Sharon Osbourne - Osbourne Quits The X Factor & other: June 2008

Monday 23 June 2008

Wayne and Coleen Rooney Give Each Other �1m Wedding Rings

Wayne and Coleen Rooney sealed their marriage by giving each other �1million his-and-hers rings.

The rings, designed by Coleen, has the couple's initials engraved into the side and are encrusted with diamonds.

It is thought the bespoke rings may have been from exclusive New York jewelers to the stars Jacob & Co, where Coleen has bought a watch and bracelet before.

Meanwhile, the couple -- who landed a �2.5m deal for exclusive snaps of their big day -- are reported to have signed yet-another multi-million pound deal with a glossy magazine for the rights to pictures of their first-born child.

A source close to the pair, who are both 22, said, "They were both really pleased with the way their wedding day was handled.

"They see nothing wrong with taking an extra �2.5million for photos of their first baby.

"Both Wayne and Coleen are prepared to accept everything will be done at the time of the birth to stop anyone else getting pictures of the baby."

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Wednesday 18 June 2008

Duran Duran returns to Boston

Yes, Duran Duran returns to Boston for an Agganis Arena show on Wednesday.
Yes, the tour’s been getting rave reviews from fans, critics and fellow rock stars (the Killers and Billy Corgan have joined the band onstage at different gigs).
But that’s not why singer/aging sexpot Simon LeBon was all revved up when he phoned us Wednesday night. In a rain-soaked penalty shootout in Moscow, footballers Manchester United beat Chelsea, 6-5, to win the European Champions League title.

Being a good Manchester lad, LeBon was ecstatic about the victory. Somehow we managed to get something more than “Oh my God, oh my God.” out of him after a few questions.
Herald: So as a Manchester fan, how are you feeling right now?
LeBon: Oh, God, I’m so happy. I had to try so hard not to yell my head off because I’m singing a show tonight. But, oh my God, I’m so stoked. We watched the match in a little sports bar in Raleigh, North Carolina, called the Draft something or other. They have all these draft beers that I couldn’t drink because of the show tonight. I did have one little beer when United scored the first goal. Oh, it was such a brilliant, brilliant goal.
Is everyone in the band Manchester fans?
Half of us were rooting for United and half of us were rooting for Chelsea.
That seems like the type of love that could tear a band apart.
No, no, no, because the right team won (hysterical laughter). It’s very difficult to not crow right now, but I know not to. It’s not an attractive quality in anybody. But, OK, let’s talk about Duran Duran.
With the Killers and Billy Corgan joining you onstage, members of Tool and AFI coming to shows and Justin Timberlake singing on your new record (“Red Carpet Massacre”), does it feel like the world is in love with Duran Duran again?
This year we’ve had the validation and endorsement of a lot of people getting onstage with us. We haven’t had that in the past. Maybe because we did the record with Timbaland, Nate Hills and Justin Timberlake, three of the hottest producers on the planet. Maybe somebody had to stick their neck out and say, “Yeah, I like Duran Duran.” I think it was Justin who said that first. He really stood up to be counted as a fan. When he came to the Brits in England to give us our lifetime achievement award, he said, “There’s one reason I came across the Atlantic Ocean and it’s standing onstage with me. It’s called Duran Duran.”
Did your style and Timberlake’s take a while to mesh?
No, it worked. We checked him when he wanted to work with us, and I thought “Justified” was a fantastic debut album as a solo artist. And he’s followed the band closely since he was about 13, when “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone” were in the charts.
You’re doing a few new songs that aren’t familiar to many fans. How do they fit with the hits?
We don’t just stuff them in there and hope they work. There’s a real dynamic to the show, so if a song fits into the dynamic we use it.

Monday 16 June 2008

Carly Simon - Simon Called Idol Hopeful To Thank Her For Youre So Vain

CARLY SIMON was so impressed with AMERICAN IDOL reject BROOKE WHITE's rendition of her YOU'RE SO VAIN hit she called the singer directly to thank her for choosing the song.

White, who was voted off the TV talent show two weeks ago (30Apr08), stunned Simon with her take on the famous musical attack on an unnamed ex.

Simon says, "I thought it was just fabulous... I don't think I could ever sing it the way she does.

"And she hasn't lost her individuality in a sea of singing coaches; she seems to be herself."

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R Kelly trial: Day Eleven

The prosecution in the child pornography trial of R Kelly. today (June 2) rested their case with the tearful testimony of a woman who claims she had sex with Kelly and the young victim at the centre of the case.

Lisa Van Allen, 27, told the court that she participated in three-way sex encounters with Kelly at various locations including a basketball court, and in a trailer during the making of one of his music videos.

Van Allen said that the singer frequently filmed his trysts, and would carry around a duffel bag filled with video tapes of his encounters. She said that last year Kelly offered her $250,000 for a tape in which she featured.

She denied trying to extort money from the singer but admitted to once stealing a watch from his hotel room.

"Van Allen is an admitted thief and liar who wouldn't know the truth if she tripped over it," Kelly's business manager, Derrel McDavid, said in a statement reports the Associated Press.

The witness says she first started having sex with Kelly in 1998 when she was 18, and when the unidentified girl in the video was 14. She said Kelly told her the victim was 16, still under the age of consent in Illinois.

She said she cried the second time she had sex with Kelly on a private basketball court, and that he left the room with the video camera right away. She said he told her the crying ruined the footage.

She last had sex with Kelly and the other girl in 2000 during a video shoot, and described a moment when the alleged victim ran to the bathroom naked after someone came to the trailer door, as Kelly did not want anyone to see her there.

After Kelly asked for the video last year, she said he paid $20,000 after it was handed over in a hotel room in Chicago.

Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. accused Van Allen of testifying in order to strike a deal with prosecutors, to help get a reduced sentence in a weapons case for a man with whom she lives.

The defense will begin presenting their case on Wednesday.

--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.

Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity birthdays for the week of June 8-14:

June 8: Comedian Jerry Stiller is 81. Comedian-talk show host Joan Rivers is 75. Actor James Darren is 72. Actor Bernie Casey is 69. Singer Nancy Sinatra is 68. Singer Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is 66. Singer Boz Scaggs is 64. Actor Don Grady ("My Three Sons") is 64. Guitarist Mick Box of Uriah Heep is 61. Actress Sonia Braga is 58. Actress Kathy Baker ("Picket Fences") is 58. Country guitarist Tony Rice is 57. Singer Bonnie Tyler is 55. Actor Griffin Dunne is 53. "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams is 51. Actor-director Keenan Ivory Wayans is 50. Singer Mick Hucknall of Simply Red is 48. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran is 46. Singer Doris Pearson of Five Star is 42. Actress Julianna Margulies ("Canterbury's Law," "ER") is 41. Actor Dan Futterman ("Judging Amy") is 41. Actor David Sutcliffe ("Gilmore Girls") is 39. Singer Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone is 38. Actress Kelli Williams ("The Practice") is 38. Actor Mark Feuerstein ("West Wing," "Good Morning, Miami") is 37. Guitarist Mike Scheuchzer of MercyMe is 33. Rapper Kanye West is 31. Fiddler Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is 27.

June 9: Guitarist-inventor Les Paul is 93. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 69. Keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple and Whitesnake is 67. Actor Michael J. Fox is 47. Actor Johnny Depp is 45. Actress Gloria Reuben ("The Agency," "ER") is 44. Bassist Dean Felber of Hootie and the Blowfish is 41. Bassist Dean Dinning (Toad the Wet Sprocket) is 41. Musician Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers is 38. Actress Michaela Conlin ("Bones") is 30. Actress Natalie Portman is 27. Actress Mae Whitman ("Arrested Development") is 20.

June 10: Singer Shirley Alston Reeves of The Shirelles is 67. Actor Andrew Stevens is 53. Bassist Kim Deal of The Pixies is 47. Singer Maxi Priest is 47. Actress Gina Gershon is 46. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn is 45. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan) is 44. Actress Kate Flannery ("The Office") is 44. Model-actress Elizabeth Hurley is 43. Guitarist Joey Santiago of The Pixies is 43. Guitarist Emma Anderson (Lush) is 41. Country guitarist Brian Hofeldt of The Derailers is 41. Singer Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing) is 38. Singer JoJo of K-Ci and JoJo is 37. Singer Faith Evans is 35. Actor DJ Qualls ("Hustle and Flow") is 30. Actor Shane West ("ER," "Now and Again") is 30. Singer Hoku is 27. Actress Leelee Sobieski is 26.

June 11: Actor Gene Wilder is 75. Actor Chad Everett is 71. Comedian Johnny Brown ("Laugh-In") is 71. Singer Joey Dee is 68. Actress Adrienne Barbeau ("Maude") is 63. Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top is 59. Singer Donnie Van Zant of .38 Special and of Van Zant is 56. Actor Peter Bergman ("The Young and the Restless") is 55. Actor Hugh Laurie ("House") is 49. Singer Gioia (JOY'-ah) Bruno of Expose' is 45. Country singer Bruce Robison is 42. Bassist Smilin' Jay McDowell (BR5-49) is 39. Bassist Dan Lavery of Tonic is 39. Bassist Tai Anderson of Third Day is 32. Actor Joshua Jackson ("Dawson's Creek") is 30. Actor Shia LaBeouf ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," "Holes") is 22.

June 12: Singer Vic Damone is 80. Disney composer Richard Sherman is 80. Actor-singer Jim Nabors is 78. Jazz musician Chick Corea is 67. Sports announcer Marv Albert is 67. Singer Len Barry is 66. Singer Reg Presley of The Troggs is 65. Singer John Wetton of Asia and King Crimson is 59. Drummer Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick is 57. Country singer-guitarist Junior Brown is 56. Singer-songwriter Rocky Burnette is 55. Actor Timothy Busfield is 51. Singer Meredith Brooks is 50. Actress Jenilee Harrison ("Dallas," "Three's Company") is 50. Accordionist-keyboardist John Linnell of They Might Be Giants is 49. Rapper Grandmaster Dee of Whodini is 46. Blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd is 31. Singer Robyn is 29.

June 13: Actor Bob McGrath ("Sesame Street") is 76. Magician Siegfried of Siegfried and Roy is 69. Singer Bobby Freeman is 68. Actor Malcolm McDowell is 65. Singer Dennis Locorriere of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show is 59. Actor Richard Thomas is 57. Comedian Tim Allen ("Home Improvement") is 55. Actress Ally Sheedy is 46. Former "Early Show" co-host Hannah Storm is 46. Bassist Paul DeLisle of Smash Mouth is 45. Singer David Gray is 40. Musician Soren Rasted (Aqua) is 39. Actor-singer Jamie Walters is 39. Singer-guitarist Rivers Cuomo of Weezer is 38. Actor Steve-O ("Jackass") is 34. Actor Ethan Embry ("Can't Hardly Wait," "That Thing You Do!") is 30. Singer Raz B (B2K) is 23. Actresses Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen are 22.

June 14: Actor Gene Barry is 89. Actress Marla Gibbs is 77. Actor Jack Bannon ("Lou Grant") is 68. Singer Rod Argent of The Zombies and Argent is 63. Singer Janet Lennon of The Lennon Sisters is 62. Businessman-TV personality Donald Trump is 62. Drummer Alan White of Yes is 59. Actor Eddie Mekka (Carmine on "Laverne and Shirley") is 56. Actor Will Patton is 54. Singer Boy George is 47. Actress Yasmine Bleeth is 40. Actress Traylor Howard ("Monk," "Two Guys And A Girl") is 37. Actor Daryl Sabara ("Spy Kids") is 16.

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Hanks Injures Hand On Set

Filming of new movie Angels And Demons had to be halted this week (beg02Jun08) when Tom Hanks sustained an injury on set - the actor was seen grimacing in pain after hurting his finger. Shooting on the Rome, Italy film was stopped after a "queasy"-looking Hanks, reprising his role as Dr Robert Langdon in the Da Vinci Code prequel, had his injury tended to by medics. The 51-year-old was given a full check up and was later granted the green light to continue filming.

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Shakir Stewart Promoted to Executive Vice President, Def Jam Recordings

NEW YORK, June 3 -- Shakir Stewart has been promoted to
Executive Vice President, Def Jam Recordings, it was announced today by
Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. Mr. Stewart will
report directly to Mr. Reid, and to Steve Bartels, President & COO, Island
Def Jam Music Group, on operational matters. Stewart will be based in
Atlanta and New York.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080603/NYTU026 )

In his new post, Mr. Stewart will assume overall responsibility for the
day to day activities of the Def Jam label, including the acquisition and
development of new talent, overseeing producers and guiding the creative
vision and brand recognition of the legendary label.

"The bold young management style that Shakir has established at Def Jam
is one of the major reasons behind the label's success today," said Mr.
Reid. "From his solid roots in music publishing, he has grown to master the
world of hip-hop and urban music."

"The past four years have been an unforgettable experience for me,"
said Mr. Stewart. "Having the opportunity to work with a brilliant music
man such as L.A. Reid, along with the most amazing team in the music
business, has afforded me the knowledge and inspiration to take the next
step in my career and continue to amplify and expand Def Jam's stellar
reputation in the industry."

"Shakir has been an integral part of Def Jam's chemistry ever since he
joined the company in 2004," said Mr. Bartels. "His instincts for searching
out new artists is talked about throughout the industry. In addition, his
understanding of every facet of Def Jam's business operation makes us
confident in his leadership of the company into its third decade."

Since September 2006, Mr. Stewart has served as Senior Vice President,
A&R, Def Jam Recordings. That followed two years as Vice President, A&R,
Def Jam Recordings, where his new artist signings included hip-hop stars
Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. Mr. Stewart came to the company from Hitco
Publishing, where he was Senior Vice President & General Manager since
1999, and signed Beyonce to the firm. During that same period, he served as
an A&R consultant to LaFace Records and (from 2000 to 2004) Arista Records,
where he signed R&B sensation Ciara. Mr. Stewart was graduated from
Morehouse College in 1996, with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing.

Contact: Laura Swanson, 212.333.8533
email: Laura.Swanson@umusic.com

Adesina Dowers, 212.603.3928
Adesina.Dowers@umusic.com

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50 Cent - 50 Cent Denies Torching His New York Home

Rapper 50 CENT has denied setting fire to his New York home, after his ex-lover suggested he may have been involved.

The Long Island estate - owned by 50 Cent and occupied by his former lover Shaniqua Tompkins and their 10-year-old son Marquise - was set ablaze in what New York cops have called a "highly suspicious" inferno that raged at 5am (EST) on Friday (30May08).

The home has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between the hip-hop star - real name Curtis Jackson - and Tompkins since last month's (Apr08) ruling that she and Marquise must leave the rapper's mansion by the end of 2008.

Tompkins told reporters on Friday (30May08), "He's upset. If he can't have it, no one can. He threatened me."

But 50 Cent - who was shooting a movie in Louisiana when the blaze took place - insists he had nothing to do with it.

His lawyer Brett Kimmel tells TMZ.com, "Any suggestion that Mr. Jackson had anything whatsoever to do with the fire at his home is outrageous and offensive."

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Britney Spears Shoots Cameo For Pussycat Dolls' 'When I Grow Up' Video: Report

First, "How I Met Your Mother" — now, the Pussycat Dolls.

Her albums might not sell the way they used to, but Britney Spears is turning into the queen of the red-hot cameo. According to People magazine, Brit filmed a bit part in the video for the Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" clip.

An unnamed source told the magazine that Spears had a "small part" in the video, which was shot Wednesday in Los Angeles, and that she was not expected to dance or perform with the Dolls in the video. Spokespeople for Spears and the Dolls could not be reached for comment at press time.

Coming on the heels of her well-received two-episode arc on "How I Met Your Mother," the Dolls shoot represents Spears' latest attempt to ease back into the spotlight, after spending much of the past year dealing with a series of personal crises. In fact, her second appearance on the sitcom went so well that onetime Brit doubter Neil Patrick Harris recently told People that "the door is open for her" to come back for a third go-round.

After a sizzling performance of "When I Grow Up" at the recent MTV Movie Awards, we'll be seeing plenty of PCD in the upcoming weeks. They'll appear on the June 13 episode of "So You Think You Can Dance," and they're featured performers on the new MTV video show "F'N MTV," hosted by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz.

According to a source at their label, PCD's yet-untitled second album, featuring production from Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins and Sean Garrett, will be out in September.

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Nevergreen

Artist: Nevergreen

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Game Over

Year: 1994
Tracks: 11

Soso