Jul 2

Tom Jones covers Arctic Monkeys
[source: NME.com] Tom Jones did a version of Arctic Monkeys' "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" at Sunday's Concert For Diana at Wembley Stadium.
Before performing the radically altered version, the Welsh crooner said: "Now we're going to do something a little different. Something new."
The commemorative gig also saw Kanye West perform new song "Stronger" and promise the crowd he would "rip this stage in half". He was backed by an all-female string section, a DJ and dancers all dressed in red as he raced through a selection of songs, including "Jesus Walks", "Gold Digger" and "Touch The Sky".
Earlier, Lily Allen performed "LDN" and "Smile" in a distinctive blue dress against an animated background. Pharrell Williams also entertained the crowd with a string of hits, including N.E.R.D. track "She Wants To Move" and Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot".

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Foxy Brown's alleged attacker goes free
[source: NME.com] The woman who allegedly attacked and robbed Foxy Brown last weekend has been released from jail after Brown failed to show up in court.
Roshawn Anthony, 23, reportedly robbed Brown of her Louis Vuitton bag, AU$589 in cash and credit cards in an incident on Saturday June 23. Police arrested and jailed Anthony, although Brown said the attack never happened.
The rapper told the New York Post it was a case of mistaken identity, yet police later verified it was definitely Brown who was attacked.
Brown has had several run-ins with the law lately, two of which related to violent incidents at beauty parlours in New York and Florida.
Anthony is due to appear again in court on Thursday August 9.

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Sonic Youth set to release compilation via Starbucks
[source: NME.com] Sonic Youth are busy completing a compilation album that will be sold at Starbucks coffee shops across the US.
Speaking to Pitchfork recently, Thurston Moore revealed plans were afoot to record a new song for the release.
Hits Are For Squares will be sold early 2008 in just eight US cities, and will be available online at hearmusic.com.
The release will include songs chosen by celebrity fans, including writer Dave Eggers and actresses Chloe Sevigny and Michelle Williams. They will also contribute to the sleeve notes on the album, explaining their choice of song.
Speaking to Billboard, Moore defended the band's decision to release the album through Starbucks/Universal.
"I guess, for some, Sonic Youth represents something they don't really equate with Starbucks," he said. "But I kind of like the absurdity of it. Sonic Youth has always, in a way, made itself available to the super mainstream."

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Eve sentenced for drink driving offence
[source: NME.com] Eve must wear an alcohol-detecting bracelet for 45 days after pleading no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol in a Los Angeles court last week.
The rapper was arrested on Thursday April 26 for driving under the influence after her Maserati crashed on Hollywood Boulevard.
Eve was not present in court when her lawyer entered the plea on her behalf. She could have faced up to six months in jail and a AU$1,177 fine, but was sentenced to 36 months' probation and handed a AU$459 fine. Associated Press claim she must also attend ten Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

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Lily Allen arrested
Outspoken British singer Lily Allen (who's set to visit Australia in early August for a tour and a spot on the annual Splendour In The Grass festival) was arrested in London last week.
Charged with assault, the "Smile" singer is alleged to have punched a 40-year-old photographer outside a Soho nightclub in May.
"She was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault," according to the police statement. "She has been bailed to return on a date in late July."
The 22-year-old singer says she's sick of media intrusion in her life, and regrets being so open in her MySpace blog.
"I think people hate me in England," she wrote. "I'm in the tabloids. I don't want to be but I am. And I become that person who badmouths people, which I'm not."

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Britney divorce proceedings hit a hiccup
People magazine claim Britney's ex – dancer/rapper/actor Kevin Federline – is refusing to sign final divorce papers because he's concerned about her "wild" behaviour.
"Kevin and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan are dragging their heels out of concern over reports of Britney's post-rehab partying," the magazine states. Apparently Federline wants to "downsize Britney's access to her kids the next time her behaviour troubles him".
Meanwhile, Spears was photographed on the weekend delivering legal documents to her mother, Lynne. It's claimed the papers ask Lynne to stay away from Spears' two young sons.

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Linkin Park stalker pleads guilty
After hacking into the phone and email account of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, 28-year-old Devon Townsend has pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and unlawful access to stored communications.
A former national laboratory worker, Townsend faces up to five years in prison following months of harassment of Bennington and his wife, former Playmate Talinda, throughout 2006.
"On at least one occasion, knowing that Chester Bennington was in Arizona, I travelled to Arizona solely for the purpose of trying to see him," Townsend admitted in the court's plea agreement over her actions.
"While I was there, I monitored Chester Bennington's voice mails as a means of trying to locate where he might be eating dinner or lunch."
Townsend had intercepted calls and emails between the couple and Bennington's record label, at one point even calling the singer's wife and threatening her.
Townsend is yet to be sentenced; Bennington hasn't offered any comment on the case.

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Rolling Stones crew members killed
Two members of the Rolling Stones' stage crew died on Friday June 29 when they fell from scaffolding following the band's performance at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid.
While dismantling the band's extensive set, police say three Spanish workers fell from a structure ten metres above ground, falling onto a fourth Dutch crew member waiting below.
One man died immediately, while another passed away en route to hospital. The band said they are deeply saddened by the news.
"Their heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery go out to the injured and their profound sympathies to the deceased," a spokesman for the group said.

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Prince to be dropped by SonyBMG in Britain
US pop star Prince has found out record labels don't like giving away music for free.
With new album Planet Earth due in shops this month, the star's label, SonyBMG, has announced they won't be releasing the disc in the UK after Prince agreed to give away thousands of copies with newspaper The Mail On Sunday. Ticket holders to his upcoming 21 shows in London will also receive the disc for free.
"Given the sheer number of copies we are talking about here," a SonyBMG spokesman said, "it seemed the right thing to do for retailers to become exempt from the deal in the UK."
Australian fans don't have to worry, however. The LP will still see the light of day the traditional way, hitting stores on Saturday July 14.

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


Grinspoon hit the road for "Black Tattoo"
With new album Alibis & Other Lies due out this month, Oz rock bad boys Grinspoon are about to embark on a massive tour.
Currently careering through WA on a brief trek, Phil Jamieson and pals have announced they'll be heading across the country on the "Black Tattoo" tour. The jaunt begins in early August, right after their slot at Splendour In The Grass.
Alibis & Other Lies is out Saturday July 21 and tickets for the shows are on sale now.

Tour dates:

Thursday August 9 – Nambour RSL
Friday August 10 – Seagulls, Gold Coast
Saturday August 11 – Alexandra Hills Hotel, Brisbane
Sunday August 12 – Bribie Island Hotel
Wednesday August 15 – Hervey Bay Seven Nightclub
Thursday August 16 – Bundaberg Brothers Nightclub
Friday August 17 – Capela Cultural Centre
Saturday August 18 – Rockhampton Great Western
Sunday August 19 – Mackay Main St
Wednesday August 29 – Bathurst Panthers Club
Thursday August 30 – Orange Ex Services Club
Friday August 31 – Dubbo RSL
Saturday September 1 – Parklands Resort Mudgee
Sunday September 2 – Penrith RSL
Wednesday September 12 – Yamba Golf Club
Thursday September 13 – Forster Ex Services
Friday September 14 – Doyalson RSL
Sunday September 16 – ANU Bar, Canberra
Wednesday September 19 – Westend Market Hotel, Sunshine
Thursday September 20 – Ferntree Gully Hotel
Friday September 21 – 21st Century Frankston
Wednesday September 26 – The Roxy, Parramatta
Friday September 28 – Sawtell RSL
Saturday September 29 – Casino RSL
Thursday October 4 – HQ, Adelaide
Friday October 5 – Westlands Hotel, Whyalla
Saturday October 6 – Pretoria Hotel, Mannum

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