George Michael, who has pleaded guilty to driving while unfit, had several drugs in his system when he was arrested, a court heard Wednesday.
Tests showed the 43-year-old singer had taken a therapeutic quantity of an antidepressant as well as gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, Prosecutor Andrew Torrington told Brent Magistrates’ Court in London.
GHB is often called the “date-rape drug” because it leaves people groggy and powerless.
Michael, who wasn’t in court Wednesday, pleaded guilty May 8 to driving while unfit due to drugs. He said his condition was caused by “tiredness and prescribed drugs.”
The former Wham! singer, whose real name is George Panayiotou, was arrested in the early hours of Oct. 2 after police responded to complaints that a car was blocking an intersection in North London. Police said Michael was found slumped over the wheel of the car.
His lawyer, Michael Grieve, told the court a prescription sleeping drug was the most likely explanation for Michael’s condition.
Michael said in a TV interview earlier this month that he is addicted to prescription drugs and believes the world would be a better place if more people smoked marijuana.
He blamed his erratic behavior to an attention-seeking and “self-destructive” impulse brought on by the death of his mother a decade ago.
The case was adjourned until June 8 for sentencing, the day before Michael performs at Wembley Stadium as part of his European tour.
Alex James has confessed to spending over $1.9 million on champagne and cocaine during the 90s.
The Blur bassist admits he blew the fortune on drink and drug-fueled orgies with groupies during the height of the British band’s fame.
Alex revealed in his new book ‘Bit of a Blur’: “During the 90s I must have spent about $1.9 million on champagne and cocaine, and entertained more women then I can really remember.”
“One night in 1998 I was staying at the famous Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and managed to get the penthouse suite. The tour manager found me a Balthazar of champagne - the biggest of bottle that one person can carry. There were lots of fans milling around the hotel, so I decided to invite the prettiest ones to come up to my room.”
“I’d calculated I’d need five for a bottle of champagne that big. After ushering them in, I collapsed on the bed and let them cover me in champagne and kisses. I stopped having sex occasionally, but only so that I could have some more drugs.”
Meanwhile, Alex recently revealed Graham Coxon could be rejoining Blur.
He said: “We’re all heading into the studio together this summer - Graham’s coming too. We’re going to see if we’ve still got it.”
Graham quit the band in 2002 during the recording of the band’s seventh studio album “Think Tank” in Marrakech, Morocco.
The reasons for his departure were believed to be a combination of his unhappiness at singer Damon Albarn’s control over the group’s musical direction and the decision to hire DJ Fatboy Slim as the record’s producer.
American Idol is, once again, a singing competition.
In the end, Jordin Sparks rose to the top of a season more crowded with stories about Antonella’s photos, Haley’s short shorts and Sanjaya’s faux-hawk than about who had the most impressive range or who was the most deserving successor to Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks.
The 17-year-old Glendale, Arizona, resident, dubbed The Singer by the judges, beat out “The Entertainer,” 25-year-old Blake Lewis of Bothell, Washington, Wednesday night, becoming the sixth—and youngest—American Idol and thereby restoring the most watched show on television to its ballad-happy roots.
“I can’t thank you enough!” an emotional Sparks told the audience at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater, happy tears streaming down her face, after learning she had received the majority of a record 74 million votes.
While beat-boxing specialist Lewis had what Simon Cowell called the best performance of the night Tuesday, with an energetic reconstruction of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name,” it was Sparks whose vocals repeatedly blew ‘em away throughout the evening, especially when it came to the new single “This Is My Now,” which won Idol’s inaugural complementary songwriting competition.
Lewis brought the crowd to its feet right off the bat Tuesday with “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Sparks, however, was perhaps still trying to shake the nerves and just kinda stood there during what could have been a rousing rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.”
Then “This Is My Now” became Sparks’ coronation anthem and Lewis’ lament—until the runner-up inks that inevitable record deal and heads out on tour this summer with American Idols Live, of course.
Still, Sparks is the one who’s guaranteed that $1 million contract with Sony BMG’s Arista Records, and it will be her brightly smiling face looking up at you from all the magazine covers in the next few weeks.
Former ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge Brandy got served another lawsuit from another survivor of the fatal car crash that she was involved in. In the documents, Mallory Ham claims that Brandy ‘recklessly wantonly, unlawfully, and maliciously’ drove her car down the 405 in which Ham was ‘severely injured’ and is demanding to be paid for unspecified medical bills, pain and suffering and legal costs.
This is the fourth lawsuit that Brandy is facing since the crash. If you remember, it’s actually that crash that caused her to lose her spot as a judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’.
It makes me wonder. Had it not been a somewhat successful star behind the wheel of that car, would people that ultimately survived still be dwelling?
This Aussie beauty has taken the world by storm with her hit music and has battled breast cancer to continue her singing carrier. Once a person has gone through a major life threatening disease like cancer, it teaches the value of life and shows
the person that there are others too suffering and need help. Kylie Minogue has performed two of her hits for guests at a charity event in France, raising £200,000 for each song. 200,000 pounds is a hell lot of money and we just hope that the money is used for the benefit of those who really need this kind of help. The pop star, 38, sang The Locomotion and Can’t
Get You Out of My Head. Mischa Barton, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn attended the dinner and auction, which was hosted by actress Sharon Stone, to raise money to fight Aids. The annual event, which coincides with Cannes Film Festival, is organized by the American Federation for Aids Research (Amfar). There is a lot that we can do to help the world get rid of ADIS. The only thing that is required is self belief that we can make a change. The auction included luxury items such as
designer luggage, crystal jeweled shoes and a one-on-one tennis lesson from Monica Seles.
Recently married Amy Winehouse was caught by paparazzi while balancing a Starbucks coffee cup in one hand and a hair octopus-like rat’s nest on her head. She seemed to be unfazed by the photographers that are now all out to take her pictures. Maybe she’s thinking about that hubby of hers.
Speaking of her hubby, did you know that he never signed a pre-nup? He vehemently refused to sign one and chances are he won’t sign a post-nup either. Gold digger anyone?
Anyway, Amy needs to watch out. Whether it’s her hubby stealing everything from under her or what her hair looks like, the paps will eat her up!
One more thing… do her eyes always have to have that thick of an eye shadow thing?
Paula Abdul has broken her nose and there is a lighter side to the incident. Paula Abdul is currently a sitting judge for the hit reality show ‘American Idol’. The incident took place while she was trying to save herself from stepping over her Chihuahua. She has a sore nose but is doing fine and will in all probability appear on American Idol. Just look at what all parts of the body she has hurt just in an attempt to falling or tripping over her dog, she tore cartilage on her nose, fractured her toe, bruised her arm and chest all for the love of her “little chubby Tulip”. I have never heard such an incident take place before where a celebrity has risked one self just to make sure that they do not harm their loved pets. And just look the mishaps has made it to the newspapers. The dog was not hurt at all. Should we say ‘bravo’ to Paula Abdul!
Jordin Sparks came out as the winner of the American Idol title for this season. Given that Melinda Dolittle was out and it was Blake Lewis she was up against, there wasn’t any question really.
I will agree with Simon that Blake could be the best performer but he seriously lacked vocals. But not so much that he would be like Sanjaya. Anyway, Jordin, although needing some brushing up on her performances were on point with her vocals. So it’s really a shoe in especially considering that it’s a singing competition.
I’m not taking away from Blake’s talent but he should stick to hip hop. Maybe he could try rapping. He could be the nice version of Eminem. Or he could beat box. Or DJ. Eh.
Gossip’s single (“Standing In The Way Of Control”) was the most played single for two weeks in Radio One and now another one called “Listen Up” is set to probably do the same thing.
The band is back in UK now to arrange the needed details for different festivals held this summer. They will headline the John Peel stage at Glastonbury and will also play in Reading and Leeds.
If you plan to see Gossip live you have to attend these festivals:
24 June Glastonbury - Festival
25-June Norwich - UEA
8-July Glasgow - T in the Park
9-July Liverpool - Carling Academy
11-July Nottingham - Rock City
13-July Barcelona - Summercase Festival
14-July Valencia - Summercase Festival
The Horrors is set to launch another single on the 18th of June. The first one, “Gloves”, was a hit and the new one, “She Is The New Thing” is also taken from the band’s critically acclaimed debut album called “Strange House”, released on Loog on the 5th of March. Ever since the debut The Horrors started gaining more and more fans each month and this new single is sure to have a boost in this part of their artist lives.
If you want to catch The Horrors perform live you will have the whole month of June at your disposal as the band still has a lot of shows planned on their world tour. The remaining dates are:
04th New York, US Luna Lounge
05th New York, US The Filimore
07th Boston, US Paradise Rock Club
08th Washington, US Rock n Roll Hotel
09th Philadelphia, US North Star Bar
10th Montreal, Canada Petit Campus
11th Toronto, Canada The Mod Club
12th Cleveland Heights, US Grog Shop
14th Chicago, US The Abbey
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