Fearless Franka

Director Vishal Bharadwaj has signed Run Lola Run actress Franka Potente for his upcoming film, Julia. The script of the film is based on the life of Mary Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia, who ruled the Hindi film industry in the '30s. Fearless Nadia was also famously called Hunterwali.

Our source reveals, “Vishal met Franka in Berlin sometime in August. He had discussed the subject of his film, Julia with her and told her that he was keen to cast her in the lead role. Ajay Devgan is being considered for the film, too.”
Vishal finally got Franka flown down to Mumbai a few days ago. Our source says, “Franka has already done the screen test yesterday at Mehboob Studios.” Vishal wanted to see if Franka could carry well the costumes that Nadia wore in her films during those days.

Our source adds, “Vishal wanted to give Franka an idea about the kind of character she's about to play.”

Franka was screen-tested in four different costumes. “Nadia was known for her trademark hunter and mask besides loose shirts, baggy pants and knee-length boots.

Incidentally, Nadia was the first Bollywood actress to perform her own stunts and soon gained recognition for it. Anyway, Franka was given similar costumes. Vishal even made pose with a hunter,” our source says.

Vishal is very happy as he feels that the German actress is just right for the role. “Vishal is pretty impressed with the end result. He feels that Franka's face is quite similar to Nadia's,” our source says.

When contacted, Poonam Sahni, the executive producer of Julia, said, “We cannot comment on this. Please contact UTV because they are looking after the film.”

Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO of UTV, when contacted said, “I don't want to comment on right now.”

Who is Franka?

Franka Potente was born in Dulmen, Germany. She made a notable debut in Nach Fumf im Urwald (1995). But her national breakthrough came in Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run).

She has also starred in films like Blow, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and many other German and English productions.

She has written and directed Der die Tollkirsche ausgrabt (German) and composed the theme song for Run Lola Run. She speaks fluent French, German and English.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Dutt teri ki!

While shooting for a rather long rain sequence for Sanjay Gupta's upcoming film Dus Kahaaniyan, Sanjay Dutt had a very tough time. However, it was seen that his co-actor Suneil Shetty did not even flinch despite being doused with water for days on end. No, it wasn't Suneil's stronger constitution, just some clever pre-planning.

A source tells us that Dutt was really uncomfortable all through the shoot. “The shoot lasted for nearly a week. It is not easy to get wet every day and continue shooting for long hours. Dutt even lost his cool a couple of times,” says the source.

So how was Suneil so comfortable? “Well, Suneil had worn a wetsuit (usually used for scuba diving) under his clothes. Dutt didn't know about this protective gear and was suffering needlessly in damp clothes over days,” our source reveals.

When Dutt learnt that Suneil was wearing a wetsuit, he felt that he too should have done the same. “But by then, it was too late. The shoot was nearly over,” our source adds.

When contacted, Gupta said, “Yes, Suneil was smart enough to wear a wetsuit for the sequence. Sanju came to know about Suneil's wetsuit only later. It is very tough to shoot for rain sequences for long hours, especially because the water which is used in these sequences comes from tankers and tanker water is not too clean,” he added.

When we contacted Suneil Shetty, he said, “Yes, Baba (as Sanju is fondly called in the industry) has always teased me about the additional gears I wear to save myself from cold and rain.”

Gupta added, “Now, Sanju has told Suneil that he should get such wetsuits for him when they shoot for rain sequences in future.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Neil strikes diamond

If all goes well, legendary singer Mukesh's grandson Neil Mukesh will sign a three-film contract each, with Eros and Ashtavinayak respectively. If sources are to be believed, these projects were originally meant for Shahid Kapoor.

Our well-placed source in the industry says, “Ashtavinayak had spoken with Shahid but he kept dilly-dallying. He did not tell them why he was not saying a 'yes' or a 'no', but he kept buying more time.”

Well, Shahid's loss became Neil's gain. “They have approached Neil Mukesh now. In the next couple of days, Neil may finalise not one but a three-film contract with them,” the source adds.

When contacted, Neil confirmed that he was in talks with Eros and Ashtavinayak. “By the end of this week, things will be final. I have liked the subjects which have been narrated to me,” he says.

A close friend of Neil tells us, “In one of the ventures which have gone to Neil, Ashtavinayak definitely wanted Shahid. They even told Neil that they had planned that project with Shahid in mind earlier.”

When contacted, Parag Desai, official spokesperson of Ashtavinayak, maintained that Ashtavinayak is still in talks with Shahid. Shahid's close friend said, “Shahid is open to working with Ashtavinayak, but they haven't come to him with a final script yet. They met in Filmistan on Monday,”
When contacted, Shahid said,”I am in talks with Ashtavinayak and we will be working shortly once a script is finalised. I have met up with Eros too, but they haven't come to me with a subject yet. As for Neil, I am happy that he is doing an Ashtavinayak film, but maybe that's not the one that that I have been approached for.”

After Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Gaddar, Neil will be seen in Sudhir Mishra's Tera Kya Hoga Johnny co-starring Soha Ali Khan. Also, Neil has signed a 2-film deal with Adlabs. Meanwhile, Shahid is shooting for Aziz Mirza's Lucky Charm opposite Vidya Balan.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Vroom macha de!

Producer Sanjay Gupta is all set to go on a long bike ride after December 15 with his gang of friends. Gupta with friends, Dino Morea, Parvin Dabas, Rohit Roy and Sanjay Dutt's brother-in-law Owen Roncon and others will go on the long road trip on their bikes from Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Goa, Goa to Kerala and back from Kerala to Mumbai.

Sanjay Gupta confirms the news and says, “Yes, we will be going all the way from Mumbai to Kerala and back in December as the weather will be fantastic. I love bikes and I will be riding a Yamaha MT 01 which Rohit has also recently brought. It is a 1700 CC retro bike and this was something that was on our minds for a long time.”

Commenting on others who will be joining him, Sanjay says, “Parvin has also ordered his new bike — a Yamaha V-STAR 1300, which will be delivered anytime now. Dino will be riding one of my bikes since I own four bikes, two of which are a Suzuki band squad and a Yamaha FJR 1300, which is a sports bike.” The men will start their trip in Mumbai and go to Pune where they plan to stay at Sanjay's bungalow.

After that they will go to his villa in. They will then proceed to Kerala where they will be staying in tents. “We will also take two cars along, which will follow us. The cars will have our tents and other things that we might need on our trip. Also, our staff will come with us in the car,” adds Sanjay.

He adds, “Rohit, Dino, Aftab, Parvin, Owen, Jeetu Savlani (photographer) are surely coming for the trip. All of us will talk about several interesting experiences when we are back. I had also spoken to John Abraham. It will be great if he can join us too. Unfortunately, Fardeen Khan won't join us due to his father's ill-health. However, Zayed Khan and Arjun Rampal may also join us.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Not yet, Re!

A few days ago, there were reports that Shabana Azmi and Rekha had sorted out their differences (they were last seen together in a film 30 years ago) and were set to act together in Raj Kanwar's upcoming film starring Rishi Kapoor and Luv (Shatrughan and Poonam Sinha's son). However, the latest is that Shabana has walked out of the film.

If sources are to be believed, Hema Malini will step into Shabana's shoes. An insider from the unit says, “Shabana is not doing Raj's film. She pulled out simply because of Rekha's presence in the film. We don't know if she was unaware that Rekha had been signed when she had said 'yes' to Kanwar. What else could be the reason for her sudden decision?”

The friction between Rekha and Shabana goes back a long way. Many years ago, Shabana Azmi had been openly and overtly critical of Rekha's dialogue delivery and performances. Last month, Shabana's husband Javed Akhtar had said in an interview that he didn't think Rekha was a great actress.

Akhtar had said, “I've never been a fan of Rekha. Mujhe uski performance dil mein nahin lagi. Unka rona hasna sab heroine ka hota hai. (Her performances have never touched my heart. All her emotions on screen look unrealistic) The first time I really liked her was in Krrish.”

Shabana remained unavailable for comment. So, we called up Akhtar. He told us, “Why do you think that Shabana pulled out because of Rekha's presence? It could be due to some issue over money or dates.”

When we reminded Akhtar of his statement against Rekha, he feigned ignorance. However, he did shoot back, “I am indifferent. I haven't thought of Rekha at all. Mujhe kabhi zaroorat hi nahin padi yeh sochne ki. (I don't need to think about her acting.)”

Shocked that we had stumbled upon the fact that his casting coup had fallen through, Kanwar said, “I am still in the scripting stages of the film. I will let you know as and when I finalise the cast.”

Shabana and Rekha worked together last in Raaste Pyar Ke, 30 years ago.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Sorry Bebo, Deepika goes first

Although Saif Ali Khan is all set to turn a producer next year with his film Agent Vinod to be directed by Sriram Raghavan, there are rumours that before the film goes on the floors, he will start work on his second home production.

Saif is keen to start a film with Jab We Met director Imtiaz Ali in which newcomer Deepika Padukone will play the leading lady.

Our source says, “Saif's film with Sriram Raghavan will happen some time late next year as the filmmaker is currently busy with the John-Aishwarya starrer for producer Rohan Sippy. In the meantime, Saif is quite keen to start a film with Imtiaz Ali.

Saif was very impressed with Jab We Met and he had a long chat with Imtiaz. Saif loved one of Imtiaz's scripts, and he immediately roped in the Jab We Met director for his next film with Deepika.”

Although the film is a love story, it also has a number of realistic elements. Saif then approached Deepika to star in his home production. She has loved the script. She will be signing on the dotted line soon and is pretty excited about the project.

The source adds, “Saif has already roped in Kareena Kapoor for Agent Vinod.”

When contacted, Saif Ali Khan said, “It is too early to comment on anything as we are still scripting the film. We will make the necessary announcements when everything is finalised.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Heath adds two to his ledger

Heath Ledger has been linked to two more Hollywood hotties. The Brokeback Mountain star has already stepped out with Helena Christensen and Kate Hudson since his split from partner Michelle Williams.
Now the Aussie star has reportedly set his sights on actress Heather Graham and Australian supermodel Gemma Ward. “He’s following Gemma around everywhere,” an insider told the New York Post.

“He somehow finds out where she is going to be then miraculously shows up at the parties or bars where she is. She is definitely not interested.”

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Ledger was spotted chatting up Graham at New York’s ‘Gonzales y Gonzales’ restaurant and was ‘flirting heavily’ with her. “He ignored everyone except Heather and then told her ‘We should hang out sometime.’

“She agreed, they exchanged numbers, but then he just bolted. He was basically only there to pick up a chick.”

A representative for Ledger did not return calls for comment.

STINKY LEDGER

Heath Ledger disgusted fellow subway passengers in New York at the weekend with his ‘unwashed’ stench, it has been claimed.

The star was spotted carrying his two-year-old daughter Matilda through a station during the Thanksgiving weekend, and commuters who crossed his path insist he was giving off an unpleasant smell.

One onlooker said, “He was pushing past the crowds on a staircase and I got quite a whiff. He smelled pretty unwashed!”

Heath, who split from Matilda’s mother Michelle Williams in the summer, was

wearing red-framed sunglasses, an oversize lilac knitted hat and a fleece-lined jacket, which passengers also claim needed a good wash.

The witness added to OK!, “His jacket has clearly never seen the inside of a washing machine. He seemed to be going for the hobo-chic look!”

In September, it was revealed Michelle and Heath had gone their separate ways after struggling to save their “rocky” relationship for the sake of their child.

To make sure Matilda is not affected by the split, the couple is creating identical bedrooms for their daughter in their respective New York apartments so she feels settled moving between Michelle’s Brooklyn home and Heath’s new SoHo residence.

A source said, “They are having them designed exactly the same so when she wakes up in Heath’s place she won’t feel displaced.”

Michelle, 27, remained at the couple’s Brooklyn brownstone mansion when they split, while Heath moved out.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Karma Chameleon

Australian model Miranda Kerr has revealed that Paris Hilton acted like a princess backstage at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show and stole her gorgeous runway outfit. The 24-year-old model has revealed the whole incident on a blog, which ultimately left the hotel heiress humiliated when she had an embarrassing naked moment.

Kerr reveals Hilton showed up 10 minutes before the show opened at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on November 15 and decided she wanted to close the catwalk show.

Organisers told her to pick an outfit and she chose a pink dress that Kerr had been allocated. Upset Kerr says, “I was standing by my rack and she goes, ‘I want that dress,’ and she pointed to my dress, my pretty pink dress, the one I was really proud of... and she stole it.”

In a post on her blog, Kerr admits she felt like hitting the heiress with her handbag, but she calmed down and let karma take care of her feelings.

“I contained myself, it’s quite frustrating that someone can come in 10 minutes before the start of the show and steal my dress,” she adds.

However, Kerr didn’t have to wait too long for justice. Supermodel Naomi Campbell turned up at the event.

Show organisers thought the supermodel wasn’t going to come, so they had to give Hilton’s outfit to Campbell. Kerr explains, “Paris is about to walk out for the finale and Naomi walks in, so they rip the dress off Paris, she’s standing there naked and they put it on Naomi.

“I thought, that’s karma for you darling.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Madonna in sheep trouble

Pop icon Madonna has angered animal rights activists by dyeing her sheep in different colours. The multiple Grammy and Golden Globe award winner dyed the sheep on her country estate in blue, pink, yellow and green for a photo shoot in Vogue magazine.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or RSPCA says the incident is an “irresponsible publicity stunt” and it would provoke more such incidents.

“Why is it necessary and what are they trying to prove?” the RSCPA spokesperson questioned Madonna’s
recent animal-related activity. “It sends out the wrong message about how to use animals. Even if the dye
is safe for the animals, others might copy it with an unsafe dye.”

The 49-year-old singer and her husband Guy Ritchie clarified the event by saying they were just paying homage to famous fashion and portrait photographer Cecil Beaton who used to live in their Ashcombe estate in Wiltshire during the 1930s-40s.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Ex-Japan defence man arrested on bribery charges

Tokyo: A former top Japanese defence bureaucrat and his wife were arrested on Wednesday over allegations he was wined and dined by companies — including one linked to General Electric — in exchange for contracts, news reports said.

Former Vice Defence Minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested after a questioning session in the scandal, which has also been linked to Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, further weakening the two-month old government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency reported. Investigators also raided Moriya’s home to search for more evidence in the bribery allegations, reports said.

Moriya faces allegations he gave favourable treatment in granting contracts to two defence trading companies led by Motonobu Miyazaki, who was arrested earlier this month, along with his two top aides.

Moriya, who retired in August, has acknowledged he was frequently treated to free golf trips with his wife Sachiko, expensive dinners and other gifts by Miyazaki, a former executive of Yamada Yoko Corp, over the past decade, but argued that the gifts were not bribery.

Known as “the emperor of the defence agency”, Moriya served the ministry’s No 2 post for four years until his retirement in August this year.

Miyazaki, who later left Yamada Yoko and founded his own company Nihon Mirise Corp, also reportedly gave Moriya 200,000 yen (Rs 73,400) in cash as a birthday gift.

In one case Moriya allegedly influenced the ministry’s 2004-2005 purchase of five of Fairfield, Connecticut-based General Electric Co’s C-X engines for next generation Japanese cargo aircraft, media reports said.

The deal was handled — without bids — by Yamada Yoko, which was a Japanese agent for the 600 million yen (Rs 21.9 crore) GE engine at the time, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity because of protocol.

A planned purchase of a sixth C-X engine through Mirise, which became the sole Japanese agent for the engine a month before Moriya’s retirement, is stalled. GE cancelled its contract with Mirise following the scandal, the Defence Ministry spokeswoman said.

General Electric’s Japan office said the company official authorised to speak on the issue could not comment
immediately.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Rights lawyer who sued Bush convicted for fraud

Los Angeles: A civil rights lawyer known for his high-profile cases against police and President George W Bush was sentenced to three years in prison for federal tax evasion, bankruptcy fraud and money laundering.
Stephen Yagman, 63, was convicted of trying to avoid paying more than $100,000 (Rs 39.8 lakh) in federal income taxes while living what prosecutors said was a lavish lifestyle that included shopping sprees and vacations in Aspen, Colorado.

Yagman told US District Judge Stephen Wilson that he was “a target” for prosecutors because of his legal campaigns against police.

In a statement spanning two days at the end of his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Yagman argued that his problems stemmed from careless inattention.

“I am kind of a savant, focused on civil rights,” Yagman said Monday. “I got sloppy.’’ Wilson said he had known Yagman professionally for 20 years and called him brave for taking on the establishment — but he also said Yagman committed his crimes knowingly.

He sued President George W Bush and other officials, alleging violations of constitutional rights of a detainee at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Restraint please, Taslima

New Delhi: In a delicate balancing act, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured “shelter” in India to Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, but urged her to “refrain from activities and expressions” that may hurt the sentiments of Indian people and harm relations with friendly countries.

“Throughout history, India has never refused shelter to those who have come and sought our protection. This civilisational heritage, which is now government policy, will continue, and India will provide shelter to Ms Nasreen,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha.

“Those who have been granted shelter here have always undertaken to eschew political activities in India or any actions which may harm our relations with friendly countries,” Mukherjee added in the same breath while alluding to “an issue which has attracted considerable public attention in recent days”.

“It is also expected that the guests will refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of our people,” he stressed in a statement immediately after the customary Question Hour.

Reassuring the house about providing protection to Nasreen, Mukherjee said: “While these guests are in India, the Union and state governments provide them protection. This policy will also apply in Ms Taslima Nasreen’s case.”

Nasreen was first moved from Kolkata to Jaipur last week, a day after violent protests rocked Kolkata over her stay in India. She was then shifted to New Delhi early this week. The Intelligence Bureau has now kept her in a ‘safe house’ within a National Security Guards complex in Delhi.

Mukherjee’s statement comes amid the politicisation of the issue of Nasreen continuing to stay in India, with the BJP demanding the status of a political refugee and Indian citizenship for the exiled novelist.

The Sangh Parivar sought to capitalise on the controversy over Nasreen with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inviting her to the state and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh demanding political asylum for her.

In various television interviews, Nasreen, whose novel Lajja (Shame) was banned by the Bangladesh government 13 years ago, has said that she would like to go back to Kolkata, which she considers her second home.

Fundamentalist Muslim organisations in West Bengal have, however, opposed the re-entry of Taslima in the state, hinting that her presence there would inflame religious passions again. ians

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Businessman to hit streets to shame BMC

City businessman and socialite Viren Shah is taking to the streets, literally, to shame the BMC over the Crawford Market deal and a host of other policies cleared by the civic body.

With help from prominent RTI activists and NGOs, Shah is busy rehearsing a song based on an old hit — Dekh tere sansar ki halat kya ho gayee bhagwan — which he intends to sing on city streets to ridicule the BMC.

Helped by RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi and NGO Agni, Shah will also stage street plays to expose BMC’s alleged acts of omission and commission.

“This is not my business. But as a citizen, I vote for corporators and elect them to run the BMC. It does not mean they will take any decision they like. They have to take into consideration the common man’s interests,” Shah said.
The trigger for this ‘street act’ is BMC’s recent decision to allot open spaces reserved for playgrounds and recreation grounds to private parties for maintenance.

The song’s lyrics have been composed by Iqbal Qureshi and the music is by Piyush Kanojiya. It has been sung by Dr Parag Zaveri and Nimesh Bhatt. Shah also plans to air the song on TV channels. The play — TV stars Tanaz and Bakhtiyar have been roped in to act — will be performed near railway stations, schools, colleges and public gardens to embarrass the BMC for its lack of transparency in the decision-making. The street play will be both in Hindi and English.

Theatre personality Gary Richardson and adman Alyque Padamsee are directing the English version of the play. They will be assisted by activist Gerson da Cunha.

• I elect corporators to run the BMC. It doesn’t mean they will take any decision they like. They have to take into consideration the common man’s interests – Viren Shah

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Amy Winehouse Cancels All '07 Commitments

Battling health problems and broken up about her husband's stint in jail, British singer Amy Winehouse has canceled the remainder of her tour and promotional appearances for 2007.

In a statement released to ABC News, the 24-year-old singer said she "can't give it my all onstage without my Blake."

"I'm so sorry but I don't want to do the shows half-heartedly; I love singing," the statement continued. "My husband is everything to me and without him it's just not the same."

Winehouse's 25-year-old husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is in custody in the U.K. on charges of beating up a bartender and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He is due to remain in custody until Jan. 18.

The singer's record label claims she canceled her performances on the instruction of her doctor.

"Amy Winehouse has canceled all remaining live and promotional appearances for the remainder of the year on the instruction of her doctor," Island Records said in a statement.

"The rigors involved in touring and the intense emotional strain that Amy has been under in recent weeks have taken their toll. In the interests of her health and well-being, Amy has been ordered to take complete rest and deal with her health issues," the statement continued.

The rising star with a soulful voice appeared distressed and out-of-it in the few public appearances she's made recently. At the MTV Europe Music Awards earlier this month, Winehouse stumbled and mumbled her way through a performance of "Back to Black." Accepting the Artists' Choice award, she merely muttered "thanks" and walked off stage.

Winehouse has professed her penchant for alcohol and drugs in the past -- she sang about not wanting to go to rehab in her breakout hit -- and her partying appears to have caught up with her over the past few months.

Last week, Winehouse's tour manager quit claiming the singer smoked so much heroin that he tested positive for the drug just by inhaling her secondhand smoke.

In October, Winehouse was arrested in Norway for marijuana possession. In August, she was hospitalized for "severe exhaustion," according to her record label, and spent a short stint in a rehab facility.

The same month, photos emerged of Winehouse and her husband looking bloody and beaten, apparently after a fight, and her father-in-law called for fans to boycott her albums until she sought help for her drug problems.

Source: abcnews.go.com

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Sennheiser Shines at the MTV Europe Music Awards

A rapper dressed in lederhosen and a kilt, a mini alphorn and a dachshund podium: as well as the best of the year's music, the 14th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on November 1st offered plenty of unusual sights. Happily, as far as the microphone technology was concerned, everything was on more solid ground: almost all the stars in Munich's Olympiahalle sang using Sennheiser microphones, with the Sennheiser G2 evolution wireless system exclusively used for wireless monitoring.
160 countries and some 1.5 billion potential viewers tuned in live as the Foo Fighters opened the show. Frontman Dave Grohl had complete confidence in his MD 431 II as the band performed their new hit 'The Pretender' and the
punk classic 'God Save the Queen'. Snoop Dogg, who had promoted the awards on posters dressed as a real Bavarian in lederhosen, topped off by a hat with a tuft of chamois hair on it - alongside scantily-dressed women -
hosted the evening with his glamorous evolution e 935 and a selection of interesting outfits, while Dave Grohl cut a fine figure as a charming co-host in the VIP area.
Of the evening's winners - according to MTV, 50 million votes had been cast by SMS and online - five were Sennheiser users: Nelly Furtado won the EMA's Album of the Year category for Loose, Tokio Hotel became Inter Act 2007 with their website, and Avril Lavigne won two awards: she was named Solo Artist of 2007, and 'Girlfriend' was chosen as the Most Addictive Track. Rihanna, who also uses Sennheiser, won the Ultimate Urban category; British band Muse was Headliner 2007 and also took home the award for Best UK & Irish Act, albeit outside the show.
All the presenters used the SKM 5200 with a Neumann KK 105 S capsule head. MTV had invited big names to present the awards, including Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode, Joss Stone, Michael Stipe, Wyclef Jean, Lewis Hamilton, Benji and Joel Madden from Good Charlotte, Serj Tankian of System Of A Down, Boris Becker, Franka Potente, Craig David, model Lily Cole, Eva Padberg, Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child and the American actor Jon Heder.
Rapturously received performances came from Avril Lavigne, who sang with her pink evolution wireless SKM 935, with Tokio Hotel and My Chemical Romance using a plainer original version SKM 935. British-Lebanese rising star Mika opted for a wired evolution e 840 and gave the most fanciful performance of the evening with his hit 'Grace Kelly', turning the stage into a colourful funfair. Nicole Scherzinger and Will.I.Am appeared on stage with the wireless SKM 935, as did the Estonian band Bedwetters, who were named New Sounds of Europe at the show.
The MTV Europe Music Awards production was in the capable hands of Britannia Row and sound designer Derrick Zieba. "In all we had 38 Sennheiser channels at the start," explains Barry Macleod from Britannia Row Productions, "twelve of which were in-ears. For instance, eight in-ears were used by the band appearing for Mika's song, ensuring that everything was perfectly in time ‹ that's on top of the in-ears for Mika and his group. We used three A 5000-CP transmitter antennae for monitoring, including an exclusive one for Snoop Dogg. In terms of microphones, we had eight SKM 5200 handheld transmitters with EM 3532 receivers and 16 evolution wireless SKM 935 with EM 550 receivers. The mics and wireless monitoring were controlled and monitored via five NET 1 network systems."
It was a challenge to have the lilac 'red carpet' for star interviews directly above the hall ‹ and to have an entire frequency range opened up for the show without individual requests being made. "During the rehearsals," continues Macleod, "the radio mics above came on unexpectedly and the beautiful intermodulation-free frequency plan I had drawn up in advance with the help of Andy Lillywhite from Sennheiser UK was suddenly not quite as intermodulation-free as it had been! For the show of course we ensured that the main show and side events didn't interfere with each other."
"Almost all wireless microphones at the MTV EMAs were Sennheiser," said sound designer Derrick Zieba. "Having worked with Sennheiser over many years it is my conclusion that the turnaround in artists' radio mic preferences
over the last few years has been due to the superior quality of the product, but even more importantly to the superb standard of technical support and service offered by Sennheiser which is second to none. While Sennheiser continues to offer this superior level of support their microphones will continue to be the number one choice for discerning professionals worldwide.
"Andy Lillywhite, Mark Saunders and the rest of the UK Sennheiser team have been consistent in their high level of support over many years and I would like to thank them and Maryam for their support on this year's MTV EMAs
which helped produce another major live-to-air musical show run flawlessly."

Source: news.etnow.com

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Lohan's civil testimony to be taped

LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohan will soon appear on camera for a taping she has tried hard to avoid.

A judge on Tuesday said he would allow the videotaping of Lohan's deposition in a lawsuit over a car crash that injured a busboy.

Raymundo Ortega alleges that Lohan drove her Mercedes-Benz into a van he was driving in October 2005 after she drank alcohol and later tried to escape paparazzi.

A California Highway Patrol investigation concluded that Ortega caused the crash by making an illegal U-turn in Beverly Hills.

Lohan attorney David J. Ozeran argued in a motion that a leak of the videotape could hurt his client's career much more than the $200,000 in damages that Ortega is seeking.

Videotaped depositions are fairly common in civil cases. But Ozeran wrote that the real purpose of videotaping the 21-year-old actress is to annoy and worry her.

"If a single picture of Ms. Lohan can sell for thousands of dollars," he wrote, "a videotape of the deposition will undoubtedly sell for tens of thousands of dollars, or more."

Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern rejected the motion.

Lohan wasn't in court.

She served 84 minutes in jail Nov. 15 as part of a plea deal on misdemeanor drunken driving and cocaine possession charges stemming from two arrests that were unrelated to the crash that prompted the lawsuit.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Levon Helm, silent no more

NEW YORK - The voice is raspy but recognizable, reminiscent of a time when he played with a band so amazingly good they were simply known as The Band.

That was more than three decades ago, before the throat cancer and the surgery and the radiation left Levon Helm with no voice at all. The singer on classics like "Up On Cripple Creek" and "Rag Mama Rag" was resigned to resuming his musical life as strictly a sideman — a little drums, or strumming the mandolin.

"My dream was to have (daughter) Amy make an album, and I'd play some drums and still get to ride on the tour bus," Helms says by phone from his home in Woodstock. "And then it finally got so I could sing harmony parts here and there, if the key was right, and the melody would accommodate it."

It wasn't until eight years after his cancer surgery, and after 28 radiation treatments, that Helm considered the possibility of singing on his own album. "Dirt Farmer" features his familiar voice on tracks like Steve Earle's "The Mountain" and a variety of traditional tunes first heard on his boyhood back porch in Arkansas.

"My folks used to sing those songs to each other when they were kids," Helm said of songs like "The Girl I Left Behind" and "The Blind Child." The songs were passed down to the next generation, and Helm passed them along to his daughter, Amy.

The result, beginning with recording sessions that started in spring 2005, was Helm's first solo studio album in 25 years. He dedicated "Dirt Farmer" to his parents, and started making the record as a collection of duets with his daughter.

At the same time, Helm was hosting his monthly "Midnight Ramble Sessions," a concert series that brought in musical friends Donald Fagen, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint and Emmylou Harris to the barn on his property.

The shows helped pay his medical bills and cover reconstruction costs for his home studio, which was destroyed in a fire. Helm had built the studio and settled in Woodstock in 1975.

"The `Rambles' started out mainly as a rent party kind of a deal," Helm says. "All my friends getting together, playing a show, and paying the rent for me. But the `Rambles' quickly turned into the best way in the world to try and get some chops back."

As the sole proprietor of the venue, Helm was allowed to venture into more adventurous musical territory than if he'd gone on tour: "Some club owner saying, `You guys are great, but we need to hear more of the old stuff.'"

The sessions led to the record, although it wasn't easy going. Some days, Helm and the band assembled by one-time Bob Dylan guitarist Larry Campbell might go for hours. And other days, they might just go home early.

"You know, it just depended on energy levels," Helm says. "Sometimes it would get real good, we'd get enthused, and give it a good honest day. Other times, when the voice started to go south, we'd pull back a little."

The image of Helm pulling back remains incongruous compared to images of his driving drum work from "The Last Waltz," or his eager vocals from any of The Band's albums. Two of his old bandmates are now dead: Richard Manuel committed suicide, and Rick Danko died shortly after Helm's cancer diagnosis.

The Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Helm, now 67, was so buoyed by making new music that he's already looking forward to a follow-up album.

"We've got another 12 or 15 songs, most of 'em are pretty good," Helm said. "It is a wonderful thing that's happened to us."

Helm has an explanation for all the unexpected good news lately: "The power of prayer and music."

And he's hopeful of doing some live shows with the new album, something that seemed impossible when his voice disappeared.

"Well, it depends on the tickets, you know?" Helm says, his voice now self-deprecating. "If we can sell some of those tickets, I wouldn't mind driving down to Philadelphia. But we haven't made any plans yet."

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Kylie Minogue announces new tour

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian pop star Kylie Minogue announced a European tour and promised the show would be "totally different" from previous performances.

The 39-year-old, who released her new album "X" this week, starts in Paris on May 6 and crosses Continental Europe, Scandinavia and Northern Ireland before winding up at London's O2 Arena on July 27.

"The eclectic mix of sounds on 'X' is affording me an opportunity to explore and develop a new live show that will be fresh, exhilarating and innovative," Minogue said on her Web site www.kylie.com.

"After two celebratory tours, 'X' will be a look to the future but will definitely include favorites alongside the new."

Tickets go on sale for the UK shows on December 3 priced 49 pounds, the same price as those for her last "Showgirl Homecoming" tour.

The announcement will end media speculation that Minogue may have to cancel a planned tour due to concerns over her health after she recovered from breast cancer in 2005.

The performer of hits from "I Should Be So Lucky" to "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" was forced to suspend her "Showgirl Tour" when she underwent surgery in Melbourne, followed by chemotherapy in Paris where her then boyfriend had a home.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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"Oprah" visit helps Groban soar to No. 1

NEW YORK (Billboard) - After seven weeks on the chart, Josh Groban's holiday set "Noel" has nabbed the top spot on the Billboard 200.

The 143/Reprise album ascends from No. 2 to No. 1, selling 405,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The 81 percent increase was fueled in part by Groban's surprise appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last week.

"Noel" is the first Christmas-themed set to top the chart since Kenny G's 1994 album "Miracles," and the 405,000-unit tally marks Groban's best sales week ever.

Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) flip-flops with "Noel," slipping from No. 1 to No. 2 with a 53 percent sales decrease to 349,000. The hits compilation "Now 26" climbs a notch from fourth rung to No. 3 with 234,000. Garth Brooks' "The Ultimate Hits" (Pearl) moves up from No. 5 to No. 4 with 192,000 (a 6 percent drop in sales), and the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) follows suit, ascending from sixth position to No. 5 with 184,000 (down 7 percent).

The soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical 2" rockets from No. 14 to No. 6 with a 130 percent sales increase to 183,000; with that, the set surpasses Daughtry's self-titled set as the top-selling album in 2007.

Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" (Arista Nashville) climbs from ninth spot to No. 7 with 141,000 and a 25 percent sales bump, while Celine Dion's Columbia album "Taking Chances" falls from No. 3 to No. 8, its sales sliding 40 percent to 128,000. Inching up from No. 10 to No. 9, Chris Brown's "Exclusive" (Jive) sells 121,000 (a 10 percent sales gain).

Jordin Sparks, who was crowned the winner on "American Idol" earlier this year, starts at No. 10 with her self-titled 19 Recordings/Jive set, moving 119,000. It's the lowest start and smallest sales debut on the chart for any of the show's winners.

Keith Urban's first best-of collection, Capitol's "Greatest Hits," debuts at No. 11 with 117,000. It's the Aussie country singer's fourth consecutive album to start in the top 11, dating back to 2002's "Golden Road," which also entered at No. 11. MercyMe's "All That Is Within Me" (Columbia) lands at No. 15 with 84,000.

Only two other albums bow inside the top 50 on the Billboard 200: Philly rapper Freeway's "Free at Last" (G-Unit/Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) starts at No. 42 with 36,000, and the soundtrack to "Enchanted" (Disney) debuts at No. 48 with 31,000.

This week's top 11 albums all sold more than 100,000 copies each, helped by the first week of the post-Thanksgiving shopping season. But sales this week (13.94 million units) are down 18.1 percent from the year-earlier week (17.02 million). This week's sum is up 19 percent from last week's.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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50 Cent shows off mansion on `Cribs'

NEW YORK - When 50 Cent bought Mike Tyson's 48,000-square-foot mansion three years ago, the rapper felt like he'd stepped into a time warp.

"It kind of had a `Miami Vice' feel. It was like turquoise blue on the floor and purple," the 31-year-old rapper told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "It was crazy looking when I got there."

Now, 50's stamp is imprinted all over the massive 19-bedroom property in Farmington, Conn. The mansion now includes a nightclub with a swing dangling from the ceiling for some of his wilder parties.

But those touches may not remain. 50 is selling the property for $18.5 million. And Thursday, he's showing off the property on a special edition of MTV's "Cribs" so fans can take a peek before he moves out.

"I like the look of an Architectural Digest," 50 said of his designing style. "There's a lot of good living going on, and it ain't based (on) the actual money that's being spent, it's the choices that people make. You don't have to buy a $50 million home to build a lifestyle that's equivalent."

Of course, that's coming from a man with a house so big there are times he has guests — and doesn't even know it.

"I'll let them stay on the other side of the house and not actually see them for a day or so, because the house is broken up in three sections — the east side, the west side and then the center of the home."

The space is one reason why 50 purchased the property. He envisioned it as a compound where he and his G-Unit camp could record. Some rappers in his camp, like Tony Yayo, have their own rooms, and 50 says many of his hits have been recorded in his basement studio.

"Right from the studio I will go into the nightclub area ... in order to play it and see what it would sound like in a nightclub," he said.

But 50, who owns several homes, said he's grown weary of the two-hour plus commute from Farmington to New York City. Plus, he's looking to downsize.

"It might be a lot smaller," he said of his future house. "The basics — maybe four or five bedrooms."

But don't expect another 50 edition of "Cribs" for a while: When asked whether he'd let the cameras into his next place, he said with a laugh: "Probably when I was deciding to move!"

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Wife of Wagner festival director dies

BERLIN - Gudrun Wagner, wife of the Bayreuth Opera Festival's director and a key figure in the family battle over control of the arts institution that was founded by composer Richard Wagner, died Wednesday. She was 63.
She died unexpectedly Wednesday morning at a Bayreuth hospital. No cause of death was given, said Peter Emmerich, a spokesman for the festival.

"It is with deep emotion and with silent grief that I must convey that this morning my loving wife and close co-worker Gudrun Wagner died fully unexpectedly," Wolfgang Wagner said in a statement.

Her death comes amid the feud over who will succeed Wagner — a grandson of the composer — as festival director.

Wagner, 88, had long insisted that his second wife and partner in directing and staging the annual festival was the only person capable of taking over.

"As the most important assistant and supporter of her husband, she shaped the luster and the worldwide significance of the Wagner festival in Bayreuth," said Guenther Beckstein, state governor of Bavaria. "Her death is a deep loss to Bavaria, Bayreuth and the global festival community."

But recently, Wagner has indicated that he would be prepared to step aside in favor of the couple's 29-year-old daughter, Katharina.

Wolfgang Wagner has led the festival showcasing his grandfather's operas since 1951 — at first jointly with his brother, Wieland, and on his own since his brother's death in 1966. He married Gudrun in 1976.

He recently has faced calls to step aside from the festival leadership, although he has a lifetime contract, amid concerns about his health and a feeling the annual event would benefit from an injection of fresh ideas.

In early November, the foundation overseeing the festival urged members of the Wagner family to come forward with ideas for the event's future.

Wolfgang's niece Nike, and Eva, a daughter from his first marriage, have indicated interest. Both are experienced managers of artistic or musical events and are in their 60s.

Katharina made her directorial debut at Bayreuth this year, producing a closely watched interpretation of "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg."

In an effort to bolster her chances and counter criticism that she is too young and inexperienced, Katharina, who is in her early 30s, recently teamed up with star German conductor Christian Thielemann, 48, and composer and cultural manager Peter Ruzicka, 57.

Katharina has argued that the current festival leadership has already signed contracts with artists well into the year 2015. She told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper in September that her rivals would be "well above retirement age" before they were able to put their own stamp on the event.

Gudrun Wagner had two other children from a previous marriage. Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Friendship endures for King and Taylor

LOS ANGELES - James Taylor still has a friend in Carole King.

Taylor and King were a match made in 1969 at Hollywood's famed Troubadour nightclub. They were rehearsing there Tuesday afternoon for a series of benefit concerts coinciding with the club's 50th anniversary.
He reached the top of the Billboard pop chart in 1971 with "You've Got a Friend," written by King, who performed the song on her Grammy-winning "Tapestry" album.

"I was standing right up there," Taylor, 59, recalled, pointing over to the bar. "And I would listen to Carole play it every night. I was working it up on guitar. She heard me playing it, and she said, `You should cut that. That sounds real good.'"

King and Taylor had worked together in New York City, but their 1969 Troubadour debuts were significant.

"It is the first place that we played as two separate acts," King, 65, told The Associated Press. "Before that, I had been playing backup for James, and James had nudged me forward to be my own performing artist."

They have rarely performed together since then — so rarely that King and Taylor couldn't recall the last time they had shared a stage.

"Carole and I bump into each other all the time," he said. "We end up doing benefits together, or different kinds of efforts, and we always say to each other, `We've got to get together and play again.'"

They acknowledge this isn't just about friendship and nostalgia. King is promoting a new live-concert DVD, "Welcome to My Living Room." Taylor has a new live-concert CD and DVD, "One Man Band."

For both artists, who have filled concert halls for decades, the new releases mark a return to the sort of intimacy that comes when playing for just a few hundred people in a venue such as The Troubadour.

King and Taylor seem to have come full circle.

"I can't figure if we're on our way out or if we're just starting a second lap," Taylor said, chuckling, "or if we're just going out the way we came in."

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Usher and wife welcome baby boy

ATLANTA - Usher is the father of a baby boy.

His wife, Tameka Foster, gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in Atlanta on Monday night, a publicist for the 29-year-old singer said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. He is the couple's first child. Foster, 37, has three children from a previous marriage.

"We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son. What a blessing!" Usher said in a statement provided Tuesday night by publicist Patti Webster.

The couple wed in a large, glitzy ceremony in early September after exchanging vows a few weeks earlier in a civil ceremony. They had called off their July 28 wedding amid reports that Foster had checked into a hospital because of problems with her pregnancy.

A private ceremony was held Aug. 3 in the office of Usher's lawyer.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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EMI seen cutting funding to trade groups

LONDON (Reuters) - British music industry major EMI wants to cut its funding to the industry's trade bodies, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday, which could deal a blow to the fight against music piracy.

The source said EMI, which was recently taken over by private equity group Terra Firma, was looking at ways to "substantially" reduce the amount it pays trade groups.

The groups, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other national associations, represent music companies and the fight against illegal piracy.

They receive funding from the four major music groups -- EMI, Warner, Sony BMG and Universal -- and hundreds of small independent labels.

The IFPI said it believed the four majors give approximately 64 million pounds ($132.1 million) each year to itself, the RIAA and many other national associations.

The other majors were not available for comment, but a separate industry source said at least one of the major music companies is known to strongly support the associations and their work.

EMI is undergoing a strategic review after being bought by Terra Firma for 2.4 billion pounds ($4.95 billion).

Like all music groups, it has been hit hard by online piracy and falling CD sales, despite the efforts of the trade groups to combat the problem.

The IFPI said on Wednesday it was engaged in annual budget decisions and "as one would expect in this market, there is a focus on efficiencies and savings."

It declined to give any further details but added that it was also engaged in a very full agenda to promote the rights of its member record companies.

EMI, Terra Firma, the BPI and RIAA were all unavailable to comment.

Illegal file-sharing is estimated to cost the music industry billions of dollars a year in revenues. In response, the trade bodies have launched legal action and called upon Internet service providers to block the activity.

Analysts at UBS said any move to reduce the funding to trade bodies could hamper the industry's efforts to fight piracy and protect music copyright.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Evel Knievel, Kanye West settle lawsuit

TAMPA, Fla. - Evel Knievel and Kanye West have worked it out.

The 69-year-old iconic motorcycle daredevil said he and West met at his Clearwater condo recently. They settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.
Knievel sued West and his record company last year. He took issue with a 2006 music video for the song "Touch the Sky," in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.

Knievel failed in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in 1974.

West's attorneys argued the video amounted to satire, covered under the First Amendment.

"We settled the lawsuit amicably," Knievel said Tuesday. "I was very satisfied and so was he."

They agreed not to publicly discuss the terms of the settlement, he said. The two had agreed to mediation in July.

Gabriel Tesoriero, a spokesman for West, confirmed the settlement of the lawsuit, in an e-mail Tuesday.

In the lawsuit, Knievel claimed the "vulgar and offensive" images depicted in the video damaged his reputation. And he accused the 29-year-old rapper of using the Knievel image to "promote his filth to the world."

Meeting West changed his mind, Knievel said.

"I thought he was a wonderful guy and quite a gentleman," he said.

Knievel also expressed concern for West, who is grieving the sudden death of his mother earlier this month.

"I know he's had some tough times the past few weeks, and I hope things work out," Knievel said.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Black Crowes Going to War

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Chris Robinson's divorce from Kate Hudson became final last month, and now the Black Crowes are getting back to doing what they do best—making music.

Atlanta's favorite blues rockers have completed work on Warpaint, their first album of original material since 2001's Lions and seventh studio album overall.

"[The title signifies] the revolution that could take place in our souls," says Robinson in a statement.

Warpaint will be released independently on Mar. 4 through the band's newly formed label, Silver Arrow Records, and distributed via Megaforce/Sony Red BMG.

The collection features 11 tracks that the band recorded at Allaire Studios in Woodstock, New York, all of which save one were cowritten by Chris and brother Rich Robinson and produced and mixed by Paul Stacey.

During recording sessions for Warpaint, the jam titans invited two new musicians to join the band.

Luther Dicksinson, the guitarist from the North Mississippi Allstars, will replace producer-fretman Stacey, who stepped into the lineup temporarily after previous lead guitarist Marc Ford abruptly quit the Crowes before their 2006 fall tour.

And Adam MacDougall takes charges of the keyboards, filling the role vacated by Rob Clores, who himself was only on the job for a year after replacing longtime keyboardist Eddie Harsch, who left a week before Ford.

To support the album, the Black Crowes plan to take flight and commence a world tour, which will kick off in Australia at the Byron Bay Festival Mar. 24 and includes stops in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. It will be the band's first trip Down Under since they skyrocketed to stardom in 1991.

Per Billboard, the Crowes will follow that with some "special engagements" in Tokyo, Amsterdam, London, and Hamburg and Cologne, Germany, dates to be announced, after which they'll head to the U.S. for a spring jaunt.

As part of the itinerary, the Crowes will play the new album in its entirety. Beginning Mar. 4, they are scheduling a series of special "One Night Only" shows during which they'll perform Warpaint from start to finish along with some of their biggest hits.

Here's the complete track listing for Warpaint:

1. "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"

2. "Walk Believe Walk"

3. "O, Josephine"

4. "Evergreen"

5. "We Who See the Deep"

6. "Locust Street"

7. "Movin' On Down the Line"

8. "Wounded Bird"

9. "God's Got It"

10. "There's Gold in Them Hills"

11. "Whoa Mule"

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Groban Gets Oprah Bounce, Jordin Sparks Doesn't Fly

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The Grinch might be stealing Christmas from music retailers, but thanks to Josh Groban and Oprah, there's still some singing in Whoville.

For the sales week kicked off by Super Tuesday—the release date before Thanksgiving when record labels typically schedule their big guns—the figures were abnormally bad, with only one Top 10 bow and a seven-week-old album topping the charts. Still, that album, Groban's Noël, can thank last week's performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show for driving it past Alicia Keys and into the number one spot.

Noël crowned the Billboard 200 by selling 405,000 copies for the week ended Sunday, according to SoundScan numbers released today.

The holiday disc, featuring Groban's take on "Silent Night," "O Come All Ye Faithful" and other wintery classics, originally debuted in the 10 spot in mid-October. The Oprah-powered sales surge also helped reenergize Awake, Groban's previous album from last year. In its second week back on the charts, Awake jumped 42 spots to 146.

The Oprah Factor should be in effect on next week's charts, as Groban and Winfrey teamed up again on Tuesday for Behind the Scenes at Oprah's Favorite Things Show.

With Noël flying to the top, Alicia Keys' As I Am dropped to number two on 349,000 copies, bringing her two-week tally past the 1 million mark. Though her album lost the top spot, her single "No One" headed in the right direction, climbing a notch to number one on the Hot 100.

Jordin Sparks, the season-six winner of American Idol, scored the week's only Top 10 bow, selling 119,000 copies of her self-titled debut to open at 10. Sparks now claims the lowest-charting debut album by an Idol champ, a dubious distinction previously held by Fantasia Barrino after 2004's Free Yourself opened at eight. Still, the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks won Idol at age 17, making her the youngest champ to date.

Elsewhere, the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, no stranger to the Top 10, enjoyed an eight-spot jump to reenter at six on 183,000 copies. The tween hit benefited from Mouse Network promos for HSM2's DVD release next month.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the remaining Top 10 albums were leftovers: Now That's What I Call Music! 26 at three, Garth Brooks' The Ultimate Hits at four, the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden at five, Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride at seven, Celine Dion's Taking Chances at eight and Chris Brown's Exclusive at nine.

Though Thanksgiving weekend provides one of the best sales weeks of the year, the record labels simply didn't have product ready this time around. At one point or another, artists like Green Day, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Eve and Mariah Carey tentatively slated albums for Super Tuesday, but all of these releases were ultimately pushed back.

As it stands, Blige's Growing Pains, out Dec. 18, is the only superstar release currently on the books to come out by the year's end. In fact, the dearth of big releases led Rolling Stone to refer to this holiday sales season as "Black Christmas."

Keith Urban's Greatest Hits collection just barely missed the Top 10, selling 117,000 copies for a number 11 bow. The Aussie cowboy's latest features two new songs and 16 past hits, including the country chart-toppers "Somebody Like You," "Days Go By" and "You'll Think of Me."

MercyMe, best known for the 2003 breakthrough hit "I Can Only Imagine," opened at 15 with All That Is Within Me. The Grammy-nominated Christian act sold nearly 84,000 copies of its latest.

OneRepublic, whose "Apologize" remix recently hit number two on the Hot 100, followed at 17 selling 75,000 copies of Dreaming Out Loud. Since singer Ryan Tedder won a Lance Bass-promoted talent search seven years ago, he's suffered several failed record deals before Timbaland signed him to his Interscope imprint and remixed "Apologize" for his Shock Value album. Timbaland knew Tedder from his moonlighting gig as a songwriter, having penned tracks for Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lewis, among others.

Despite a four-year break between albums, Freeway returns with his sophomore release, Free at Last, selling 36,000 copies at 42. The Philly rapper got twice the brotherly love on his new album with a joint-release by Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella and Fiddy's G-Unit Records. Likewise, the album features appearances by rivals Fiddy and Jadakiss, who typically would not appear on the same album.

While the film topped the holiday weekend box office, the Enchanted soundtrack entered at 48, conjuring up sales of 31,000.

RBD's latest Latin disc, Empezar Desde Cero, sold 47 more copies than the stateside release of Amy Winehouse 2003 debut disc Frank, both selling just over 22,000 copies. The albums entered the charts at 60 and 61, respectively.

The two international acts were followed by a trio of potential holiday stocking stuffers: the This Christmas soundtrack at 65, Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock at 66 and AC/DC's Sight & Sound Collection box set at 73.

While the 20th anniversary deluxe reissue of U2's The Joshua Tree didn't make the Billboard 200, two other albums did make returns. Beyoncé's B'Day sold 73,000 copies to reenter the charts at 19 in conjunction with the release of The Beyoncé Experience Live DVD. Likewise, with help from the film's recent DVD release, the new Hairspray collector's edition soundtrack reentered the charts at 89.

Overall, Super Tuesday sales were up 19 percent from the week previous but still down 18 percent compared to the same sales period last year.

Here's a recap of the Top 10:

1. Noël, Josh Groban

2. As I Am, Alicia Keys

3. Now That's What I Call Music! 26, various

4. The Ultimate Hits, Garth Brooks

5. Long Road Out of Eden, the Eagles

6. High School Musical 2 soundtrack, various

7. Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood

8. Taking Chances, Celine Dion

9. Exclusive, Chris Brown

10. Jordin Sparks, Jordin Sparks

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Isle of Wight anchors Police '08 schedule

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Police will headline the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival, to take place June 13-15 at Seaclose Park. Additional acts have yet to be announced.

The performance, which is being touted as the band's only U.K. festival appearance for 2008, will anchor a new run of dates from the re-formed rock trio. The itinerary starts January 17 in Wellington, New Zealand, and runs through June 28 in Leipzig, Germany.

The Police are touring in Mexico and will proceed to Argentina, Chile and Brazil in the coming days. A live DVD chronicling the reunion tour, which recently was named the top-grossing and top ticket-selling outing at the Billboard Touring Awards, is expected to be released in the spring via Interscope.

Here are the Police's 2008 tour dates:

January 17: Wellington, N.Z. (Westpac Stadium)

January 19: Auckland (Western Springs)

January 22: Brisbane, Australia (Suncorp Stadium)

January 24: Sydney (Telestra Stadium)

January 26: Melbourne (Cricket Ground)

January 28-29: Adelaide, Australia (Entertainment Centre)

February 1-2: Perth, Australia (Members Equity Stadium)

February 10: Osaka, Japan (Kyocera Dome)

February 13-14: Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)

February 16: Honolulu (Blaisdell Center)

June 5: Mannheim, Germany (SAP Arena)

June 8: Dusseldorf, Germany (LTU Arena)

June 11: Oslo (Valle Horvin)

June 13: Haderslev, Denmark (Landsstaevnestadion)

June 15: Newport, England (Isle of Wight Festival)

June 17-18: Manchester, England (MEN Arena)

June 28: Leipzig, Germany (Zentralstadion)

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Black Crowes enlist for "War" on new album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Black Crowes have wrapped "Warpaint," their first studio album since 2001. The band will release the set March 4 internationally via their own Silver Arrow imprint.

The 11-track set was recorded at Allaire Studios in Woodstock, N.Y. It features the recording debut of new guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and keyboardist Adam MacDougall. They join original members Chris and Rich Robinson and drummer Steve Gorman, as well as bassist Sven Pipien.

All of the tracks are Robinson brothers originals, except "God's Got It," which was penned by the Reverend Charlie Jackson.

The Crowes will perform "Warpaint" in its entirety during a spring U.S. run that will begin March 4, with dates to be announced. A world tour will follow, which kicks off March 24 at Australia's Byron Bay Festival.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Knievel, Kanye Call Truce

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Evil Knievel's latest stunt: making peace with Kanye West.

The world's most famous daredevil has "amicably resolved" his lawsuit against the Grammy-winning hip-hopster over West's Knievel-channeling "Touch the Sky" music video.

The rapper's label, Universal Music-owned Roc-A-Fella Records, confirmed the settlement on Tuesday. In a press release, the label says West recently paid a visit to Knievel's home in Tampa to seal the deal. (See above for photographic evidence of that summit.)

Details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Knievel said, "I was very satisfied and so was he."

In the suit, filed last December in U.S. District Court, the 68-year-old Knievel accused West, Roc-A-Fella, video director Chris Milk and distributor AOL of trademark infringement and trashing the stuntman's good name in the video.

The five-and-a-half-minute clip features West in the guise of "Evel Kanyevel," complete with a red, white and blue jumpsuit "visually indistinguishable" from the one Knievel wore during his 1970s motorcycle-jumping heyday, per the lawsuit. The video, costarring Pamela Anderson, also features the rapper mimicking Knievel's infamous 1974 stunt, when he tried to blast his way across Idaho's Snake Canyon using a jet-powered "skycycle" rocket.

Knievel claimed West's "vulgar and racially charged" behavior in the music video ran "directly counter to Evel Knievel's long-established public persona, [is] utterly inconsistent with his toy products and appeal to children and harms the reputation of Evel Knievel trademark and the Evel Knievel costume."

The "Golddigger" emcee's camp defended the video, saying it was satirical in nature and thus protected by the First Amendment.

Knievel sought a court injunction to bar the video from further distribution and requested unspecified monetary damages. However, by July, the two sides informed a federal judge they would try to resolve their differences through mediation.

"Touch the Sky" was a hit single released off West's 2005 sophomore album, Late Registration.

West, meanwhile, is struggling to rebound from the sudden death of his mother, Donda, earlier this month following cosmetic surgery. After attending her funeral and burial in her native Oklahoma City on Nov. 20, West has gone ahead with a previously scheduled European tour, paying tribute to her each night with the song "Hey Mama."

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Winehouse Takes Herself off the Road

Los Angeles (E! Online) - With her husband in jail, Amy Winehouse is having trouble keeping her solo act together.

The troubled chanteuse has called off her remaining concerts and public appearances for the year on doctor's orders, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. She had been scheduled to perform a 17-date tour in Britain and Ireland.

"The rigors involved in touring and the intense emotional strain that Amy has been under in recent weeks have taken their toll," Winehouse rep Tracey Miller said in a statement.

"In the interests of her health and well-being, Amy has been ordered to take complete rest and deal with her health issues."

The cancellation comes after Winehouse was booed by disappointed fans in Birmingham earlier this month after she took the stage half an hour late and slurred and stumbled her way through four songs.

When disgusted concertgoers began catcalling and storming out of the theater, Winehouse sprang to her own defense, lashing out and swearing at the audience.

"To them people booing, wait till my husband gets out of incarceration," she said. "And I mean that."

Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was arrested earlier this month in connection with an assault case. Last week, he was remanded to custody until Jan. 18.

The separation from her significant other has clearly been taking its toll on the 24-year-old singer.

"I can't give it my all onstage without my Blake," Winehouse said in a statement provided by her rep. "I'm so sorry, but I don't want to do the shows halfheartedly; I love singing. My husband is everything to me, and without him, it's just not the same."

Ticket refunds will be made available at the point of purchase. There were no plans to reschedule the dates, the rep said.

It's not the first time Winehouse has taken herself off the road. Following a brief stint in rehab in August, she cleared her schedule, again citing "health issues" and the "rigors of touring."

Her family has requested that the public "respect Amy's privacy at this time."

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Morissette tapped for Canada's music Hall of Fame

TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - Singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette is being inducted into the Canadian music industry's Hall of Fame, organizers said Monday.

Morissette will receive the lifetime achievement award March 7 as part of the Canadian Radio Music Awards that will be held during Canadian Music Week in Toronto.

Ottawa-born Morissette will join past inductees who include record producer David Foster, singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and music groups Triumph and Rush.

Canadian Music Week organizers earlier announced that Nettwerk Music Group CEO Terry McBride and TV producer John Brunton ("Canadian Idol") will be inducted into the Canadian music industry's Hall of Fame as part of the Canadian Music Industry Awards on March 6.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Rapper 'Birdman' arrested in Tenn.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Rapper Bryan "Birdman" Williams was among 16 people charged with possession of marijuana Tuesday after the RV they were riding in was pulled over by police for making an improper lane change.
Kingsport Police Cpl. Tim Horne said he stopped the vehicle after seeing it force a tractor trailer into the emergency lane on Interstate 81.

Horne said he could smell marijuana from inside the rented RV and located about a pound of marijuana in a trash can in the kitchenette after obtaining consent to search the vehicle.

Williams, 38, his wife Brittany, 18, and his brother, Ronald Williams, 43, were each charged with possession of more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana as were 13 others, several of whom are also affiliated with the rap industry and Cash Money Records, which was founded by Bryan and Ronald Williams.

Among those arrested were road manager Shahid Muhammad, 40, Cash Money Records promoter Casey Collins, 42, and music promoter Ovide Antoine, 32, of Miami, Fla.

All 16 remained jailed late Tuesday night. It was not known if any of them had an attorney.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting in the investigation because an assault rifle, a handgun and a magazine for a .45-caliber handgun were found on the RV, Horne said. No weapons charges have been filed.

The group said they were traveling from New Orleans to New York for a BET network shoot, Horne said.

Hits featuring Birdman include "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" and "Army Gunz."

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Lily Allen Still All Right After Ticker Trouble

Los Angeles (E! Online) - It isn't the type of heartache Lily Allen is known for waxing on about, but the British songbird has come clean on a recent health scare.

The "Smile" singer told U.K. supermarket staple Grazia magazine that she was diagnosed with a heart murmur three months ago. Allen credits the condition with her decision to focus on her health and shed some excess baggage from her frame.

The 22-year-old revealed the diagnosis while accounting for her slimmed-down physique, setting the record straight that her sudden weight loss of 19 pounds and two dress sizes was not the result of attempting to fit into the cookie-cutter starlet mold, a standard she has spoken out against in the past.

"I found out I had a heart murmur about three months ago," she said. "I have been asthmatic all my life, but this was really quite scary."

A heart murmur is typically harmless but can sometimes indicate a hole in the heart or some type of malfunctioning in the valve.

Of her newfound fitness regime, Allen said, "I really want to stress that I haven't done this because I want to become some skinny minnie—I will never be like that...I don't understand people who are crazy thin.

"I used to love nothing more than sitting in front of the telly with two packets of Ginger Nuts and two bags of milk-bottle sweets—and I'd devour the lot. But this heart thing has made me cut back on all that kind of crap. I now find that, because I am looking after myself, I don't feel like eating the bad stuff so much."

Allen said that after her diagnosis, which came about after she switched doctors, she engaged in a "hard-core routine" at the gym, hitting it up at least three times a week, a major lifestyle change from just a few months ago—a lifestyle change she previously credited to hypnotism.

"I was going pretty crazy back in the summer, drinking way too much and partying loads. But now I don't want to drink so much, I've been cutting back."

Still, the self-proclaimed party girl hasn't exorcised all her demons just yet.

"I should also give up smoking, but haven't quite managed that yet."

Still, the feisty Alright, Still singer has already seen the benefits to her well-being thanks to her new health-centric regime, and she's not the only one who's noticed. Allen recently signed on as the new face and body of Agent Provocateur lingerie, joining the ranks of past spokesmodels Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kate Moss and Dita Von Teese.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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