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Michael Jackson is starring in a new legal thriller: Trouble in Neverland! |
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Michael Jackson is starring in a new legal thriller that could be a potential blockbuster.
A small army of police investigators descended on the popster's sprawling Neverland Ranch Tuesday morning as part of an unspecified criminal probe, Santa Barbara County officials confirmed.
Dozens of officers accompanied by dog teams showed up at Neverland at 8:30 a.m. to serve a search warrant, said Sgt. Chris Pappas of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. Sgt. Pappas said the raid was part of an "ongoing criminal investigation," but declined to go into specifics.
Whatever the reason for the search, it was important enough to bring county D.A. Thomas W. Sneddon Jr. down to the property to monitor the search.
Jackson's publicist, Stuart Backerman, said, "we cannot comment on law enforcement's investigation because we do not yet know what it is about."
Backerman did confirm that at the time of the search, the 45-year-old Jackson and his three young children were in Las Vegas, where the "Dangerous" singer was filming a video for an upcoming CBS special.
"Michael will, as always, cooperate fully with authorities in any investigation even as it is conducted, yet again, while he is not home," Backerman added.
While authorities have been mum on details--they're expected to divulge more at a press conference Wednesday morning--there have been reports linking the investigation to a familiar Jackson bugaboo: allegations of child abuse.
Both Court TV and syndicated TV show Extra are saying the probe was launched after a 12-year-old boy told a Los Angeles law firm about inappropriate behavior by Jackson. The allegations were reportedly forwarded to the office of the District Attorney of the County of Santa Barbara, California, for further review, which, in turn, led to today's raid.
"A rogue's gallery of hucksters and self-styled 'inside sources' have dominated the airwaves since reports of a search of Neverland broke, speculating, guessing and fabricating information about an investigation they couldn't possibly know about," Backerman said.
In a statement issued by Backerman, Jackson is quoted as saying, "These characters always seem to surface with a dreadful allegation just as another project, an album, a video, is being released."
Indeed, the search warrant was executed the same day as Jackson's new greatest-hits album, Number Ones, hit music-store shelves.
"The timing of these events are suspicious," reiterated Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney. "Michael has 24-hour-a-day attendants who track his movements. We view these allegations as another attempt at gaining money from Michael."
Jackson is also linked to Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator to the stars who began a federal prison sentence Monday for possession of illegal explosives. Pellicano is the subject of a federal investigation over allegations that he illegally wiretapped the phones of celebrities and their lawyers. There was no indication Tuesday that the Neverland search was connected to the Pellicano case.
Tuesday's raid revives memories of the sexual-molestation allegations of 10 years ago that nearly destroyed Jackson's career and have dogged him ever since.
In the original case, a 13-year-old boy said he was enticed into Jackson's bed at Neverland and subjected to unwanted sexual contact. Jackson proclaimed his innocence, and no criminal charges were ever brought in the case. The matter came to a close when the "King of Pop" settled with the boy's family for several million dollars.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer came under new scrutiny in February, when he admitted during an ABC television documentary that he often sleeps in the same bed with underage guests at his ranch.
"When you say bed, you're thinking sexual," the entertainer said at the time. "It's not sexual, we're going to sleep. I tuck them in...it's very charming, it's very sweet."
Jackson also was blasted by child-rights advocates last year, when he briefly dangled his youngest (whom he calls Blanket) off a balcony in Germany.
Jackson has been involved in nearly 1,000 lawsuits over the course of his off-the-wall career and the seemingly endless legal fees have chipped away at his half-billion-dollar fortune. In recent months he has been ordered to pay a concert promoter $5.3 million over scuttled millennium shows; reached a settlement with a former financial adviser who claimed Jackson owed $12 million in unpaid fees; and struck a deal with Sotheby's Inc. for non-payment on two paintings he had purchased.
Word of the criminal investigation comes just days after his father, Joe Jackson, admitted in a BBC interview that he used to whip his son.
The news also arrives as Jackson tries (again) to reenergize his foundering career. Aside from Number Ones (which is likely his final album for Sony's Epic Records), he recently released his long-delayed all-star 9-11 charity anthem, "What More Can I Give?"
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Daft Punk are back with 'Daft Club' |
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Daft Punk are back and will be releasing on December 1 a collection of
remixes. "Daft Club" will include the Neptunes mix of 'Harder Better
Faster Stronger', a Basement Jaxx mix of new track 'Phoenix' and the
Gonzales mix of 'Too Long'.
The album is available in a double pack along with a DVD 'Interstellar
5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem'. The film is a classic anime
style cartoon made by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto from a story
written by Daft Punk and set to the music from 'Discovery'. The remixes
included in this album were previously available only to fans that entered
the online Daft Club using the membership card included in copies of
'Discovery'.
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Kurt and Love : Hottest Rock 'n' Roll couple of all time |
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Blender Magazine magazine has compiled a list of the 50 most hottest
couple and the winners are Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love who are crowned
to be the 'hottest Rock 'n' Roll couple of all time'.
In the Top 10 are Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, Sean Penn and Madonna,
and Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston.
At fourteen is the lethal pairing of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen and
at 26 the controversial R. Kelly and Aaliyah.
The full list is as follows:
1.Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love
2.Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson
3.P. Diddy and Jennifer Lopez
4.Sean Penn and Madonna
5.John Lennon and Yoko Ono
6.Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston
7.George Jones and Tammy Wynette
8.Axl Rose and Stephanie Seymour (supermodel)
9.Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears
10.Chris Martin (Coldplay) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Napalm Death)
11.Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne
12.Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
13.Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
14.Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen
15.Tommy Mattola (Former Sony chief) and Mariah Carey
16.Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley
17.James Taylor and Carly Simon
18.Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks
19.The Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim
20.Elvis and Priscilla Presley
21.Gavin Rossdale (Bush) and Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
22.Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli
23.Berry Gordy (Motown founder) and Diana Ross
24.Ike and Tina Turner
25.Mick and Bianca Jagger
26.R. Kelly and Aaliyah
27.Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles
28.Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson
29.David Bowie and Iman
30.Jack White (White Stripes) and Renee Zellweger
31.Paul and Linda McCartney
32.Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley
33.Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull
34.Sonny and Cher
35.David and Victoria Beckham
36.Robert John 'Mutt' Lange (Producer) and Shania Twain
37.Elton John and David Furnish
38.Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra
39.Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) and Winona Ryder
40.Prince and Kim Basinger
41.Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown
42.Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson
43.Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes) and Drew Barrymore
44.Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear
45.Chris Robinson (former Black Crowes frontman) and Kate Hudson
46.Michael Hutchence (INXS) and Kylie Minogue
47.Simon and Yasmin Le Bon
48.David Gest and Liza Minnell
49.Gene Simmons (KISS) and Shannon Tweed
50.Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz
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Justin and Missy goes for Charity |
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Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott are to write a new version of the
'We are the World' charity song to raise funds to fight the Aids pandemic.
They're hoping to raise millions for charity and are lining up a host
of big names to appear on the track. Hip-hop producer Timbaland will
produce the track which they will call 'The World is Ours'.
Due to be released in spring 2004, 'The World Is Ours' is being made with
the blessing of Quincy Jones, who produced the original.
The original song, co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie was
made in 1985 to raise money for starving people in Africa. The song was
inspired by Bob Geldof's all-star Band Aid recording 'Do They Know It's
Christmas?' to fight famine in Africa.
Timbaland said that "I see this as a passing of the torch. I will use
the legendary model of "We Are the World" but update it in a way that
works for the trends of the music industry today. Just as Quincy Jones,
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson did, we will create an anthem with
today's most talented artists to produce a song that will bring the
world's attention to the Aids pandemic."
More news on Justin Timberlake who has signed on to write the theme
song for ABC's coverage of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and
will appear in the network's NBA promotional campaign, dubbed "Can't Get
Enough." The 'N Sync star will also serve as a correspondent at NBA
games and other ABC Sports events.
Earlier this year, Timberlake was a special correspondent for Turner
Sports, reporting from the PGA championship, NBA playoffs, and NASCAR
races for the TNT network, and covering college football and Major League
Baseball contests for TBS.
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Agnetha Faltskog is back in March 2004 |
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According to Abba's fans website, Former Abba star Agnetha Faltskog is
to record her first solo album after a break of 16 years. The singer,
now aged 53, is expected to release the brand new material in March of
next year.
Faeltskog, who was a founding member of the 1970s chart-topping pop
group, last released a solo album in 1987. The musician, who was married
to Abba co-star Bjorn Ulvaeus, has lived hidden away on a Swedish island
retreat since 'I Stand Alone' came out.
Faltskog's progress on the new album began three years ago, but work
came to a halt when sound engineer Michael Tretow suffered a stroke.
Distribution for the album is likely to be handled by Warner, but a
deal has yet to be finalised.
Faltskog's last single "I Wasn't The Only One" was released in 1988 and
made No 19 in the US charts.
Along with Bjorn, Benny and Anna-Frid of Abba, the singer scored nine
chart-toppers in the UK between 1974 and 1982.
The band sprang to fame by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974,
and went on to enjoy worldwide success. The band have gone on to sell a
total of 350 Million records - which includes sales after they split in the
early 1980s.
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Whitney's one wish for Christmas |
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Whitney Houston will be releasing on November 18 her first collection
of Christmas tunes : One Wish - The Holiday Album.
One Wish is composed of favorites from the traditional and contemporary
songbooks, along with several new compositions. Producers and arrangers
Troy Taylor (who worked on 2002's Just Whitney... and Aretha Franklin's
current album, So Damn Happy), Mervyn Warren (whose association with
Whitney goes back to 1996's The Preacher's Wife), and the team of Gordon
Chambers and Barry J. Eastmond (most recently collaborated on So Damn
Happy) has worked on the project.
Attention is sure to focus on Bobbi Kristina Brown, who appears on
"Little Drummer Boy," one of eight tracks produced and arranged by Warren.
The others include "Cantique De Nfel (O Holy Night)," "I'll Be Home For
Christmas," a medley of "Deck The Halls/Silent Night," "Have Yourself A
Merry Little Christmas," "O Come O Come Emanuel," "Who Would Imagine A
King" and "Joy To The World," both co-produced by Mervyn Warren and
Whitney Houston, with vocal arrangements by Whitney.
The song "One Wish (For Christmas)" is one of the highlights of the
album.
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Guns N' Roses DVD release |
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Guns N’ Roses have confirmed that all three of their videos are set for
a DVD release later in November.
The three releases – ‘Welcome To The Videos’, ‘Use Your Illusion 1:
World Tour - 1992 in Tokyo’, ‘Use Your Illusion 2: World Tour - 1992 in
Tokyo’ had all been available on VHS but November 10th will see the band
finally embracing the DVD format and with the collection’s release.
‘Welcome To The Videos’ was originally released on VHS in 1998 and
features all 13 GN'R videos seen on MTV - some of the most popular and
acclaimed videos ever aired. Ranging from the energy of ‘Welcome To The
Jungle’ to the cinematic November Rain all the classics are here - with
six Top 10 hits, four of them gold, in the 70-minute compilation.
In 1992, Guns N' Roses debuted on home video with ‘Use Your Illusion
World Tour – 1992’ in Tokyo presented in two separate packages, I and II
– much in the same way the albums were controversially released. Each
is a collection of live performances of their best-known songs. Unique
to these videos are performances of Bob Dylan's ‘Knockin' On Heaven's
Door’, the theme from The Godfather and one hell of a Drum and Guitar
Solo. Each Use Your Illusion video was certified gold in America.
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Patrick's new single! |
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The new single "Welcome" of Patrick Nuo will be out on November 24.
Meanwhile, his first album is in the shops and it's entiteled : Welcome .
Patrick is nominated in the Unity Live Crown (popular radiosender unity
Live)in the category of best Newcomer. The Ceremony will take place on
December 4. If you wanna support Patrick
click here and vote for him (the site is
in Swedish!).
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