Music and movies

Travis Barker blogged late Saturday on his MySpace page about the accident last month that killed four people and seriously injured him and DJ AM. In the post, he thanks his fans for their support, pays tribute to his assistant, Chris Barker, and security guard, Charles “Che” Still, both of whom were killed in the accident, and apparently quashes rumors that he and Shanna Moakler are reuniting. He also gives a report on his progress, noting that he is now able to move his hands, and said that he’s been visited by both DJ AM (who was released from the hospital late last month) and +44/ Blink-182 bandmate Mark Hoppus, whose public silence on the crash was commented upon by fans and the media.

The post, which is accompanied by photos from the hospital, reads in full:

“Thank you.

“I want to give my deepest thanks to everyone who has helped deal with the current situation. First and foremost, Chris and Che were my friends. I would give up anything to have them here with us today, healthy and happy. To call them my employees does them such a disservice, as they were so much more than that. Chris was my best friend before anything else, and I can never put into words how much he will be missed. Che was an amazing person as well, and I was honored to have him in my life.

“I am simply amazed and will be forever grateful for all the support everyone has shown to Chris and Che’s families. It’s a testament to how many lives they touched in a positive way.

“Like the doctors said from the beginning, its been a slow recovery process. I am coming up on the 7th of my surgeries Monday. Today I finally was able to move all my fingers on my right hand. Every step seems huge at this point, and I’m doing EVERYTHING I can possibly do to get back to my kids. Yes, I did start eating meat again, but if it helps me to be home holding my little humans sooner, then it’s all worth it. The staff here are all bomb! Dr. Grossman and his staff are the best. The BOSS Barbara, and nurses Betty, Jay, Emily, Julio, Lolita, and Stephanie (with the best scrubs ever!) are all taking the best care of me.

“My good friend Armen has been kind enough to save me from the hospital food, and brings Jamba Juice, Wahoos, or whatever else I need to keep my calories and protein levels high.

“Despite any rumors you might have heard via my EX-wife Shanna Moakler, who I have not seen since the week I checked in, I’ve been treated amazingly well, both here in LA and in Georgia. The hospitals I’ve been treated at are THE BEST.

“My friends and family have been amazing. My pops has been with me ANY time I need him. My sisters, James, Skinhead Rob, Daniel, Hoover, Armen and of course Ricardo and Nicole, have all shown amazing support. JD and Mark Hoppus both took the time to come visit and offer their support as well. Estevan Oriol even came in with a calendar.

‘Saying ‘thank you’ to all these guys just wouldn’t be enough…

‘I got to see AM the other day. Seeing him after he was discharged was an inspiration. I saw just how awesome the doctors’ work here is, and got to see how well he is doing. I am so happy to see him doing well, and we are both so lucky and grateful that we are alive today.

“I’m even using some of this time to help design the summer ‘09 Famous line [i.e. Barker's clothing line, Famous Stars and Straps]. Maxx, Jose, Bill have been awesome helping to keep the machine going. These are some seriously dedicated people, and I’m lucky to call them friends.

“Now I’m just counting the days until I can leave. I can’t wait to get home to play drums with my son, and go for bike rides with my daughter. I cant wait to see the pictures from Landon’s ‘Jack and Sally Nightmare Before Christmas’ birthday party that we had for him today. I am bummed that I couldn’t be there, but thank God I’ll be around to see many, many more.

“Thank you everyone for your support!”

Barker spoke about the accident with Us Weekly magazine last week. He and AM are both expected to make full recoveries.

If you’d like more information on the memorial funds set up to benefit Chris Baker’s and Charles Still’s families, visit the Famous Stars and Straps Web site.

Christina Aguilera is asking fans to vote in the forthcoming US presidential election.

The pop star, who recently announced her return to music, spoke at the Rock The Vote party last night (September 25).

During the Hollywood-based event, Aguilera said: “Everyone that is able to have an opinion should let it be heard and should voice it.”

Christina will be releasing a greatest hits album in November called ‘Keeps Gettin’ Better - A Decade Of Hits’ (read more details) and also launched her Inspire fragrance at the start of the month.

Non-smoking laws were flouted and fashion turned into a peepshow during a provocative spectacle that left the audience stunned.

Fashion designer Lucie Boshier’s show for Air New Zealand Fashion Week yesterday had models writhing on stage and provocatively touching their bodies, while others smoked cigarettes and tossed fake US$1 notes and gold-wrapped chocolate coins at the audience.

A drag queen, wearing suspenders and fishnet stockings, sat in a chair on the catwalk at the end of the show smoking and said: “Well, what the f. . . were you expecting?” before exiting the stage.

No stranger to controversy, Boshier, who is based in Auckland, has in previous years distributed leaflets questioning the direction and morals of the fashion industry.

Last year, she raised the fashion industry’s hackles with a flier showing a cartoonesque figure positioned behind a skinny, pale model bent over snorting cocaine.

While not in the main tent for the show at Shed One near the Viaduct, Boshier’s over-the-top cabaret-themed show was one of the most sought-after to attend, with a long line of disappointed fans left outside.

Underwear became outwear, with satin slip dresses lined with lace, but the majority of the collection was best suited to the boudoir, with lace corsets and suspenders, bold nouveau prints with flirty fringing, and a gigantic velvet dressing gown with lavish tassels.

Other news:

• Lady Gaga
• Switch flipped: N.C. town first to have digital-only TV
• Olympians — The Torch is Out and Nobody’s Home
• Morrissey champions The Courteeners
• Event Management Veterans Launch ‘CRUX Events, LLC’ with Four National Offices Serving Consumer & Retail Clientele

Rapper WEBBIE has been arrested following a dangerous high-speed police chase through Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The hip-hop star, 23, allegedly refused to stop for a routine police traffic stop on Sunday (14Sep08).
According to police reports, the star - real name Webster Gradney Jr. - ignored the police officer’s flashing lights and began driving erratically before crashing into a black 1999 Mercury Cougar.
It is not the star’s only legal issue - he is being sued by several promoters for taking money for an appearance, but failing to turn up.

Other news:

• Kiwi pop star’s sister announces engagement
• Madagascar
• The Jonas Brothers Wants Girls Aloud To Tour With Them
• Queen & Paul Rodgers, The Cosmos Rocks
• Jade Goody Won’t Tell Her Children She is Suffering From Cancer

London (ANI): American singer songwriter Anastacia has been away from the limelight for almost five years, and on returning she revealed that she has never felt happier. The Little Lady with The Big Voice had previously released new music every couple of years, but stopped from 2004 onwards. She is now back and in an exclusive interview, revealed that she is happier than ever after the break, during which she married her bodyguard of three years Wayne Newton.

“I’m sorry to all my fans who were wondering what was happening. I just wanted a little time out to enjoy married life and to reflect on life,” the Sun quoted her as saying. Asked about how it felt to be married and if she plans on having any children, Anastacia said: “Yes, there is a totally different vibe. I have wonderful security and hope we’ll grow old together. I’ll be sitting there with my crows feet and about two feet shorter. I really love being married,” she said.

The Enemy have revealed that their forthcoming second album will be “punky” and “aggressive”, and that they have 30 songs ready to record.

Drummer Liam Watts told the Daily Star that the album would be rougher around the edges than the Coventry band’s debut, ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’.

“Just because guitar music has taken a dip in the charts doesn’t mean we’re going to start experimenting with electro or anything,” he said. “We’re not going to change what we do best.

“We’ve got about 30 new tracks that we need to fine-tune before going into the studio. The next album is going to be just as diverse but less polished.

“We wanted to get a raw, punkier feel to it, closer to the sound you hear when we play live.”

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The man accused of leaking several Guns N Roses tracks online has had his charges reduced, according to US reports.

Kevin Cogill, 27, is accused of violating federal copyright laws by uploading nine tracks from the veteran rockers’ highly anticipated forthcoming album ‘Chinese Democracy’ on his website this summer.

Under the original charge, the leaker looked set to face five years in prison if convicted.

But the FBI investigation is now believed to have recommended downgrading the charge from a felony to a misdemeanour, reports Yahoo Music.

If that is the case Cogill is likely to face a maximum of one year in prison.

‘Chinese Democracy’ is due to be released on November 24.

ABC on Tuesday denied that it had paid Thomas Riccio $15,000 for an interview as Riccio had claimed during the O.J. Simpson trial in Las Vegas on Monday. The collectibles dealer, who recorded the meeting between Simpson and other dealers at a Las Vegas hotel, had testified that when he told ABC producers that he would not be interviewed unless he was paid, they offered him the money for photographs of Riccio posing with Sipson and rights to use his recording. Likewise, a spokesman for the syndicated Entertainment Tonight , owned by CBS, insisted that the $25,000 it paid to Riccio was not for the interview but for the tapes and photos.

24/09/2008

“Brown Sugar” singer D’Angelo has released a revamped version of his 1996 recording “I Found My Smile Again” as a new buzz single this week.

“The song is something that’s very close to him,” says manager Lindsay Guion.

According to Billboard, the R&B star’s “I Found My Smile Again” has been made available exclusively through iTunes.

Alluding to D’Angelo’s problems
stemming from a 2005 arrest for drunk driving and drug possession,
Guion adds, “He’s able to smile again and he’s ready to connect [with
fans]. He’s coming back. And he looks great, by the way.”

The
iTunes releases follows news of a Q-Tip song featuring D’Angelo, “I
Believe,” that was leaked online today. D’Angelo went into the studio
with Q-Tip about two months ago to record the track. While the song is
slated to appear on Q-Tip’s own upcoming album, “The Renaissance”
(Universal Motown, Nov. 4), Guion isn’t sure yet if it will also be
featured on D’Angelo’s new album via J Records/RCA Music Group.

D’Angelo is slated to release a new album, his first in over 7 years, early next year.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Kat Dennings, who stars in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” which bowed in theaters this weekend, is in negotiations to join Woody Harrelson and Sandra Oh in “Defendor.”

Written by Peter Stebbings, who also is making his directorial debut, the film centers on a regular guy (Harrelson) who believes he has a secret superhero identity. Dennings will play a teenager he befriends, while Oh is cast as his psychiatrist.

Principal photography begins next month in Toronto on the film, which is being produced by Darius Films principal Nicholas Tabarrok.

/Hollywood Reporter