Jul 12

KRS-One's son found dead in apparent suicide
[source: NME.com] Rapper KRS-One's son has been found dead in his Atlanta apartment in what was an apparent suicide.
Fulton County medical examiners said Randy Hubbard Parker, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the head and have officially classified his death as a suicide.
The rapper's son had been fighting a continuous battle with depression, according to his mother, Simone G. Parker, in a statement issued on Tuesday July 10.
Parker was a graphic designer and fashion entrepreneur. A private memorial service will be held on Wednesday July 18, which would have been his 24th birthday.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Krs-One.aspx


Kanye West and Knievel attempt to settle lawsuit
[source: NME.com] Kanye West and famed stuntman Evel Knievel are attempting to settle the lawsuit Knievel filed against the rapper in December.
The rapper notified a federal judge on Tuesday July 10 that they intend to use a mediator to try to settle the suit in which Knievel claims West infringed on his trademark and likeness in his video for "Touch The Sky".
In the video, West takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and jumps over a canyon on a motorcycle. West also dons a familiar Knievel star-studded jumpsuit and jumps a canyon in a vehicle "visually indistinguishable" from the Skycycle that Knievel used when he attempted to jump Idaho's Snake River Canyon in 1974.
West's attorneys are arguing that the video is a form of satire, which is covered under the First Amendment.
West and Knievel have agreed to share mediation expenses.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Kanye-West.aspx


PJ Harvey reveals new album tracklisting
[source: NME.com] PJ Harvey has revealed the tracklisting for new album White Chalk.
The singer will release her first album since 2004's Uh Huh Her on Monday September 24.

White Chalk tracklisting:

"The Devil"
"Dear Darkness"
"Grow Grow Grow"
"When Under Ether"
"White Chalk"
"Broken Harp"
"Silence"
"To Talk To You"
"The Piano"
"Before Departure"
"The Mountain"

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Pj-Harvey.aspx


George Michael fined for Wembley encore
[source: NME.com] George Michael has been slapped with a £130,000 (AU $307,000) fine because his performance at Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 9 was too long.
According to a spokesperson for the venue, Michael's set ended 13 minutes later than the agreed time.
Wembley's rules outline that a £10,000 (AU $24,000) fine is charged for each overrunning minute, hence the £130,000 charge.
Michael was the first musician to perform at the new stadium, which has since hosted the likes of Muse, Metallica, the Princess Diana tribute concert and the London leg of Live Earth.
The Wembley spokesperson said: "Wembley can issue fines for concerts that overrun, but that's between Wembley and the concert promoters."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/George-Michael.aspx


Gogol Bordello frontman to star in Madonna flick
Eugene Hutz, the frontman for New York gypsy rockers Gogol Bordello, is set to star in Madonna's directorial debut, Filth & Wisdom.
"I think [Madonna] was fantastic," Hutz, who previously starred alongside actor Elijah Wood in 2005's Everything Is Illuminated, said of the singer's direction.
"She's such a dynamic force. You can always measure a director by how specific they are, and she was very specific."
Playing a semi-autobiographical character called A.K., the 45-minute flick is expected to make its debut at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It also stars Richard E. Grant and Stephen Graham.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Gogol-Bordello.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Madonna.aspx


Amy Winehouse takes a rest
Doctors have advised "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse to take a well-deserved break from her upcoming promotional and live schedule after the singer failed to appear at the Summer Pops event in Liverpool last week.
An official statement from Winehouse's management team said the pint-sized singer is suffering from "exhaustion".
"Amy Winehouse has unfortunately had to cancel her appearance at T In The Park due to exhaustion," the statement read. "Following a year of non-stop touring and promotion, Amy has been advised by a doctor to take time off and rest. Amy would like to apologise to fans for the cancellation." Unfortunately for Winehouse, paparazzi pics of her out drinking last weekend in London have prompted some critics to wonder just how tired she really is.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Amy-Winehouse.aspx


Pink says no song for Britney
Los Angeles-based pop star Pink, who spent two months in Australia earlier this year on her I'm Not Dead tour, says she won't be writing a comeback tune for Britney Spears.
When asked if she'd considered penning a track for the troubled mother of two, Pink revealed there was little chance.
"Not because I don't like [Spears]," she answered. "I do think she's crazy enough to do one of my songs. But it's very hard for me to let go of my songs and the only people I write for are real singers… she's more of an entertainer. When I mean real singers, I mean the likes of Lauryn Hill, Faith Hill and Amy Winehouse, because you need serious attitude to carry off the dumb stuff I write about."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Pink.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Britney-Spears.aspx


Groove Armada team with Kylie Minogue
English duo Groove Armada – responsible for hits like "I See You Baby" and "Hands Of Time" – have revealed they're currently in negotiation to help produce tracks for the upcoming Kylie Minogue album.
Andy Cato admitted the lads had written a new song for the "Locomotion" singer and are hoping it's selected for the final LP.
"Ours is the best tune," he boasted yesterday. "The track we've done is a killer. It's sort of Blondie pop with a stripped-back sound. I'm quietly confident about it."
Minogue has already teamed with hot Scottish producer Calvin Harris to record tracks for the new disc, her first album since 2003.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Groove-Armada.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Kylie-Minogue.aspx


Snow Patrol member in court
Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson is heading to court after being arrested last weekend at Wembley Stadium following the band's performance at London's Live Earth concert.
The 35-year-old had failed to attend a court hearing in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was to face drug charges. The arrest came several hours before the band were due to headline Perthshire's T In The Park festival in the UK. Luckily for his bandmates, Simpson was released and will face court at a future date.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Snow-Patrol.aspx

My Chemical Romance return to Oz
Emo stars My Chemical Romance will return to Australia for four dates in November and December.
The group first played on our shores as guests of Green Day back in 2005 and have since become one of the biggest acts in America thanks to hit LP The Black Parade.
Tickets are expected to sell quickly when they are released on Friday July 20.

Tour dates:

Wednesday November 28 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Friday November 30 – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Saturday December 1 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Monday December 3 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/My-Chemical-Romance.aspx


Avril Lavigne collaborator retractors copyright comments
Canadian songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, who collaborated with "Girlfriend" singer Avril Lavigne on the singer's latest LP, has retracted comments she made about the pop star in the April edition of Songwriter magazine.
Lavigne has recently been hit with a legal suit by 1970s band The Rubinoos, who say their song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" is similar to "Girlfriend".
"I would like to apologise for any misconceptions concerning Avril Lavigne, which may have resulted from statements I made in my interview with Performing Songwriter Magazine," Kreviazuk said in a statement released on Tuesday July 10.
Apparently Lavigne said she was considering legal action following Kreviazuk's comments.
"It was not my intention to call Avril's songwriting ability or ethics into question."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Avril-Lavigne.aspx