Paul McCartney will sing his last on-stage song in a spectacular final tour next year.
A source said: “Paul wants to go out with a bang. He’s played countless stadiums over his 50-year career and is on the hunt for the most unusual locations he can find. He realises that the older he gets, the less his body will be able to cope with the demands of extended periods on the road.”
McCartney wants to go out in style, however, with a tour that takes in politically dynamic locations such as Tiananmen Square and the area around Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie.
The tour, planned for 2010, will run for a year as the ex-Beatle nudges 70.
And Sir Paul may step out of retirement from time to time, the source indicated.
“He might play the odd benefit gig if the likes of President Obama gives him a bell but other than that he’ll be putting his feet up and enjoying retirement.”
Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt took Los Angeles by storm with a packed live show.
The duo did a live performance as The Mighty Boosh at The Roxy on Sunset Boulevard joined by their co-stars on the show Dave Brown (Bollo), Michael Fielding (Naboo) and Rich Fulcher (Bob Fossil).
Fans began queuing at midday on Tuesday for the free MySpace Secret Stand-Up show, which had been advertised on the site.
The Mighty Boosh devotees had to prove that the show was among their top MySpace ‘friends’ in order to get a wristband for the show, with the venue running out of wristbands four and a half hours before the doors opened.
Hundreds of fans, many of them dressed as their favourite Boosh characters, were left disappointed when they arrived for the evening show and were told they would not be able to get in.
The stars of the BBC 3 show took to the stage at 10pm and performed for 75 minutes.
The act went down well with the American audience, in particular Noel Fielding who already seems to have a solid female fanbase in the US.
Among the capacity crowd inside were celebrity guests Robin Williams and Jimmy Carr.
Williams, 51, was seen laughing uproariously at the performance, in particular the final song of the show, which included the lyrics “I took a s*** on your mum, and she seemed to like it”.
Earlier in the day the cast of the show did a DVD signing at Amoeba Records to celebrate the release of the three series of the show in the USA.
Fielding and Barratt dispelled rumours that they were about to split by telling the crowd they hoped to return soon to do a full-length gig.
Mariah Carey?s mediocre single ?Obsessed? debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at a very disappointing number 11. The new charts came in recently and as it was predicted, the singer has suffered a steep decline. Mariah?s single has dropped to number 20 and it?s likely that it won?t even crack the top 10 at all. Radio hasn?t been that receptive to the song and Mariah had just announced that she is delaying the release of her new album. That sucks for her. She needs to come out with a new song and hope that it will do loads better than the song that?s out right now.
If you find yourself in New York City this fall, you?ve got two amazing concerts to get to which will commemorate the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?s 25th Anniversary produced by Tom Hanks and Cameron Crowe. The concerts? roster includes acts such as U2, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Metallica, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills Nash & Friends and Eric Clapton, as well as some special guest presenters. The acts will be divided into 2 nights of performances on October 29th and 30th. The show will also be broadcast on network television two weeks later.
Amy Winehouse’s dad Mitch is reportedly planning to bring out his own album following his daughter’s success.
Amy, 25, has had two successful albums and is currently working on her third album.
It is claimed that her dad Mitch now fancies trying his hand at music and producing some material.
Reports say Mitch has been working on tracks including some Frank Sinatra covers as well as some of his own tracks.
A source said: “Mitch has been working on it for a while now. Amy always credits her dad with getting her into singing. He loves music. He has a good voice and wants a go at turning pro.”
Mitch has reportedly approached his daughter’s record label Island Records about getting a deal together.
However, if that falls through, he can work with daughter Amy on her own label, Lioness.
The same guys who sued Common for copyright infringement have also set their sights on Bone Thugs n Harmony and Akon, accusing the hip hop artists of ripping them off of the exact same song that they were suing rapper Common for. In a lawsuit that was filed just a day after Common?s, Songster, LLC, which owns the rights to the song ?When Will the Day Come?, claims that Bone Thugs, Akon and producer Swizz Beatz ripped off their music for the collaboration ?I Tried?. Songster is seeking unspecified damages. There?s no word on who they will sue next. What is this, a collect and select type of thing?
Have you ever heard of the band Geggy Tah? I haven?t but Pharrell has. One of its band members recently accused the hip hop artist of some serious musical thievery. In a federal lawsuit which was filed last week, Thomas Jordan claims the Pharell produced track ?All I Wanna Do (Feel Like Me)? is a complete rip off of the Geggy Tah?s 1996 tune ?Whoever You Are?. The suit alleges that Pharell produced his song for the rap group The Clipse back in 1997 but the song wasn?t released until 2007. And yet it took him two years to file a lawsuit.
ES Group, the company that was hired to build Madonna?s stage for the cancelled concert in France where two workers died with eight others injured, have released a statement regarding the accident. After expressing their grief regarding the tragedy, their rep said ?At present, it would not be appropriate to speculate on potential causes of the accident, but we are working closely with the French authorities to investigate what caused this incident. This is normal practice for such an incident and we will provide a further update as soon as it is possible.? Mind you, the company is also responsible for a collapsed stage at Dodger?s Stadium in LA for Madonna?s show last November.
Land Of The Lost star Anna Friel has admitted that she twice turned down a recording contract with Simon Cowell.
Friel, 32, found fame in British soap Brookside and has gone on to win international fame after playing the lead role of Chuck, in US sitcom Pushing Daisies.
She is currently starring in new movie Land Of The Lost alongside Will Ferrell.
Friel revealed that American Idol boss Simon Cowell twice offered her a recording contract, but she refused.
“He [Cowell] offered it to me twice. I was about 19 and he’d heard me sing. I’d just left Brookside and was very flattered, but I wouldn’t be here now if I’d said yes,? she said.
“You can either say, ‘I want to be a singer and I’m willing to be moulded when I sign one of those contracts, or I can keep the acting path ongoing.
?It might take me a lot longer to make the money he’s offering or to create that kind of fame, but I’ll have longevity.’
?I bumped into him in New York about five years ago, and he said: ‘Well done, Ms Friel, clever girl. You said no.’”
Propofol has been found in Michael Jackson’s body, the results of two autopsies have revealed.
The results are from an official autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner and a private pathologist’s autopsy carried out for the Jackson family.
Both have found propofol in his system, while the second private autopsy has confirmed the
needle track marks found on his body in the first.
The drug, a powerful sedative and anaesthetic agent, is not available outside of hospitals and is not a controlled substance.
Propofol, sold under the trade name of Diprivan, is being seen as the “smoking gun” in the multi-agency investigation of Jackson’s sudden death on June 25 at his Holmby Hills residence.
County officials have confirmed that Jackson was taking prescription medications when he died. A public report on their findings is not expected until at least next week because of the ongoing probe into the case.
The private autopsy was performed on June 27, two days after Jackson died and a day after the coroner’s examination of the body.
Oasis star Noel Gallagher has said he isn’t sure Cristiano Ronaldo could afford the band for a gig after the footballer expressed his love for the band.
The 24-year-old footballer recently admitted he was a huge fan of the band and said: “Perhaps they could put on a little private concert in Madrid?”
However, the band’s frontman Noel, 42, has said he isn’t sure the footballer has the cash, despite recently transferring from Manchester United to Real Madrid for ?80 million.
Noel said: “There’s only one Ronaldo!
“I always knew deep down inside him somewhere there was impeccable musical taste. I’ll be taking up his offer of tickets for the Madrid versus Barcelona game.
“I’m not sure whether even he could afford us for a gig, though!”
Amy Winehouse has finally returned to the UK after an extended vacation in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. And while she may be looking better, I can?t really say the same for the hotel she left behind. It turns out that the singer caused a reported $40,000 in damages to her hotel suite before leaving as she trashed her room into ruins. According to a source, ?There were cigarette burns in the sofa, broken beds, smashed chandeliers, cracked mirrors and all the plumbing was blocked.? Yuck! Wino needs to clean her crap up! If she doesn?t want to, she could at least pay for it.
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has said Oasis are a “better band” than legendary quartet The Beatles.
Cristiano, 24, recently transfered from Manchester United to Real Madrid and he admitted he will miss the band’s music after moving to Spain.
He said: “Liverpool have The Beatles and Manchester have Oasis. I think we [Manchester] have the better band. I have all the Oasis albums but my favourite track by far is Champagne Supernova.
“It’s an absolute classic. One thing I will miss about Manchester is Oasis. I will be honest, I didn’t even know who they were when I first arrived in Manchester, but you can’t live there long without knowing who they are.
“The lads in the dressing room loved them, especially the English boys. When I came to England I was into my techno, but I think Oasis are one of my favourite bands now.”
Cristiano admitted it doesn’t bother him that the band’s lead stars Noel and Liam Gallagher are Manchester City fans.
He said: “Nobody is perfect ? and you have to say they do make quality music. I saw them around town a couple of times but never spoke to them.
“They didn’t look that approachable but sometimes these artistic types are like that. I am sure they are very nice. I know they are touring at the moment but I have not been able to catch them.
“Perhaps I could invite them to a Madrid v Barcelona match and they could put on a little private concert in Madrid? I like their accent ? a real Manc accent.”
Katherine Jackson’s lawyers have filed court papers in a renewed attempt to gain control of her son’s estate.
In legal documents filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Katherine’s lawyers argue that the “purported will” presented by Michael Jackson’s attorney, John Branca, is not valid.
Katherine’s attorneys note that the 2002 will has a “no contest” clause, meaning that anyone who wants to dispute the will gets nothing. They want to know if the court would deem it a violation of the no contest provision of the trust if she objects to the appointment of executors or requests the appointment of an executor or administrator.
Katherine’s lawyers say they are “continuing to collect and review relevant information”. She lost an earlier bid to become administrator of the estate on July 6.
Branca and music executive John McClain are currently the executors and administrators of Michael’s estate.
Tokio Hotel drummer Gustav Schaefer found himself in the hospital on Sunday night after a bar brawl at The Club in Magdeburg, Germany. Reports are saying that a man began insulting the musician which led to a fight that ultimately ended with Gustav being smashed on the head repeatedly with a couple of beer bottles. The rocker was rushed to the hospital to treat his wounds, one of which was a 3-centimeter gash on the back of Gustav?s head from the broken glass. The group?s manager released a statement regarding the matter saying ?Gustav was admitted to the hospital emergency room around 4.30am. The cuts on his head were stitched up immediately.? Gustav has all intention to press charges.
An Andy Warhol portrait of Michael Jackson is back on the auctioneer’s block.
The 1984 silk screen and synthetic polymer painting of the late king of pop is available to the highest bidder after being removed from a sale that closed for less than $300,000 last Sunday.
The Vered Gallery in East Hampton, New York, had blocked the sale. Gallery co-owner Janet Lehr said the 30-by-26-inch [76x66 cm] painting is now available.
Michael Jackson appears in a red jacket from his Thriller heydey in the 1980s in the portrait, which belongs to a private collector. There is no title for the work reported.
As for its price, Lehr said it was anyone’s guess right now. Art connoisseurs, meanwhile, say it could fetch $10 million. She explained: “We stopped the auction. It was supposed to close on July 12th, but there were too many people making inquiries.”
She also said: “Bidding already is up to $800,000 – three times what the anonymous owner paid for the work in May. Prospective buyers must register with the gallery to bid by way of e-mail, phone or in person. The auction closes August 18.”
A few months ago, A&E commissioned a one-hour special following the Jackson brothers, excluding Michael, as they readied a new Jackson 5 album and reunion tour. The special, titled ?The Jackson Family?, following Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy, was set to air next year, but due to the sudden passing of the King of Pop, plans may change. Network executives said ?We have started discussing internally and with the family but have not yet decided what direction to take with the show. We are respecting the family’s wishes right now, and at the appropriate time we will all decide what direction this program to take, so stay tuned.?
Tito Jackson recalled his late brother Michael’s strength during child molestation charges and a court trial in 2005.
“I don’t think he was 100 per cent during the trial because it was the strangest thing to go through. Michael didn’t know if the jurors were believing the stories that were being said in court.
“I remember at the time thinking, ‘Gosh, he is so strong. I could not go through this’. Physically, I was always much stronger than Michael, but mentally he had to be so strong to go through that.”
The Jackson siblings gathered at Michael’s home during the trial, Neverland, to hear the jury’s verdicts, Tito said. “We rushed down to the courthouse. I could tell Michael was a little bothered, a little nervous ? that was only to be expected. But he was more concerned about his children than himself.”
Parents Joe and Katherine had accompanied their son to the court that day. On the way, Michael had said to his mother: “If this doesn?t go right, take care of my kids. Make sure my kids are fine.”
UK fans who wanted to see Ne-Yo?s performance at Mercy nightclub in Norwich last Sunday received some major disappointment. Not only did the singer not show up until 2Am, but he also only performed one and a half songs before leaving the stage abruptly. The nightclub was forced to issue a statement on its website saying that they were apologizing for the failed event and that they will be issuing full refunds within a month. However, the club was forced to retract that statement due to legal reasons and that they are still in negotiation to resolve all the issues regarding the matter. I think ticketholders will just get screwed.
A teary-eyed Amy Winehouse arrived at London?s Gatwick airport on Monday morning after the singer?s extended 8-month stay in St. Lucia. I can?t believe she made it in one piece! Actually, I think Wino looked a million times better than she has in previous months. She has more meat on her bones now. According to her spokesperson, Wino is really happy to be back in the UK and ?can’t wait to catch up with family and friends.? However, some people are saying that?s not the real case. Wino apparently outstayed her welcome on the island. Wino kept getting banned from hotel bars and disturbing the locals so she thought that it would be a good idea to pack it up and leave before she was banned from ever returning.
Michael Jackson’s fitness trainer has revealed the late superstar was unable to lift even the lightest of weights in the run-up to his comeback tour.
Lou Ferrigno, who had previously trained the singer for his History World Tour, was brought in to get Jackson in shape for his 50 concerts at London’s O2 arena.
Ferrigno admitted that Jackson found even the smallest dumb-bells too much for his frail body.
“He didn’t want to do these,” Ferrigno said, pointing to a tiny weight. When asked if it was too heavy for the King of Pop, Ferrigno admitted: “Yes.”
He added: “No, but 20 years ago, he used it, it’s light, but he just loved being here.”
Ferrigno, who played the part of The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s TV series, demonstrated the abdominal exercises and light resistance work using an elastic rope he had instructed Jackson to do in preparation for the comeback tour.
The unlikely pair became close after meeting 20 years ago, and the former actor revealed that Jackson was able to relate to his TV alter ego.
He said: “He was a huge fan of the Hulk because it’s about power, he had that power through music and I have that power through the Hulk. Because every one of us has a little Hulk inside of us, Michael felt like a little Hulk he told me because of all the pain and anger.”
Australia just can?t get enough of Britney Spears as tickets for the Perth and Sydney stops of the pop star?s Circus tour sold out in minutes. It shouldn?t be much of a surprise as this visit actually marks Britney?s first ever trip down under. It?s no wonder that those tickets went fast. The singer and her camp had since added extra dates to the Australian leg of her tour. Britney?s two engagements in Sydney have now been extended to four and one extra show was tacked onto her appearance in Perth. A recession apparently doesn?t slow down Britney that much. Good for her!
Sir Bob Geldof, David Gilmour and Chrissie Hynde have joined forces to record a song in an appeal to Barack Obama to stop the extradition of Gary McKinnon to the US.
The song calls on President Obama to stop the autistic computer hacker from being forcibly removed to the US to stand trial.
The rockers join dozens of celebrities and politicians who have already given their support to a campaign against McKinnon’s extradition for hacking into Pentagon systems in search of evidence of “little green men”.
Geldof, Gilmour and Hynde have recorded a version of Chicago (We Can Change the World) by Graham Nash.
McKinnon’s mother Janis Sharp said: “We need to reach him and ask him to help Gary as I think that is what it’s going to take to change all this by standing up for Gary’s human rights and justice for autistic people.
“I thought music would be the best way to do that. David Gilmour has been a family friend for a long time and he’s asked Sir Bob to get involved because he’s the sort of person you need to tap into governments and politicians.”
The Killers’ frontman Brandon Flowers said that he wanted the band’s shows to become more Las Vegas.
He said: ?We had met Jimmy before, at a Comic Relief gig, then we bumped into him again at a party a couple of weeks ago.
?We were just throwing ideas around and having a comedian as part of the show sounded like a Las Vegas thing to do ? it used to be common in the Sixties and Seventies.
?Jimmy seemed to like it so we are giving it a go.?
Few have come forward to try and set the record straight about the rumors surrounding Michael Jackson?s sudden death. However, on Good Morning America, reported real father of the 3 children and the singer?s dermatologist, Arnold Klein, spoke to Diane Sawyer about the allegations. The doctor offered an ambiguous denial that he is the father of the Jackson children saying ?To the best of my knowledge, I am not the father of these children. I can’t answer it in any other way. I don’t want to feed any of this insanity that is going around.? He also firmly denied ever prescribing the late King of Pop any powerful painkillers.
Michael Jackson’s body is being “stashed away” in an empty crypt while his family fight over what to do with him.
Jackson’s gold-plated casket was last seen at his public memorial service.
But reports say it is being kept at Motown boss Berry Gordy’s crypt at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
And the New York Post insists the reason for the delay is because Jacko’s family keep “bickering” over what to do with him.
The Post says: “On one side are Jackson’s brother Jermaine and father, Joseph, who are insistent the Gloved One be buried at Neverland Ranch so the family can profit off a proposed Graceland-style museum there – a process that could take years.
“On the other are Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and most of the rest of the siblings, who want his body laid to rest elsewhere out of respect for his wish, following his acquittal on child-molestation charges, to never return to Neverland.
“The fight had become so contentious that Jermaine rode in a separate Rolls-Royce limousine to Jacko’s public memorial at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, even though his mother had wanted all the brothers to ride together.”
Most of the kids and Katherine are onboard with a proposed documentary about the family that could bring in $20 million, the source said.
“They’re doing this documentary because with the kids, they will get $20 million,” the source said, adding Katherine is pushing all her children to be a part of it.
John Mayer performed ?Human Nature? at the Michael Jackson public memorial service which was held at the Staples Center this past Tuesday in Los Angeles. The 31-year old singer said ?I?m honored to have been asked to play at MJ?s memorial service. I will be representing all of us who can?t be there. Going to say goodbye from all us kids. I also want you to know that I?m going not to ?perform? but to contribute? Proud to be a musician.? John didn?t actually sing the song but rather played it wonderfully on his guitar. It?s his own way of honoring Michael.
The Black Eyed Peas are being accused of plagiarizing a song. I don?t know all the details of the allegations yet but I do know that lawyers are already involved. The group?s song off of their new album ?The END?, called ?Party All the Time? is the song in question. The music is apparently a stolen sample of the song ?Mancry? from the act Freeland. According to reports, Black Eyed Peas member and producer will.i.am was at an event last year where he heard Freeland perform the song. I listened to both songs and I totally hear the similarities. I wonder what Black Eyed Peas has to say about this.
Entertainment author and TV host Robin Leach recently posted a disturbing blog entry about Michael Jackson?s final days. According to Robin?s source, two nights before the sudden passing of the King of Pop, Michael was ?in a high state of stress and emotional drama, fearing that he would never be able to complete the 50-concert run in London, and it would kill him.? The singer was hoping that AEG would let him perform the concert as a ?one-night world spectacular? with simulcasts in theaters and arenas around the world as well as a subsequent CD and DVD release. AEG told Michael that the show must go on, even though the singer reportedly said at his last rehearsal ??We can’t go on. I’ll never make all 50. It will kill me.? With the rejection of his proposed plan, Michael became ?more stressed than he’d ever been in his life? and wrestled with insomnia. The source believes that this is what drove Michael to seek out the strong sedatives found in his home.
Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher has hit out at the press coverage of Michael Jackson’s death, saying it’s “dragging on a bit”.
Gallagher made the comment before the band’s performance at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on the day of Jackson’s memorial.
He said: “This Mike Jackson thing’s dragging on a bit, innit? Who do they think he is, Jade Goody? Listen out for the dedication tonight. There’s bound to be one. If it’s during Live Forever I may do a little poo-poo… then vomit.”
