Zac Efron
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Zac Efron is doing fine after having his appendix removed Tuesday (January 15), according to People.com. The star — who recently signed on for "High School Musical 3" — was rushed to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering from appendicitis, TMZ.com reports. "Zac had his appendix removed and is recuperating," the actor's representative, who was not named, reportedly said in a statement. ...

A very revealing photo of Heidi Montag graces the new cover of Maxim, and for the accompanying interview, she also revealed to the mag that she wants to be the next Madonna. "But it's not like with most pop artists, where they have a song sent to them that has nothing to do with their emotions or lives," she insisted about her yet-untitled, in-the-works LP. "It's all about me and my life. I'm taking my time to make sure it's a classic. I don't want to be the next pop person who's in or out. I want to be like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Stevie Wonder — all the greats." Montag also dished on new parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden recalling that one time they "came up to [Montag's fiance,] Spencer [Pratt,] and me at the Beverly Hills Hotel [in California] and started yelling something Spencer said about Nicole in an interview, like, two years ago. ... Joel was yelling, 'You've been talking sh-- about my girl!' " ...

Madden has blogged on the Web site for his clothing company, DCMA, about arriving home with his and Richie's daughter, who was born on Friday. "Well I am finally home with my beautiful girlfriend and our brand new little daughter," the Good Charlotte frontman wrote. "Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born on January 11th 2008 at 3:13 p.m. She weighed in at 6 pounds and 7 ounces. She is 19 inches long and growing everyday already! She really is a wonderful addition to the GC/DCMA/DEADEXEC family. We are so blessed to have this beautiful little baby in our lives. I want to thank everyone for all the love and kind words they've sent our way. We apologize we weren't accepting gifts/cards/calls at the hospital, but if you'd like to send something, we'd rather you make a donation to the Richie-Madden Foundation, which we started in Harlow Winter's honor. She looks so much like her mom it's crazy! She eats like a little maniac and she's really sweet. She barely ever cries, even when daddy is changing her diaper, and believe me I suck when it comes to diapers, but I'm learning! I can't wait to show off some pictures, until then, THANKS!! and GOD BLESS... Joel." ...

From an "Umbrella" to a handbag: Rihanna has made a match with Marc Jacobs as she and the fashion designer have partnered to produce a new pair of purses named after the leggy singer. The two models are available as a part of Jacobs' spring line. ... Missy Elliott has stepped up with two new tunes for the February 5 soundtrack to "Step Up 2 the Streets." The MC's "Ching-A-Ling" — which is already sizzling in the streets — and "Shake Your Pom Pom" will appear on the soundtrack, and might resurface on her yet-untitled new LP, due in May. The soundtrack also features Cassie, who stars in "Step Up 2 the Streets," as well as T-Pain, Flo Rida, Trey Songz, Plies and Scarface. ...

Twista has inked a deal with Koch to release a project with his longtime group, the Speedknot Mobstaz. The Mobstaz's forthcoming sophomore album, Mobstability II: Nation Bizness, is set to feature Jim Jones and production by Cuzzo and China White Productions. ... The Grammys will not be getting a free pass from the Writers Guild of America. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Grammys have not asked for a special waiver to allow striking Guild employees to work on the show, but even if they did request one, it would not likely be granted. In addition, a number of top musicians who also have Screen Actors Guild cards, including Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah, are being lobbied by the WGA not to attend the February 10 show, according to AdAge.com. ...

In a $35 million lawsuit filed on Monday, Victory Records claimed that Virgin/EMI "improperly induced" Hawthorne Heights to disregard their contract with the independent Chicago label. In a news release on the suit, Victory also claimed that Virgin/EMI paid $55,000 to the band, which used the money to fund the initial phase of a 2006 lawsuit against Victory, and helped the bandmembers search for a music-industry lawyer to help them with their legal action. "The facts alleged in this case demonstrate classic interference with contractual and business relations," Victory lawyer Robert Meloni said. "They did more than merely offer a carrot to the band, but also saddled the horse, paid for a rider to take the reins, and led it out of the barn." The suit seeks $10 million in compensation and $25 million in punitive damages for Virgin/EMI's "willful, wanton and deliberate conduct." Victory maintains that HH owe the label two more albums, but the band, which lost guitarist Casey Calvert in November after a fatal drug interaction, has vowed not to record for Victory again. ...

Rancid fans, time to grow those Mohawks back — the band started recording new material in a California studio on Monday. The punks' yet-unnamed follow-up to 2003's Indestructible is due later this year, on guitarist Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph/Hellcat label, of course. ... Tiger Army have welcomed an old comrade back into their ranks. Stand-up-bass player Geoff Kresge, who toured with the psychobilly band from 1999-2004 — and who also has a stint with AFI on his résumé — replaces Jeff Roffredo, who "left the band on good terms to pursue other interests," according to a press release from the band's publicist. Tiger Army hit the road earlier this week and have a heap of shows planned for throughout the year. ...

Now that Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez have reconciled, what better way to celebrate than with some concerts? Manson has tacked on a few more to his upcoming trek, which starts Saturday in Orlando, Florida. The newly added gigs will be staged in Phoenix (February 27); Dallas (February 29); Austin, Texas (March 1); and Houston (March 2). Veteran rock act Ours will be the opening act on the tour, according to Pollstar.com. ... Here's a novel idea: Yellowcard are giving fans who buy the rockers' Live From Las Vegas at the Palms release an early chance at getting tix to one of their upcoming shows. The iTunes exclusive will be available starting January 22, and fans who snatch it up before January 29 will get a Ticketmaster code allowing them to nab up to four tickets for the band's trek, which starts March 7 in Salt Lake City and ends April 12 in Los Angeles. From Las Vegas at the Palms immortalizes Yellowcard's show at the Palms Casino Resort's Pearl venue in October. ...

EMI — home to Coldplay, the Rolling Stones and other acts — will slash a third of its work force, or 1,500-2,000 jobs, over the course of the next months, multiple outlets reported Tuesday. According to the Web site for England's Telegraph, the reunited Verve could be the next major group to withhold its upcoming album in light of the major-label shake-up. The paper reports that the Verve may join Robbie Williams and Coldplay in threatening to hold onto their next albums unless they receive assurances about the company's financial health and how their albums will be marketed. The company's new boss, Guy Hands, was reportedly to be grilled by the managers of some of the label's top acts on Tuesday as he revealed plans for streamlining the company. ...

"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson is known for name-dropping, but his new album, Music Club Vol. 1, might finally back up some of his boasting. Jackson's upcoming solo album, due March 11, will feature pals ranging from Mariah Carey and Joss Stone to Jason Mraz, former "Idol" contestants Elliott Yamin and Katharine McPhee and country star Travis Tritt. Fellow judge Paula Abdul will be featured on "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," her first new recording in more than a decade. Last week, TVGuide.com reported that Jackson and Abdul had been rehearsing a video for the single, and that she was in talks to perform it at the Super Bowl on February 3. Also included on the album are Van Hunt, Three 6 Mafia, Angie Stone, Richie Sambora and Keb' Mo'. ...

My Morning Jacket are going big time: The longhaired Kentucky rockers will headline a show at New York's Radio City Music Hall on June 20. The band's yet-untitled album will drop 10 days earlier. ... Noise Pop just got a bit noisier. The Walkmen, the Dodos, MSTRKRFT, Stellastarr and the Helio Sequence have climbed onto the roster for the San Francisco fest, which is happening February 26-March 2. Jamie Kennedy's comedic documentary "Heckler" — which features George Lucas, Rob Zombie, David Cross and others — will open the Film Festival portion of the event. ... Carla Bruni has been making headlines lately amid her high-profile romance with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Now the chanteuse can parlay that attention into promotion for the wide release of No Promises, an album that is currently only available Stateside on iTunes and at Barnes & Noble stores. The disc — which is being issued through Downtown Records, home to Gnarls Barkley and Spank Rock, and pays tribute to English-language literary legends — will hit retail stores nationwide February 19.

1.14.08

Nearly six years after the alleged sex tape first surfaced, the court proceedings in the R. Kelly case continue to move at a snail's pace. The prosecutors originally sought to have testimony from one expert witness, Dr. Sharon Cooper, cover several different areas — the age of the girl on the tape based on forensic pediatrics, the identification of the man on the tape based on the vein pattern on his hands, and the behavior profile of the girl based on the psychology of child sex-abuse victims. Judge Vincent Gaughan had previously ruled that Dr. Cooper could testify about the victim's age, but not the behavior profile, so prosecutors had asked him to reconsider. At a hearing on Monday (January 14), Gaughan ruled once again that Dr. Cooper would not be able to testify about why the girl in the case would deny that she was a victim, or how common denial is in sex-abuse cases. Kelly is due back in court March 12 for another pre-trial hearing, while the trial itself is slated to start on May 9. ...

And the Wu-Tang Clan infighting goes on. U-God — who complained about RZA being callous toward him in the studio nearly four years ago — is now suing Wu's label, alleging that he is owed $170,000, according to TMZ.com. U-God (born Lamont Hawkins) reportedly filed papers in a New York district court, alleging that Wu Music owes him money for services rendered dating back to March of last year. Wu Music is licensed to Universal Music. ...

Paula Abdul doesn't just have the seventh season of "American Idol" on her mind these days. "I want kids!" the singer recently told Ladies' Home Journal for its February issue. "If it doesn't happen naturally, I can always adopt." The 45-year-old Abdul opened up even more about her personal life, saying of 32-year-old boyfriend J.T. Torregiani, "I've experienced real loneliness, so I love knowing there's someone I can share the good and the not-so-good with." ... Everyone's wondering how the seventh season of "Idol" is going to fare in light of some retooling and the writers' strike, but if you ask Chris Daughtry, the show is "in a state of decline." The Daughtry frontman recently spoke with RollingStone.com about the show, adding that if it doesn't right itself, "it's probably not gonna last too much longer. I'm sure that'll be used against me, but that's the truth, you know?" He also said the show is "definitely lacking some credibility at this point." ...

White Stripes, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Mark Ronson, Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Cheifs and recent MTV Artist of the Week Kate Nash have all landed Brit Award nominations, although Leona Lewis, Mika and Take That have scored the most, with four apiece. Rihanna, Ronson, Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie Minogue and Paul McCartney are slated to perform at the February 20 ceremony. ... R.E.M. have pulled the curtains back on a new Web site surrounding the April 1 release of their 14th studio album, Accelerate. Their NinetyNights.com Web site has daily high-definition-video snippets shot by Arcade Fire collaborator Vincent Moon ...

Björk attacked a newspaper photographer who was attempting to take her picture at the Auckland International Airport on Sunday, according to reports in the New Zealand press. The singer, who was flying in to perform at the Big Day Out concert on Friday, reportedly ripped New Zealand Herald photographer Glenn Jeffrey's shirt after he snapped a photo of her. Jeffrey told the New Zealand Press Association that he was warned by a man traveling with Björk not to take her picture, and once he did, the singer came up behind him, grabbed the back of his shirt and tore it before tumbling to the ground. In 1996, Björk attacked a reporter in an airport in Bangkok, Thailand, after she objected to being photographed. ... The Walkmen and White Rabbits will hop along the U.S. this month for nine shows. On the itinerary are Pittsburgh (Wednesday); Detroit (Thursday); Milwaukee (Friday); Madison, Wisconsin (Saturday); Chicago (Sunday); St. Louis (January 21); Columbus, Ohio (January 22); Philadelphia (January 23); and Baltimore (January 24). ...

For the first time in 25 years, former Clash members Mick Jones and Topper Headon reportedly shared the same stage at a gig by Jones' new band, Carbon/Silicon. The duo performed "Train in Vain" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" during the set. ... Megadeth have recruited Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to be their newest guitarist, following the recent departure of Glen Drover. Broderick will make his live debut with the band on February 4, at a gig in Finland. ...

Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali said the band will not be revived following the late November death of frontman Kevin DuBrow. In an online statement, Banali claims he had been "approached to see if I would be interested in contacting Rudy Sarzo and Carlos Cavazo and to audition singers for Quiet Riot." He said that he's even fielded an offer to re-form "the version of Quiet Riot that included Paul Shortino, Carlos Cavazo and Sean McNabb." But Banali rejected any suggestions of the band performing live. "My friendship, love and respect for Kevin DuBrow, as well as my personal love and affection for Kevin's mother and his family, makes it inconceivable for me to ever entertain any ovation to re-form or to continue Quiet Riot," he wrote. "It would also be a disrespect to the fans who have supported [the band] for nearly 25 years." ...

Roger Avary, the Oscar-winning co-writer of "Pulp Fiction," was arrested on Sunday after a fatal single-car crash in Ojai, California. According to a Reuters report, Avary, 42, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, and was released from jail after posting $50,000 bail. Andreas Zedini, a 34-year-old passenger in the car, died of his injuries at a local hospital. Avary's wife, Gretchen, 40, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries after being thrown from the car.

• Heidi Montag Poses For Maxim

• Good Charlotte
• Justin Timberlake
• Queen Latifah
• Hawthorne Heights
• The Verve

A British High Court ruled on Monday that singer Robbie Williams and frequent collaborator Guy Chambers had violated the copyright of a Woody Guthrie track as interpreted by Loudon Wainwright III.

During the hearing, High Court Deputy Judge Nicholas Strauss noted that Williams and Chambers had "substantially copied" portions of a Guthrie tune, "I Am The Way," in "Jesus In A Camper Van," a track featured on Williams' U.K. album "I've Been Expecting You" as well as the U.S. compilation, "The Ego Has Landed."

According to Reuters, Williams and his publishers, EMI Music Publishing and BMG Music Publishing, will now face a trial to determine how much will be awarded to New York-based Ludlow Music, which owns the copyright on both the Wainwright and the Guthrie compositions.

The suit was filed in a London High Court earlier this year and revolved around the "Jesus In A Camper Van" refrain: "Even the son of God gets it hard sometimes, especially when he goes around saying, 'I am the way'" (see "Robbie Williams Faces Plagiarism Suit").

That was apparently a little too close to the mark to the Wainwright III lyrics: "Every son of God gets a little hard luck sometime, especially when he goes around saying he's the way," from the singer-songwriter's "I Am The Way (New York Town)" from his 1973 LP, "Attempted Mustache."

The Wainwright III song was an extrapolation of Guthrie's original line from "I Am The Way," which simply said, "Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes." Wainwright had registered his song as a joint composition between himself and Guthrie through Ludlow Music.

Judge Strauss ruled that Williams' "Jesus In A Camper Van" did take "the central idea from 'I Am The Way (New York Town),' namely that the son of God attracts bad luck by going round, saying, 'I am the way,' and [embodied] it in virtually identical words."

Williams previously told MTV News that he had received oral permission from Wainwright III to borrow the phrase, although both EMI and BMG had been negotiating with Ludlow in an attempt to reach a financial settlement over the song prior to the suit being filed.

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Even though his new album, "Sing When You're Winning," won't be released until October 3, capricious Brit singer Robbie Williams is already causing a stir with his shocking new video for "Rock DJ."

In the clip, Williams prances before a group of roller-skating models who are circling him yet paying him no mind. In an attempt to gain their attention, as well as that of the DJ spinning records high above the clublike rink, Williams removes all of his clothes.

When that fails to excite the dispassionate onlookers, Williams then proceeds to rend the flesh and sinews from his body and throw the bits into the crowd, which happily devours the bloody entrails.

Aside from certain computer-generated scenes featuring Williams' skeleton, the former Take That vocalist spends much of the "Rock DJ" video in the nude, and MTV News recently asked Williams whether he had to tone up prior to shooting the clip.

"The 'Rock DJ' video basically is me doing the ultimate striptease," Williams told MTV News. "I did [have to get in shape], actually. They came with this idea two months before the video [shoot] and said, 'Look, you're going to be naked.'

"I buffed right up," he added, "and now I'm buffing right down at this minute as we speak. I'm just stocking up on pies." [RealVideo]

The full video is currently being screened on both MTV and MTV2, but certain European countries have refused to play the "Rock DJ" video in its entirety, fading out right as the clip starts to take its gruesome turn.

Williams admitted. "It's a clever 'marketing plan,' and yes, it is all of those things. It's worked jolly nice, thank you.

"People can't play it in many places in Europe, apart from where they kill bulls in rings," he joked. "Like Spain, for example. They can play the whole video." [RealVideo]

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

British pop star Robbie Williams is taking his passion for pugilism to a video game ring. Williams, who had challenged Oasis' Liam Gallagher to a charity boxing match during the Brit Awards this spring (see "Promoters Support Robbie Vs. Liam Match"), will be able to display his virtual ring skills as a character in the upcoming "Knockout Kings 2001" game from Electronic Arts.

As part of "Knockout Kings 2001," Williams' video game doppelganger will duke it out with the likes of such boxing legends as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Oscar De La Hoya, among others. A publicist for Williams, who will release his new album, "Sing When You're Winning," in the U.S. on October 3, confirmed the performer's involvement in the game as part of an ongoing deal with EA Sports.

The former Take That singer was also "scanned in" for EA Sports' "FIFA 2000 Major League Soccer" game (see ), to which he even contributed an exclusive song, "It's Only Us."

Williams is likely to be a "hidden" character in "Knockout Kings 2001," meaning that fans will have to "unlock" the singer's boxing incarnation by inputting a secret code at the start of the game, which is due in stores in February.

In a well-timed, but unrelated incident, Williams was apparently involved in a barroom brawl on Sunday morning while on holiday at the resort town of St. Tropez in France, according to the British tabloid "The Sun."

The paper reports that Williams, who had been staying in St. Tropez for the last few weeks with ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, and 10 of his friends got into a fight with patrons at the Le Gorille club. Police quickly arrived on the scene to quell the disturbance but did not make any arrests.

Williams has already completed a rather shocking video for "Rock DJ" (see ), the first single from "Sing When You're Winning," which is expected to hit the air in the States in the next few weeks.

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams has taken to the Web to debut his new single, "Rock DJ," the first offering from the British pop singer's new solo album, due out in the U.S. later this year.

For the song, Williams has shot an exclusive internet-only video for "Rock DJ" that features him performing and prancing to the song against a stark white backdrop, a setting that evokes the color scheme and design of the recent Gap commercial campaign.

The clip was directed by Simon Hilton, who previously filmed Williams' live videos for "Strong" and "Millennium," as well as Supergrass' "Moving" and David Bowie's "All The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell."

On Friday, the BBC debuted a very different version of the "Rock DJ" video during the "Top Of The Pops" show, and the British broadcasting service has already placed an early-evening ban on the video because of its gruesome imagery, according to Reuters.

In that version of "DJ," Williams strips naked in front of a group of female roller-skaters, then begins ripping off his flesh and throwing it at the women to get their attention.

The horrific ploy works, as the skaters then devour the flesh off of Williams' body, leaving only a dancing, computer-animated skeleton.

The video ends after flashing a joke caption: "No Robbies were hurt during the making of this video."

As part of the official premiere of the new "Rock DJ" single, Williams has also launched a special "Get Lyrical" songwriting contest in which fans are being asked to write the words to a melody composed by Williams and frequent collaborator Guy Chambers.

Chambers and Williams came up with the audio while working on the new album at Edwyn Collins' West Heath Yard studio in London, and is said to be inspired by the French band Air.

The contest is open through August 3, and winners will be selected in five languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Those winners will receive a Pioneer hi-fi stereo system, along with a copy of their lyrics signed by Williams.

One grand prize winner will win a £1,000 (approximately $1,500) prize, as well as a publishing contract with EMI for the track, which will then be made available for other performers and artists to record, as Williams has not committed to actually singing the winning composition.

Complete details and rules for Williams' "Get Lyrical" contest are available via the singer's official Web site, at www.robbiewilliams.com.

Williams will be kicking off a U.K. tour in October, while the follow-up to his 1999 album, "The Ego Has Landed," which sold more than 500,000 copies in the U.S., is expected out in the fall.

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams has taken the $3 million Pepsi gave to him last year as part of an endorsement deal and founded the "Give It Sum" fund, which will provide aid and grants to such charities as UNICEF and Comic Relief.

Williams inked the global marketing deal with the soft drink company last October (see "Robbie Williams To Ask Cola Drinkers For More"), and has even contributed a new song, "United," that will be featured in the ad campaign, set to launch this summer.

"I've always wanted to set up a charitable trust." Williams said in a statement, "and when Pepsi came along, I thought that would be perfect, the way I'm 'asking for more' is to ask other people who can afford to give, to do so."

The former Take That singer has been involved with the British arm of Comic Relief for several years and has recorded exclusive songs and taped several TV sketches as part of the charity's annual Red Nose Day fundraising event on the BBC.

Williams is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, and recently toured areas of Mozambique on a fact-finding mission for the children's organization (see "Robbie Williams Makes UNICEF Visit To Mozambique").

As part of the launch of the "Give It Sum" fund, Williams is auctioning off signed T-shirts bearing the charity's logo through his official Web site. For more information on the auction, check out Williams' recently revamped site at www.robbiewilliams.com.

Williams' new solo album, his third, is due out later this year.

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Singer Robbie Williams took a break from working on his new album this past week to make a fact-finding visit to flood-ravaged Mozambique as a goodwill ambassador for United Nations Children's Fund.

According to a report issued by UNICEF, more than 190,000 children under the age of five are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in Mozambique as a result of the severe flooding that gripped the county three months ago and has displaced almost 1 million people.

Williams was using his visit to help focus international attention on the plight of Mozambique, as the organization is seeking to raise more than $2 million in aid for the country and several other African nations, including Botswana, Madagascar, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

During the trips, Williams had to be shepherded from site to site via helicopter due to the lack of infrastructure, and the singer also visited with children at an HIV center, as more than 350,000 have been left orphaned by AIDS.

Williams plans to release his third, as-yet-untitled solo album later this year. Last May, tracks from the former Take That singer's first two solo efforts, 1997's "Life Thru A Lens" and 1998's "I've Been Expecting You," were compiled on the U.S. album, "The Ego Has Landed."

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Singer Robbie Williams is facing a plagiarism suit in a U.K. court over lyrics that appear in his song "Jesus In A Camper Van," a track that appears on his British "I've Been Expecting You" LP as well as the U.S. compilation "The Ego Has Landed."

• Take That
• Robbie Williams

Although it seemed like just a joke at first, several British boxing promoters have now come forward and offered to set up a boxing match between singer Robbie Williams and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.

• Oasis
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• Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams, Macy Gray, and Travis led all winners at the tumultuous and lively 2000 Brit Awards -- the U.K.'s equivalent of the Grammys -- as both statues and taunts flowed freely from the Earl's Court stage in London on Friday night.

• Travis

• "The Man Who" - Travis

• "She's The One" - Robbie Williams

• "She's The One" - Robbie Williams

• Beth Orton

• Tom Jones

• S Club 7

• Macy Gray

• Macy Gray

• Beck

• The Chemical Brothers

• TLC

• Five

• Steps

• "Notting Hill"

• Macy Gray
• Take That
• Travis
• Robbie Williams