Shakira on the cover of <i>Teen People</i>
Photo: Time, inc.

Shakira might have said that she's lucky her breasts are "small and humble" in "Whenever, Wherever," but there was a time when she considered getting breast-augmentation surgery because she was unhappy with her body, the singer reveals in the next issue of Teen People. The magazine's latest cover star also said that wasn't the only plastic surgery she looked into. "I considered ... all kinds of things. 'Maybe my eyebrows should be higher. Maybe my lips should be bigger.' " Eventually Shakira came to accept herself, despite all the insecurities. "I'm actually shy; I've just learned to hide it." But her hips don't lie — and her dancing reveals more skin than she sometimes would like to show. "It's not my hobby to show my belly! The moves I do when I perform require it. People of America, I want you to know that I wear clothes once in a while!" ...

Diddy introduced a select few to the next phase of Bad Boy Records Tuesday night in New York. Sean Combs held a small party at his Daddy's House studio and previewed music by newcomers Cheri Dennis and Yung Joc and veterans 8Ball and MJG. ... Jack White is preparing to unleash his brand-new band, the Raconteurs, on America — for one night, at least. On April 7, the band — which also features Detroit songwriter Brendan Benson and two-thirds of Cincinnati garage-rockers the Greenhornes — will play its first-ever U.S. gig at Irving Plaza in New York. Tickets go on sale Thursday at noon via Ticketmaster.com. The Rac's debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, is due in stores May 16. ...

Nick Lachey has decided on a title and release date for his second album: What's Left of Me, due May 9. The title is the same as the first single, which recently hit the airwaves. ... Paul Wall has titled his fall release Ain't No 401K for a Hustla. Wall is also set to appear alongside Lil' Keke on The Day Hell Broke Loose 3 compilation, due in August. ... Pimp-C will release a DVD documenting his experiences being incarcerated during the Houston boom in 2005 and what has happened after his recent release. "Pimpalation: Return of the Trill," hosted by MTV News' Sway, is due April 11 and will be followed by a CD called Pimpalation on June 13. ... Foo Fighters will be featured in a pair of episodes of "The West Wing." The shows will air Sunday and April 9 at 8 p.m. on NBC. ... Notorious B.I.G.'s family will receive $1.1 million from the city of Los Angeles after the City Council on Wednesday approved the amount U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper awarded in January. The money covers the family's legal expenses in a civil trial that was ruled a mistrial last year when it was discovered that the Los Angeles Police Department withheld statements that linked two rogue LAPD officers, David Mack and Rafael Perez, to the rapper's shooting. ...

Could it really be over so soon? That's what former Howard Stern listeners across the East Coast and Midwest might have been asking themselves Wednesday morning (March 29) when they turned on their radios to find Stern replacement David Lee Roth absent. Yes, preliminary numbers for Roth have not been promising, but a CBS Radio spokesperson denied reports that the former Van Halen singer had been canned just three months into his gig, saying the motor-mouthed morning man was simply taking a few days off to travel back to New York after broadcasting from Miami Beach Monday and Tuesday. Roth is expected to be back on the air Friday. ... Elsewhere on the dial, Mighty Mighty Bosstones singer Dicky Barrett has attacked Los Angeles' Indie 103.1 after he was recently fired as host of the station's morning show. In a statement released by his publicist, Barrett said he was fired for expressing his dislike on air for a Morrissey song the station was spinning and for an unauthorized pro-choice conversation he had with a caller. Indie General Manager Dawn Girocco responded by saying Dicky was not as committed to the show as he needed to be. ...

After complaints and a lawsuit earlier this year from a Louisiana man, Apple Computer released a software update Wednesday that allows iPod owners to set a maximum volume on their players. The free download works with Nanos and fifth-generation models that play video, and it also allows parents to set a volume limit on their child's iPod and lock it with a special code. The free update is available at apple.com/ipod/download. ... On Monday a judge ordered Michael Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe to submit copies of legal papers missing from their divorce file, The Associated Press reports. The documents, concerning the custody of the pair's two children, include Rowe's 2001 motion to terminate parental rights and an emergency motion filed two years later seeking temporary custody as well as Jackson's filing opposing his ex-wife's custody motion. Attorneys for Jackson and Rowe have 30 days to turn over the paperwork. A hearing has been set for May 24. ...

As he awaits his murder trial, troubles keep mounting for famed "wall of sound" record producer Phil Spector. A former personal assistant has sued Spector for more than $5 million in Los Angeles, claming sexual harassment, according to an Associated Press report. Spector sued former assistant Michelle Blaine in September, alleging that she skimmed hundreds of thousands of dollars from his accounts. Blaine hit back on Friday, saying that Spector authorized the payments to her, including those for a $700,000 house and that he sexually harassed her, sometimes appeared naked in front of her and once asked Blaine to find a prostitute for him. Blaine also claims that after Spector was charged with the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, the producer repeatedly proposed marriage to her as a way to block her from testifying against him. Spector's murder trial is slated to begin in September. ...

Eugene Landy, the show-business psychologist famous for his controversial relationship with troubled Beach Boys star Brian Wilson, died March 22 in Honolulu of complications from lung cancer, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 71. Landy, who also worked with original shock rocker Alice Cooper and actor Rod Steiger, pioneered the concept of "24 hour therapy" when he began treating Wilson in the mid 1970s. Hired to work on Wilson's intense phobias and drug addictions, Landy took control of every aspect of the singer's life, monitoring him 24 hours a day and eventually acting as his manager and artistic collaborator, crossing an ethical line and eventually giving up his license to practice in California after admitting to a charge of unlawfully prescribing drugs in 1989. ...

Prolific songwriter Cindy Walker, known as the "dean of Texas songwriters," died of natural causes Thursday at the age of 87, according to The Los Angeles Times. Walker was known for the more than 500 sentimental, Western-flavored songs she wrote, performed by everyone from Roy Orbison ("Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)"), to Ray Charles ("You Don't Know Me"), with the latter covered by more than 75 artists, including Elvis Presley. Willie Nelson released an album-length tribute to Walker this month called You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker. Walker, often called the greatest living country music songwriter, was a charter member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997.

03.28.2006

Mariah Carey's been dreaming of a Broadway Christmas since late 2004, when she originally announced plans for a holiday musical, and now she's finally making progress with her plan. "I don't want to mention anything definitive until things are signed," she told MTV Radio, "but there's a very big company that just signed on to develop the project with me." Carey said the musical — which she'll create, produce and star in — will incorporate music from her 1994 album, Merry Christmas, as well as new material. "It's probably going to be a movie first," she said. "I don't want to say a television movie, because it's not like a cheesy network movie, but then it's going to be made for the Broadway production. So the [TV movie] will set the stage for the stage." ...

It was nothing but royalty Monday night in New York as a king, queen and prince came together for the premiere of "ATL." T.I. (the King of the South), Queen Latifah and former Prince of Bel Air Will Smith (with Jada Pinkett) joined Jay-Z, Usher, DJ Drama, Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin at the Tribeca Theater. Latifah's longtime friends and business partners Shakim Compere and Lance "Un" Rivera were also on hand. ...

Jessica Simpson is moving up in the world — at least as far as FHM's annual list of 100 Sexiest Women is concerned. While Scarlett Johansson nabbed the top spot, Simpson catapulted from #16 on last year's list to #4 this year. Other singers making the top half of the chart include Paris Hilton (#11), Lindsay Lohan (#14), Beyoncé (#18), Shakira (#20), Jennifer Lopez (#26; she was #1 in 2000 and 2001), Mariah Carey (#28), Mandy Moore (#31), Christina Aguilera (#37), Gwen Stefani (#40) and Kelly Clarkson (#50). Hilary Duff, the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie and Stefani were new entries this year, but Britney Spears, who was #1 in 2004, was nowhere to be found (Check out photos of FHM's Sexiest Women.). ... Since Lindsay Lohan's upcoming movie "A Prairie Home Companion" (in theaters June 9) focuses on a radio show, it's only natural that the soundtrack would include some of the songs performed on said show. Out May 23, the soundtrack will feature performances from castmembers Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly and Lohan herself, who contributes "Frankie & Johnny." ...

Not every singer on "American Idol" is a pop-star hopeful or graduate of the performance competition, as recent appearances by Stevie Wonder and Barry Manilow have proven. This week the show hopes to shake things up even further with belly-dancing Shakira, who will perform "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean on Wednesday night's elimination episode. ... And forgive us if this one sounds familiar, but Simon Cowell is at it again. After expanding his stranglehold on U.S. viewers with his "American Inventor" show earlier this month, the acerbic "Idol" judge is adding a third show to his empire: "America's Got Talent." Open auditions will begin next month for the NBC show, which will be open to performers of all ages and talents — from singers and dancers to jugglers and magicians, according to Reuters. The show will have a celebrity three-judge panel (it will not include Cowell) and the winner will take home a $1 million prize. ...

Live singer Ed Kowalczyk has released a statement in support of "American Idol" contestant Chris Daughtry, who sang a cover of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" last week with an arrangement similar to the version recorded by Live — but without giving the band credit. "We wish Chris the best of luck in the competition," Kowalczyk said. "I thought he did a great job with the song. There's no doubt he's a talented performer and I hope he goes far." Live, meanwhile, will hit the road beginning April 22 in Providence, Rhode Island, in support of their seventh studio album, Songs From Black Mountain, due May 9. ... Travis Barker and DJ AM will take their experimental show to San Francisco April 7 and New York April 13 and 14. VIP packages for the shows are available at StubHub.com and will benefit the Race to Erase MS. ... Chamillionaire and Lil' Flip are teaming for the Texas Boyz Tour, which kicks off March 30 in San Diego and wraps up early this summer. Chamillionaire has recorded several remixes of his new single, "Ridin'," featuring rappers ranging from the Game to Bun B to Fabolous. ...

In a post on Evanescence's official message board Sunday, singer Amy Lee wrote that she and new guitarist Terry Balsamo were in the studio finishing mixes on the group's upcoming album. "We'll be done mixing [the new album] next week! I can hardly believe it, we've been working on this album for so long," Lee wrote. "The stuff sounds so good. ... Wow, what a trip this has been." The singer said Balsamo is "doing really well" after the stroke he suffered in November and that she's busy trying to figure out the order of the songs on the still-untitled album. "It's going to be hard to hold this music in all summer," Lee said. "I really want to thank you guys again for being so patient — I know it's gonna be worth it." A spokesperson for the group confirmed the post and added that the album is slated for release in the fall, with a tour to follow. ...

The Offspring's Dexter Holland is turning into some sort of bionic man or something. In late 2004 he completed a 10-day solo flight around the globe, subsisting only on Doritos and beef jerky. And for an encore — and for charity — he decided to take on the Los Angeles Marathon. Running on behalf of the Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal organization aimed at using DNA testing to free the unjustly convicted, Holland finished in a little more than five hours, good enough for 7,900th place — but not better than Oprah Winfrey's 1994 Washington, D.C., marathon time of 4 hours, 29 minutes and 30 seconds, which was Holland's stated goal. Still, he raised money for a good cause and is happy with his efforts. "I hit a wall at about 16 miles," Holland wrote on Offspring.com, "but I'm glad I was able to finish. I shouldn't have eaten those tacos for breakfast! I didn't beat Oprah's time, but I challenge her to a rematch." ...

If you asked Alanis Morissette, she might say, "Isn't it ironic ... a little too ironic?" Victor Willis, 54, the singer who dressed as the policeman in '70s disco juggernaut the Village People, faces up to five years in prison after his arrest Sunday. He was booked for bailing on a plea deal he cut last year following an arrest on charges of possessing cocaine and a gun. Willis — who left the group in 1980 — had agreed to a maximum of 16 months in jail on the original charge, but when he goes to court Tuesday (March 28) he's looking at four years and four months on the original charges and a possible eight additional months on new drug charges, according to a Reuters report.

[This story was originally published at 12:47 pm E.T. on 03.29.2006]

• Shakira
• Diddy
• Eightball & MJG
• Michael Jackson
• Brian Wilson

Randy Jones of the Village People marries acid lounge artist Will Grega
Photo: Rumor

The Village People's cowboy is a Lone Ranger no more.

Randy Jones — who filled out the 10-gallon hat for the motley disco outfit — and acid lounge artist Will Grega tied the knot Friday at the West Village club Rumor, according to club partner Erica Maurer.

Grega proposed to Jones, his partner of 20 years, following a champagne toast for the release of Grega's new CD, and the two were "married on the spot" by the Reverend Dr. Cain L. Berlinger, according to a spokesperson for the couple.

Attendees included Ben Curtis (the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" guy), Village Voice columnist Michael Musto, former MTV VJ Thalia DaCosta, plus-size burlesque troupe the Glamazons and John Carroll of "Survivor," among others.

Jones was with the Village People on and off from 1977-1990, and he's currently in the studio working on a solo album of standards titled The Luckiest, due this summer, according to his Web site. Jones is also set to begin work on "Adam and Steve" with Chris Kattan, Parker Posey and Malcolm Gets this summer.

Grega recently released Lounge Lessons and works as a remixer and composer.

Of course, gay marriage is still illegal in New York state. "It's only a matter of time before the courts rule in favor of what's morally right and humanly decent," Jones said.

Grega added, more lightheartedly, "The benefits so far are great. I have a lifetime membership to the YMCA."

• Village People

Glenn Hughes
Photo: UNI/Mercury

Glenn Hughes, the original biker of the Village People, lived for the disco group he joined 24 years ago, even requesting to be buried in his leather costume, friends said Tuesday (March 13).

Hughes died of lung cancer March 4 in his Manhattan, New York, home. He was 51.

The Village People's manager, Mitch Weiss, said the cancer was in the final stages when it was detected in Hughes, and there was nothing medical experts could do. "It came as a surprise to everyone," he said.

The Village People were assembled in 1977 to appeal to the emerging gay and disco scenes. The group had a huge hit a year later with "Y.M.C.A.," a novelty tune that remains a dance floor favorite more than two decades after it climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

They had other hits, such as "Macho Man," "In the Navy" and "Go West," though the their image, which had members dressed as a biker, policeman, cowboy, GI, construction worker and Indian, often garnered more attention than their talents.

Hughes' funeral was held Friday, and his fellow Village People bandmates served as pallbearers. Alexander Briley, the original and current GI, sang "Where Do I Go?" from "Hair" during the ceremony, which Hughes had requested.

"Our lives will never be the same," David Hodo, the original and current construction worker, said Tuesday. "We miss him dearly." Hughes, who auditioned for the Village People on a dare while working as a tollbooth collector at the Holland Tunnel in New Jersey, last performed with the group in 1996 but continued to work with the group's administration until the time of his death. He sported a handlebar mustache and wore leather onstage and off.

Hughes' bass voice was heard on all of the Village People's hits, and he starred and sang "Danny Boy" in the 1980 movie "Can't Stop the Music." He also sang on the band's most recent two house music singles — "Loveship 2001" and "Gunbalanya" — under the name Village People alias The Amazing Veepers. The latter tune, which means "in the tribe," was written in Australia with a group of Aborigines during a documentary filmed by the country's public television network. Both singles have been released on the group's own label, Plenty Big Music. They also include the current biker, Eric Anzalone.

Hughes, whose Village People character also was known as the "leatherman," kept in touch with more than 35,000 Village People fans by e-mail, according to Weiss. "He adored being associated with this band," he said. "He wasn't touring with them, but he was the Village People." Hughes is survived by his parents and sister. He asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the God's Love We Deliver charity.

A memorial on the band's Web site (www.villagepeople-official.com) is being constructed by members Felipe Rose (original and current Indian), Ray Simpson (current policeman), Jeff Olson (current cowboy), Briley, Hodo and Anzalone.

"Glenn had a talent for keeping things light and could make you laugh even on your worst day," Hughes' sister, Cindy, said at his funeral. "His quick wit, terrific dancing and fabulous voice were his trademarks."

• Village People

The Village People<BR>(circa 1978)
Photo: Mercury

The Village People's leather-clad singer, Glenn Hughes, died on March 4, according to The Advocate. He was 50.

Hughes, who had been ill for years, reportedly asked to be buried in the biker outfit he wore as a member of the disco group, whose 1978 hit "Y.M.C.A." remains a dance floor favorite more than two decades after its release.

Producer Jacques Morali assembled the Village People to appeal to the emerging gay and disco scenes in 1977. The group, known more for their image than their talents, featured musicians dressed as a policeman, cowboy, construction worker, and Native American, along with Hughes in leather, chains and a handlebar mustache.

The Village People hit radio with "Macho Man" in early 1978 and later scored with "In the Navy" and "Go West." The group released an ill-fated movie, Can't Stop the Music, in 1980 and have attempted several comeback albums and tours since, none of which were able to capture the steam of their original run.

• Village People

December 5 [10:00 EDT] -- A proposed appearance by the Village People has reportedly been halted by a South Carolina restaurant company that doesn't want its business associated with a gay rights festival that is sponsoring the event.

The Associated Press reports that a May 2 Myrtle Beach show by the disco lords who gave the word hits like "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" has been stopped by Burroughs & Chapin Co., Inc. which owns a restaurant and entertainment complex near the site of the proposed concert. The company has reportedly said that it doesn¹t want its business associated with the gay rights festival that is sponsoring the beach party the group was to have played.

Gay rights organizers denounce the company's move as "aggressively homophobic," and the festivals organizers are reportedly threatening a boycott of Burroughs & Chapin's various businesses

• Village People

Feb. 19 [10:00 EST] -- Victor Willis, known to most as the original cop from the 70s disco phenoms Village People, was arrested on Saturday on robbery and drug charges after a woman reported that a man had struck her and robbed her of money and a bracelet.

Police investigating the report searched Willis' Reno, Nevada hotel room and found the woman¹s belongings, as well as 45 grams of rock cocaine.

With U2 paying tribute to the Village People in its new video "Discotheque," and a film about the band reportedly in the works, there's been talk of a Village People comeback. We'll see.

• Village People

Feb. 5 [16:00 EST] -- Just as the "Star Wars" crew was retouched and retooled for 90's audiences, another set of 70s icons may be returning to the big screen as well. Talks about bringing a film about the life and times of disco phenoms the Village People are reportedly well underway.

According to reports, as many as four different creative teams are vying for the chance to turn the Village People saga into a motion picture.

Producer Tony Lord and Matt Weaver (of Tri-Star Pictures), producer Liz Speed and director Brian Gibson (who directed "What's Love Got To Do With It?"), Universal, and Columbia have all expressed interest in the project according to "Variety."

The screenwriting team of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who gave us "Ed Wood" and "The People Vs. Larry Flynt," would reportedly like to handle the script for a Tri-Star version of the film.

The Village People first, and last, came to theaters in 1980's "Can't Stop The Music," which co-starred Bruce Jenner, Valerie Perrine, Nancy Walker, and Steve Guttenberg.

• Village People