Jul 18

Michael Jackson forced to pay steep legal fees
[source: NME.com] Michael Jackson has been ordered to pay almost AU$300,000 in legal fees related to his 2005 molestation trial, a Los Angeles Superior Court ruled on Tuesday.
The pop star is being forced to pay the amount to Ayscough & Marar, a law firm located in California that handled some of the issues in the trial.
According to Associated Press, the firm sued Jackson for failing to pay legal fees and preventing the release of information to the lawyers and the public during the trial in Santa Barbara County.
Jackson, who was eventually cleared of all molestation charges, unsuccessfully counter-sued the law firm.

Sting ordered to fork out in discrimination case
[source: NME.com] Sting has been ordered to pay a former employee more than AU$50,000 by an employment tribunal in Southampton, England.
The Police frontman and his wife, Trudie Styler, were accused of sexual discrimination after they fired a chef when she became pregnant.
According to Jane Martin, who worked for the couple for eight years, Styler became displeased with her after she became pregnant in 2005. Martin alleged Styler would get angry when she took sick days and forced her to work long hours. Martin eventually left her job in 2006.
The tribunal ruled Martin was a victim of sexual discrimination and was unlawfully dismissed by Lake House Estate, the management company of Sting and his wife.
The pair have already launched an appeal against the ruling.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Sting.aspx


Brandon Flowers welcomes a son
The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has become a dad after wife Tana gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday July 14.
It’s the first child for the “Smile Like You Mean It” singer – who happens to be a Mormon – and who’s currently on a break from touring throughout Europe. The Killers are set to head back to the UK in mid-August to headline England’s V Festival.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Killers-The.aspx


The Police head to Oz
After one of the most successful reunion tours of 2007, English trio The Police will return to Australia for the first time in more than a decade in early 2008.
Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting have sold more than 1,770,000 tickets in North America so far for their reunion shows, with a 25-date European tour set to kick off in late August.
Tickets for the Australian dates go on sale Monday July 30 at 9am.

Tour dates:

Tuesday January 22 – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Thursday January 24 – Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Saturday January 26 – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Monday January 28 – AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
Friday February 1 – Members Equity, Perth

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Police-The.aspx


Lily Allen is stable, says brother
Alfie Allen, brother of UK pop star Lily, says her sister is not in danger of suffering a breakdown, despite the singer wondering online if she might be turning into an alcoholic.
Alfie reckons his sister is actually quite happy and doing well despite the tabloid rumours.
“Lily will never try and be someone else to impress people,” 20-year-old Alfie revealed.
“She’ll just impress people by being who she is.”
Meanwhile, Lily, who’s due to head to Australia next month for the Splendour In The Grass festival in Byron Bay, insists she’s fine.
“If I was falling apart at the seams I’d be in the Priory [an infamous London rehab facility], not here,” she told journalists at the recent Glastonbury festival. “It’s not about career, it’s not about longevity. It’s about being happy in this moment for me, living the day.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lily-Allen.aspx


Mercury Music Prize nominees announced
The nominees for one of the most prestigious awards in music – the 2007 Mercury Music Prize – have been announced in London.
Among the shortlist is tattooed diva Amy Winehouse, who sees her second LP, Back To Black, in the running for the coveted gong. Previous winners Arctic Monkeys are nominated once again for their sophomore effort, Favourite Worst Nightmare, while London-born rapper Dizzee Rascal is nominated for his third album, Maths & English.
The winner will be revealed at a ceremony held on Tuesday September 4.

Nominations:

The Young Knives – Game (Up All Night)
Bat For Lashes – Fur and Gold
Jamie T – Panic Prevention
Klaxons – Myths Of The New Future
The View – Hats Off To The Buskers
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
Basquiat Strings – Basquiat Strings With Seb Rochford
Dizzee Rascal – Maths & English
New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom
Maps – We Can Create
Fionn Regan – End Of History
Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worse Nightmare

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Amy-Winehouse.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Young-Knives-The.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Bat-For-Lashes.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Jamie-T.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Klaxons.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/The-View.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Arctic-Monkeys.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Fionn-Regan.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/New-Young-Pony-Club.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Arctic-Monkeys-Dizzee-Rascal.aspx


AC/DC head back in the studio
Oz rock legends AC/DC have announced they’re heading back to the studio to start work on a new release that should see the light of day in early 2008.
While on a recent tour in New Jersey, frontman Brian Johnson spoke to local newspaper The Daily Record about his bandmates’ plans.
“Malcolm and Angus [Young] are in the studio,” Johnson revealed. “There’s an album in the works, and a tour, too, I think. The boys are working on something special. They don’t want to do just another album: it’s gotta be perfect.”
AC/DC’s last album was 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Ac-Dc.aspx


Want more Paris Hilton?
Music critics mightn’t be thrilled, but former jailbird/hotel heiress Paris Hilton is getting ready to head back into the studio, with plans to record her second longplayer over the summer.
According to an interview with the blonde party girl on E! Online, Hilton says she’s “excited” to begin work on the follow-up to her self-titled debut, which has sold more than 600,000 copies worldwide.
“I’ve been working on it with Scott [Storch] for a few weeks,” Hilton revealed. Hilton didn’t reveal if her prison stay inspired any tunes.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paris-Hilton.aspx


Simon & Garfunkel to tour Australia?
Local promoters are currently negotiating to bring American folk duo Simon & Garfunkel to Australia.
The pair haven’t played together since 2004, with their last visit to our shores occurring back in 1983.
With more than 40 million albums sold worldwide to their credit, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are responsible for hits such as “Hazy Shade Of Winter”, “Mrs Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Dates are tentatively locked in for early next year but, according to the Herald Sun newspaper, rival promoters are bidding for the tour.
Simon & Garfunkel plan to release a 1969 live show in September.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Simon-Garfunkel.aspx