carat diamond-and-platinum ring. "It's classic, but it has a rock and roll feeling," she told the magazine. "He got down on one knee and said, 'Will you do the honor of being my wife?' I've been floating ever since." The couple have yet to set a wedding date. ...

Destiny's Child will perform "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier" during the player introductions at Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Denver. LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich will also perform Sunday, while Kelly Clarkson and the Goo Goo Dolls will perform during Saturday's All-Star events, which include the slam-dunk contest. The events will air on TNT. ... Meanwhile, Fabolous will perform at a Jermaine Dupri-hosted party on Friday at the Union Station in Denver. Twista will perform at an All-Star Game event at the same venue the following night. ...

Want to hang out with Ashlee Simpson? The singer, who launched her first-ever tour this week, is offering a chance for fans to come visit her when she's back in the recording studio, via Thermasilk's "Rock Star for a Day" sweepstakes. The winner also gets $1,000 and a makeover. Enter at http://www.thermasilkhair.com/ashleesimpson/flash.html. ... On Monday, 44 theaters across the country will air Usher's 20-minute mini-movie, "Rhythm City Volume 1: Caught Up." Fans who come out for the flick will also get to see a making-of-the-movie segment as well as a live interview with Usher conducted by Lionel Richie. Meanwhile, the movie, which Usher co-directed with Little X, will be released on DVD on March 28. Several Usher videos will also be included. ...

Canada is serious about its love for U2, and to prove it, Prime Minister Paul Martin has signed on to help persuade Bono to schedule a show in the country's capital, Ottawa. Martin called the station BOB-FM on Thursday morning (February 17) and told the crew that he would mention its petition to bring the band to town the next time he talked with Bono, with whom he's been friendly since they met in 1998 when Martin spoke about a campaign to wipe out Third World debt, according to The Ottawa Sun. Currently, the band only has two Canadian shows scheduled: both in Vancouver, British Columbia. "It's unlikely at this point," Arthur Fogel, the band's international tour manager, told the paper. "But never say never. I wouldn't underestimate Paul Martin's ability to persuade the band to play Ottawa." ... Subliminal and the Shadow, an Israeli hip-hop group whose upcoming fourth album will feature Ashanti, Wyclef Jean and Killah Priest, are touring the U.S. for the first time beginning March 2 in Los Angeles. The group, which was recently named smbassadors of Israel by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, hope to educate music fans on the political issues going on in their home country. ...

Ben Gibbard might be back at his Death Cab for Cutie, day job, but the Postal Service's Jimmy Tamborello is still making beats. Using his Dntel moniker, Tamborello recently remixed the outer space-y ballad "Broken Drum" from Beck's upcoming Guero. Meanwhile, Dntel's third album, Dumb Luck, is taking shape. Tentatively scheduled for the fall, the record will feature Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, Mia Doi Tod, Lali Puna's Valerie Trebeljahr, Fog's Andrew Broder and possibly the Shins' James Mercer, if the two can find the time to collaborate. Tamborello has also completed a Postal remix of Nina Simone's rendition of "Little Girl Blue" for the jazz compilation Verve Remixed 3, which also includes Danger Mouse retooling Dinah Washington's "Baby, Did You Hear?" and the Junior Boys' take on "Yesterdays" by Billie Holiday. ... Conor Oberst is already a folk-rock balladeer and an indielectro whiz kid, but now he's adding another feather to his cap: record exec. He's launched his own label, called Team Love, and has signed tourmates Tilly and the Wall as well as a host of other acts. Now he needs to get the word out — cheap. Which means he needs a street team. So to get one, he's running a contest. Over at www.Team-Love.com, if you sign up to be a street teamer, you're automatically entered in a contest to win a limited-edition green vinyl 7-inch, signed by the Tillies themselves. ...

AC/DC plan to shake you all night long with their new DVD, a best-of compilation spanning the band's career. "Family Jewels" is a two-disc set that includes rare footage of original frontman Bon Scott, the promotional video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)," and videos from 1980's Back in Black. "Family Jewels" hits shelves on March 29. ... John Digweed has set a March 8 release date for his next collection, Fabric 20. The DJ will support the release with a mid-March North American tour that will include several dates at the Winter Music Conference in Miami. ...

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Phil Spector (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Phil Spector, who will stand trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, has now been sued by Clarkson's mother for wrongful death.

The civil suit, filed Thursday in the Los Angeles Superior Court by Donna Clarkson, charges Spector with negligence and battery, and says the producer "grabbed, hit, fought with and restrained" the actress before shooting and killing her, according to Reuters.

In the civil suit, Clarkson's mother is seeking monetary compensation for the death of her daughter.

An attorney for Clarkson said in a statement that the Clarkson family had planned to wait to bring the civil action forward until there was "some resolution with regard to the criminal proceedings," but added that the statute of limitations for the civil action to be filed would expire on February 3, 2005.

"Phil did not cause the death of this woman," said Spector's lead attorney, Bruce Cutler, according to Reuters. "He's not criminally responsible and he's not civilly responsible, either. But I'm not surprised they filed a suit for money — that seems to be de rigueur nowadays."

Spector has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the B-movie actress, and has claimed that she committed suicide by shooting herself in the foyer of his Alhambra, California, home on February 3, 2003. Grand-jury transcripts obtained by The Los Angeles Times in January revealed that Spector initially told police he shot Clarkson by "accident" (see "Phil Spector Told Police He Shot Actress By 'Accident,' According To Transcripts").

Spector was indicted on murder charges on September 27, 2003 (see "Grand Jury Indicts Phil Spector On Murder Charges"), and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge is reportedly expected to set a trial date later this month.

He is currently free on $1 million bail.

• Phil Spector

Phil Spector (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Phil Spector, who has testified that actress Lana Clarkson shot herself in his home in 2003, initially told police that he shot her by "accident," according to recently released grand-jury transcripts.

In the five volumes documenting secret grand-jury proceedings recently obtained by The Los Angeles Times, Alhambra Police Officer Beatrice Rodriguez testified that when police arrived at the music producer's home after the shooting, Spector said "What's wrong with you guys? What are you doing? I didn't mean to shoot her. It was an accident."

Spector has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Clarkson at his Alhambra, California, home on February 3, 2003 (see "Grand Jury Indicts Phil Spector On Murder Charges"). In a 2003 interview with Esquire magazine, Spector suggested that Clarkson may have committed suicide (see "Phil Spector Says Slain Actress 'Kissed The Gun' Before Killing Herself"). The producer is free on $1 million bail; if convicted of murder, he could face life in prison.

According to the Times — which reported on the contents of the transcripts on Friday after several media organizations, including the Times and The Associated Press, won a legal battle to unseal the documents — the transcripts show that Spector allegedly implicated himself in the crime.

Spector's driver, Adriano Desouza, reportedly testified that he heard a shot while he waited outside the house, and three minutes later saw Spector emerge holding a revolver. Desouza said that Spector then told him, "I think I killed somebody," but that when he pressed the producer for further details, Spector shrugged his shoulders and remained silent.

Spector himself did not testify before the grand jury, but jurors did hear the testimonies of three women who each said that Spector had separately threatened them with a gun in the past. According to the transcripts, Deputy Los Angeles County District Attorney Doug Sortino told the grand jury that the testimonies of those women showed that Spector was guilty of implied malice and that he acted in an "inherently dangerous" way, which proved he could be responsible for murder.

Two women who dated Spector in the 1990s testified that Spector had threatened them, separately, with a gun to keep them from leaving his home and a New York hotel room. Another woman, Deborah Strand, testified that at a 1999 party she saw a man she later found out was Spector flicking cigar ash on top of her boyfriend's dog after it jumped on him. Strand said she told Spector he could leave, and the producer turned, pointed a gun at her right cheek and said, "What are you going to say now?"

Several of Clarkson's friends also testified in the trial, saying she was looking forward to getting married and starting a family.

The order sealing the grand-jury transcripts was lifted on Wednesday. According to the Times, late Thursday evening Spector's defense requested that the California Supreme Court block their release.

• Phil Spector

Phil Spector (file)
Photo: CBS News

A grand jury has indicted Phil Spector on charges of murdering actress Lana Clarkson in February 2003.

The producer, who was charged in November (see "Producer Phil Spector Charged With Murder"), again pleaded not guilty in a court appearance Monday (September 27). He remains free on $1 million bail.

A grand jury indictment is basically a way for prosecutors to avoid preliminary hearings, which are held to determine if a case is strong enough to go to trial. The main differences between a preliminary hearing and a grand jury investigation is that the latter proceedings are held without defense attorneys present and are not open to the public.

"Fundamentally, it's a way to bypass the ability of the defense to cross-examine, which they would have the right to do at a preliminary hearing," Stephan DeSales, a former prosecutor for Los Angeles County, said earlier this year when Michael Jackson was indicted (see "What Does Jackson's Indictment Mean? A Lawyer Explains"). "The old saying is the district attorney could indict a ham sandwich if he wanted to because the grand jury is more or less a rubber stamp for the DA."

Although Jackson's lawyers were not present during his grand-jury trial, they knew of the proceedings. Spector's newly appointed team said it only began to expect a grand-jury indictment when the producer's Monday court appearance was ordered last week.

"Phil is very disappointed," Spector attorney Roger Rosen told Reuters last week. "He believed that at the time of the preliminary hearing we would have the opportunity to challenge the evidence."

"The actions of the Hitler-like district attorney and his storm-trooper henchmen are reprehensible, unconscionable and despicable," Spector told reporters outside the courtroom Monday. "This district attorney is pursuing a personal vendetta."

Sandi Gibbons, a spokesperson for District Attorney Steve Cooley, disagreed, telling reporters the move was not political. "It's been almost two years since Miss Clarkson was murdered at Mr. Spector's home and it's time for this case to go to trial," she said.

Spector claims Clarkson, star of such B-movies as "The Barbarian Queen" and "Amazon Women on the Moon," shot herself in his foyer (see "Phil Spector Says Slain Actress 'Kissed The Gun' Before Killing Herself"), although prosecutors insist the evidence says otherwise (see "Coroner Says Homicide; Phil Spector's Lawyers See Suicide").

Known primarily for creating of the Wall of Sound style used by '60s soul groups like the Righteous Brothers, Spector is also notorious for his eccentricities and has allegedly pulled guns on numerous peers over the years, ranging from John Lennon to David Geffen, according to various biographies (see "Phil Spector: Mad Genius, By Kurt Loder"). Dee Dee Ramone told MTV News before his death last year that while recording the Ramones' End of the Century, Spector held him hostage for two days and had a number of guns in his mansion. Marky Ramone, however, insisted Spector was not violent.

Bruce Cutler, best known for representing mobster John Gotti, is currently heading Spector's team of lawyers, which has changed numerous times since his arrest. Spector waived his right to a speedy trial at Monday's indictment. December 16 was set as the earliest possible trial date, although Cutler will likely push for a delay.

• Phil Spector

Phil Spector's new lawyer, Bruce Cutler, who is best known for representing mobster John Gotti, convinced a Los Angeles judge this week to delay a preliminary hearing for the producer's murder trial to December 16. "I think Bruce Cutler is a genius," Spector, who has fired several lawyers since his arrest in February 2003, told reporters. "There was no crime committed, and I'm sure he'll bring forth evidence that the district attorney has been hiding." ...

Fabolous has a little bit more breathing to do before he gives birth to his next LP. Fab's Real Talk has been pushed back to November 9. ... 4AD has announced that it will reissue the first three Pixies albums on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl. The 1987 mini-album Come on Pilgrim, 1988's Surfer Rosa and 1989's Doolitte will all get the deluxe treatment. All three re-releases come with original artwork, except for Doolitte, which will now come with an insert including the lyrics. ... Proving he's a true Renaissance man, Marilyn Manson will not only release his greatest-hits album, Lest We Forget: The Best of Marilyn Manson, on September 28, but he's staging a second exhibition of his paintings. The exhibit, called "Trismegistus," features more than 20 paintings, many of them new. The first show was held on Tuesday in Paris, and a second is scheduled for September 21 in Berlin. U.S. dates for "Trismegistus" are expected to be announced shortly. ...

When's the last time you went to a party and saw porn stars Heather Hunter and Janet Jacme hangin' with Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown? Well, all the women were at Harlem's Cherry Lounge Thursday night to celebrate the opening of DJ Clue and Timbaland's new club. P. Diddy, Fat Joe and Bruce Willis made sure the fellas had ample representation as well. ... Having dropped frontman Jon Spencer's name from atop their moniker, the Blues Explosion are getting ready to hit the road in support of their upcoming album, Danger. The tour starts November 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, and concludes November 30 in the Blues Explosion's hometown of New York. ... Bay Area slang master E-40 has signed with Lil Jon's BME Records. Jon is already working on the album with the help of producer Rick Rock (Tupac, Busta Rhymes). ...

"Scarface," the 1983 Al Pacino drama that has inspired numerous hip-hop lyricists, is being turned into a video game. Due in the fall of 2005, the game will allow users to navigate Tony Montana through Miami's drug culture. ... Instruction, the Long Island rockers featuring former Quicksand guitarist Tom Capone along with former members of Errortype: 11, will open for Helmet from October 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to November 10 in Toronto. The band's debut, God Doesn't Care, produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Kiss), was released last month. ... Razorlight, whose debut album is favoring well in the band's home country of England, have set an October 26 U.S. release date for the record. The first single, "Golden Touch," has just been shipped to radio. ...

9.16.2004

A title and release date have been set for the collaboration between seemingly infallible singer R. Kelly and seemingly retired rapper Jay-Z. The Best of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business will hit stores on October 26 and include songs like "Big Chip," "Never Let Me Die" and "The Return." The two heavyweights first paired up for an album in 2002. Meanwhile, their joint tour this fall will now kick off on September 29 in Rosemont, Illinois. ...

Britney Spears launched her perfume, Curious, on Tuesday by meeting and greeting fans who bought her product line at Macy's in New York. The singer — who did not appear at the VMAs in Miami or the final performance by the kids attending her Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, as she was ordered by her doctor not to fly — posed for pictures, signed autographs and gave a brief speech to the Big Apple crowd. "I'm very excited about it," Spears said. "It's very sensual smelling. It's got a little bit of a vanilla musk to it, but not too sweet. It's very sexy, ladies. I seriously suggest to be sexy, to go out and get it, seriously." At the event, Spears was clad in high heels, just days after her mother posted on Britney's Web site that her daughter was ordered by her doctor to wear only Ugg boots or sneakers, due to her knee injury. ...

Nelly will team with Ronald Isley, radio personality Tom Joyner, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services Tommy Thompson for the third annual Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day. Slated for Tuesday, the event stresses the importance of regular health-care visits. Health fairs and other events will be held nationwide, while Joyner's morning radio show will feature a candid interview with Nelly and his sister Jackie, who suffers from leukemia. ... The driver of the van involved in a fatal crash that also injured rapper Twista on September 7 will not be charged with any crime, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The driver, Twista's cousin, Otis Bankhead, suffered from fatigue, causing the van to hit the median and flip several times. Six passengers, none of whom were wearing seatbelts, were ejected, causing the death of one man, Arthur Dixon, Twista's friend and bodyguard. ...

It might come as no surprise to those who watched Whitney Houston perform a tribute to Clive Davis at the World Music Awards on Wednesday: The singer is reteaming with her longtime mentor and producer. Davis, who discovered Houston, will oversee her seventh studio album, which she's recording for Arista, making this the first time they've collaborated in five years. ... Fans who caught R.E.M. at their secret show in London Wednesday were treated to a surprise appearance by Radiohead's Thom Yorke. As they've done in previous encounters, Yorke and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe duetted on R.E.M.'s "E-Bow the Letter," with Yorke singing the lines that were performed by Patti Smith in the studio version. ...

Megadeth are getting ready to hit the road in support of their new album, The System Has Failed. The 22-date tour kicks off October 22 in Reno, Nevada, and ends November 20 in Minneapolis. It's also the first venture for the newest incarnation of the band, which now features Dave Mustaine, drummer Nick Menza and former members of King Diamond and Iced Earth. ... Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix recently became a papa for the second time. On Monday, in Sacramento, California, his wife gave birth to a boy named Jagger. The couple has another son named Mikale. ...

Josh Partington has been working on his side project, Firescape, for the past few months, and now the Something Corporate guitarist is ready to show you how he spent his summer vacation. The band will showcase some of its new material on a club tour beginning September 19 in Tempe, Arizona. ... Ten years after Rick Rubin signed Jonny Polonsky to his American Recordings label, the producer has enlisted the singer/songwriter to engineer the upcoming System of a Down album, which Rubin is producing. Polonsky, who performed with System's Serj Tankian and others at a recent Axis of Justice benefit, is also releasing The Power of Sound, his first full-length album since 1996's Hi My Name Is Jonny, on September 21. ...

Krist Novoselic is going on tour — a book tour, that is, for his new political coming-of-age work, "Of Grunge and Government, Let's Fix This Broken Democracy!" The former Nirvana bassist will hit 11 Virgin Megastores, starting September 20 in Sacramento, California, and ending October 9 in Chicago. ... On their fall tour that begins September 23 in Boston, Rye Coalition are expected to premiere songs from their forthcoming album, Secret Heat, which was produced by Dave Grohl. Secret Heat follows 2002's Steve Albini-produced On Top. ...

Sean Penn is narrating an audiobook version of Bob Dylan's "Chronicles: Volume 1," which will be released October 12. The book and audiobook are the first in a series of the singer/songwriter's self-penned personal histories, and will comprise six hours on four cassettes/five CDs. ... Just days after the news of Jeremy Hummel's departure from Breaking Benjamin, the band has found a new drummer. BC, formerly of (Hed) PE, has joined the fold for the band's fall tour. ...

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