Jessica Simpson was "hurt" by ex-husband Nick Lachey's early dating after their marriage dissolved, she told Elle magazine for its March issue, due to hit newsstands February 13. "Two or three weeks later? Yeah, I'd say it kind of hurt me," she said. ...
After weeks of Internet leaks, the dates for the Honda Civic Tour — headlined by Fall Out Boy and featuring (+44), Cobra Starship, the Academy Is ... and, uh, Paul Wall — have finally been confirmed. The trek kicks off April 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs until mid-June, with a pair of homecoming gigs in FOB's Chicago hometown on the 10th and 11th. Fans who purchase the band's Infinity on High album when it hits stores Tuesday will receive an access code for a special ticket presale. The general presale begins February 17. For more info, check out HondaCivicTour.com ...
Kim Mathers, now twice-divorced from Eminem, appeared on ABC's magazine show "20/20" Friday to discuss her tumultuous relationship with the multiplatinum superstar. In a segment titled "Lovers' Revenge," Mathers described her second marriage to Eminem as "rushed," claimed the rapper's fame destroyed their marriage and revealed that their relationship ended for good over an argument she had with his younger brother. Mathers also discussed her affairs, her failed suicide attempt and Em's role as a father and husband. Through his representatives, Eminem declined to comment for the segment. ...
Jennifer Lopez is getting a human-rights award — and it's not for the performance she gave (with hubby Marc Anthony) at a Super Bowl party in Miami over the weekend. The Associated Press reports that the singer/actress will receive the Artists for Amnesty award for her work producing and starring in "Bordertown," a soon-to-be-released film about the murder of hundreds of women in a Mexican town. J. Lo will be presented with the award February 14 at the Berlin Film Festival, where the movie is debuting. There's some good news for J. Lo fans too: The wait for her Spanish-language album just got a bit shorter. The release of Como Ama Una Mujer has been moved up one week to March 27. ...
No Doubt's Tom Dumont joined former You Hear It First artist Matt Costa onstage at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, Saturday night. Dumont provided backup vocals during "Miss Magnolia," a new Costa tune that closed his opening set for G. Love and Special Sauce. Look for it to surface on Costa's new Dumont-produced album, which the singer/songwriter will record later this year. The No Doubt guitarist told MTV News that the band's new material could be out by 2008. "[Guitarist] Tony [Kanal] and [drummer] Adrian [Young] and I have been writing music for the next No Doubt album, to be ready when we resume to record with [singer] Gwen [Stefani]," Dumont said. In the meantime, Dumont has also been keeping busy producing New York indie band ModRocket and scoring an in-the-works animated short for the Disney Channel. ...
Bam Margera married Missy Rothstein, a childhood friend, on Saturday, AP reports. Iggy Pop performed at the festivities, and Tony Hawk and former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha were in attendance. The wedding was filmed for Margera's MTV reality show "Bam's Unholy Union." ... LL Cool J will host the 38th NAACP Image Awards, which will air live March 2 on Fox. Bono will be presented with a special award for his humanitarian efforts, while Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia are among the nominees in the running for NAACP prizes honoring entertainers. ...
A federal judge issued a temporary injunction against ParisExposed.com, the Web site that's been offering its subscribers access to personal pictures, videos, diaries and other documents Paris Hilton had in storage, AP reports. The site purchased the contents at auction after Hilton failed to pay her storage fees. Hilton sued the operators of the site last week, charging that its very existence exploited her private personal belongings for commercial gain. The injunction, issued Friday, bars the site from posting Hilton's Social Security number, health records and other personal information. ... Turner Broadcasting Systems and marketing company Interference Inc. have agreed to pay $2 million in compensation for the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" promotional campaign that set off a terrorism scare in Boston last week. AP reports that $1 million of the settlement will be used to reimburse local agencies that responded to the electronic signs mistaken for bombs, while the remaining $1 million will be used to fund homeland-security programs. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said the agreement will resolve any potential civil or criminal claims against the companies. ...
The long-running dispute between computer maker Apple Inc. and the Beatles' record company, Apple Corps, was resolved Monday (February 5), potentially paving the way for the Beatles' music to finally be offered for download on iTunes. In a joint press release, the longtime rivals announced that they've entered into a new agreement about the use of the name "Apple" and apple logos that replaces their 1991 agreement — and allows Apple Inc. to own all the trademarks related to "Apple." The computer company will license certain, unspecified, trademarks back to Apple Corps for their use. The settlement also quashed the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies. "We love the Beatles," Apple CEO Steve Jobs commented, "and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks. It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future." Though the agreement did not bring any word on the holy grail of music downloads — the Beatles on iTunes — Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall did say that "the years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them." ...
When rumors first surfaced last year that Brody Dalle's punk band the Distillers had called it quits, the singer wouldn't confirm the split. But now it's official. Dalle and guitarist Tony Bradley have moved on with a new band, Spinnerette. No explanation has been offered for the Distillers' breakup. ... None More Black have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. The band issued its sophomore LP, This Is Satire, last year. The group hasn't provided a reason for the split. ... P.O.D. have signed with INO Records/ Columbia Records, and are currently in pre-production for their forthcoming album, which is expected out late this summer. ... Godsmack bassist Robbie Merrill and his wife, Heather, welcomed the couple's first child, Nianni Chay Merrill, on January 18. ...
Joe Hunter of legendary Motown session musicians the Funk Brothers was found dead in his Detroit apartment late last week, AP reports. The cause of death is not yet known, although the pianist was a diabetic. Hunter earned three Grammys and was featured in the 2002 documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." He was 79. ... Noted singer/actress Barbara McNair — who starred alongside Elvis Presley in "Change of Habit" and Sidney Poitier in "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" — has also passed away, AP reports. She died at age 72 on Sunday after a battle with throat cancer.
02.02.2007
50 Cent is teaming with Pocket Books for a new volume called "The 50th Law." The book will be a collaborative project by 50 and strategy guru Robert Greene, whose "The 48 Laws of Power" is a popular pick in the hip-hop world. "50 Cent and Robert Greene will focus on how 'The 48 Laws of Power' have helped a new generation of successful power brokers achieve today's version of the American Dream," Pocket Books Executive Vice President and Publisher Louise Burke said. The book will also highlight 50's background and his ability to reconcile his street appeal with corporate savvy. " 'The 50th Law' will capture and create a visible parallel between street life and corporate America standard and structure," 50 said in a statement. The hardcover book, to be published through MTV/ Pocket Books, is due in February 2008. ...
My Chemical Romance have announced the second leg of dates on their Black Parade tour, which will feature Muse in the opening slot. The new run will begin April 14 in Houston and will make stops in San Antonio; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; and Seattle before wrapping up May 22 in Portland, Oregon. ...
Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Terrence Howard and others will convene for the ninth annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project Thursday in Los Angeles. The event, dubbed "The Soul of Country," will showcase footage from Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum archives and help to bring attention to the deterioration of historical music-related content. ... Lindsay Lohan has dropped out of the film "A Woman of No Importance," the actress' representative told People magazine. Lohan, who entered a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility last month, is currently filming the thriller "I Know Who Killed Me" and was set to co-star with Annette Bening in "Importance," based on an Oscar Wilde play. "She doesn't want to just yes everyone and compromise herself anymore," Lohan's publicist Leslie Sloane told People. "She's doing this so she can focus on getting better." ...
"Viva La Bam" co-star Vincent "Don Vito" Margera, uncle of Bam Margera, was ordered Thursday to stand trial on felony charges that he groped three underage girls at a promotional appearance at a skate park in August. According to The Associated Press, prosecutors presented evidence in a preliminary hearing that included statements from the girls — two 12-year-olds and a 14-year-old — as well as photos from their camera phones as evidence of their claims that Margera, 50, fondled them. Margera was charged with three counts of sexual assault on a child. If convicted, he could face anywhere from probation to six years in prison. Margera, who remains free on $50,000 bail, will have a chance to enter a plea when he is arraigned March 5. ... Macy Gray has set March 27 as the release date for her next LP, Big. The CD will feature collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Nas, Natalie Cole and Black Eyes Peas' Will.I.Am and Fergie. ...
Despite what you may have heard, Linkin Park's long-awaited new album will not be hitting stores April 30. This is according to the band's publicist, who told MTV News that while LP have settled on an in-store date for their third studio album, they are not announcing it yet — though they plan to do so in the near future. Earlier this week, the band posted on its MySpace page that the first single from the Rick Rubin-produced album would hit airwaves in March, though no title was given for the track. ... Kool G Rap, Large Professor and Masta Ace are giving Toronto newcomer Marco Polo a boost on his maiden disc. Marco's self-produced Port Authority drops May 1 and is the first 2007 release for Rawkus Records. ...
30 Seconds to Mars have booked several gigs they'll play during off-dates on their impending Taste of Chaos run. The band will play Portland, Oregon (February 16); Las Vegas (February 24); Albuquerque, New Mexico (February 28); New Orleans (March 6); St. Louis (March 14); Cleveland (March 19); Hartford, Connecticut (March 21); Des Moines, Iowa (April 1); and Fargo, North Dakota (April 2). ... Alkaline Trio, the Vandals, Boys Like Girls, Hot Rod Circuit, Norma Jean and the Spill Canvas have been added to this year's Warped lineup, joining previously announced acts Bad Religion, Coheed and Cambria, Bayside, Pennywise, the Almost and a host of others. ...
Mike Patton's Peeping Tom project has announced a run of spring dates. The trek begins March 30 in Dallas and will run through April 27, when the band performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. ... Attention accordion enthusiasts (and fans of guys named Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz): Book your tickets for the Bamboozle Festival now! On Friday (February 2), event organizers announced that none other than "Weird" Al Yankovic will appear at this year's fest, to be held May 5-6 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park will headline the two-day event, and more than 70 others will perform, including Cute Is What We Aim For, Brand New and Yellowcard. ...
Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff was found guilty Thursday of murder conspiracy and drug dealing in a federal death-penalty case in which prosecutors said he paid $50,000 to have two rivals killed in 2001. AP reports that McGriff, who has ties to the Inc. label head Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo, looked at supporters and smiled when the verdicts were read. During the trial, the defense said that after a prison sentence for drugs, McGriff began a movie-producing partnership with neighborhood friend Lorenzo. But prosecutors countered that McGriff actually resumed selling drugs and used Lorenzo's label, then known as Murder Inc., to launder more than $1 million in proceeds and that he paid a hit team to kill a little-known rapper named E-Money Bags and another man in retaliation for Bags' shooting and killing one of McGriff's friends. The jury in the case will return on Tuesday to deliberate the death penalty against McGriff, who will face a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole.
