Search Results for: Refused

Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl flash lasted less than three seconds, but the impact continues to ripple through Viacom, the media giant that broadcast the game. Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, right-wing radio commentators and outraged citizens are calling for stricter decency standards – and the artists and executives who make a living from edgy music, performances and videos are in retreat. MTV in particular, which produced the Super Bowl halftime show, is in the midst of a wide-scale re-evaluation of its musical, news and dramatic content. Within a week of the game, MTV – no stranger to criticism, most recently… Read more »

It was a breakthrough deal that would have put the Napster kitty on millions of Hewlett-Packard computers. But in the days leading up to Napster’s re-launch in late October, HP suddenly – and without explanation – returned Napster’s $250,000 check and canceled the agreement to install a link to Napster’s online music service on its computers. Worse, in January HP announced a surprise partnership with Napster rival Apple Computer to feature the iTunes Music store on HP computers and sell Hewlett-Packard branded iPod music players. Neither HP nor Napster’s parent company, Roxio, would comment on the soured deal, whose details… Read more »

On Jan. 6, San Francisco’s Moscone convention center pulses with all the energy of a rock concert. A crowd sprinkled with hip-hop teenagers, digerati, and aging hippies streams in to hear the annual state-of-the-Mac keynote from Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steven P. Jobs. Every facet of the event bears the fingerprints of the obsessive Jobs – right down to the music that fills the air. This year, it’s the King himself, Elvis Presley. Later, Jobs rolls the tape of Apple’s famous “1984” ad that ran on Super Bowl Sunday that year – and hasn’t been broadcast since. Only this… Read more »

White Stripes frontman Jack White is holding fast to his claim that he beat up Von Bondies frontman Jason Stollsteimer in self-defense during a December 13 brawl at a Detroit night club. Wednesday morning (January 14) in Detroit’s 36th District Court, White pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge and was given a trial date of March 9. The charge was filed against White on December 23 following a 10-day investigation, and police allowed White to turn himself in. Officials arraigned him, took his mug shot and released him on $100 bond. The fight took place at the… Read more »

The lead guitarist for the rock band Rush said his arrest at a New Year’s Eve party was unfair. Alex Zivojinovich – known on stage as Alex Lifeson – was arrested for what police described as drunken, violent behavior at the Naples Ritz-Carlton hotel. He faces six charges, including four felonies, the most serious of which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. “This gives new meaning to dinner at the Ritz,” Zivojinovich, 50, said as he left jail Friday on $14,500 bond, wearing the same black suit he wore to the New Year’s Eve bash. Zivojinovich said he didn’t… Read more »

Members of the Nation of Islam have begun playing a role in Michael Jackson’s affairs, sources close to the Jackson camp tell The Associated Press, although the controversial group denies having any official part in the pop star’s life. Jackson insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Nation of Islam members have handled security at the singer’s Neverland ranch and have began taking over some of Jackson’s business affairs since he was accused of committing lewd acts on a child. The group, which in the past has been accused of anti-Semitism and inflammatory, separatist rhetoric, issued a… Read more »

Once again the Swiss are remaining neutral. Swiss authorities have decided not to press charges against the rock ‘n’ roll oddity in the wake of a criminal investigation following complaints from a religious group offended by Manson’s February 2001 concert in Zurich. The city’s examining magistrate, Marcel Scherrer, declared on Monday that his office had found no evidence to suggest that Manson (real name: Brian Warner) incited violence or breached Swiss law that protects the sanctity of religion. In deciding not to file charges, the district prosecutor essentially rejected a grievance filed by Christians for Truth, a Swiss-based fundamentalist group… Read more »

Detroit police are investigating a December 13th fight between the White Stripes’ Jack White and Jason Stollsteimer – frontman for another Motor City band, the Von Bondies – and may file assault charges against the former. Though White, 28, produced a Von Bondies record in 2001, he and Stollsteimer, 25, had a falling out since its release. Both were at the Magic Stick nightclub attending a record release party for local band Blanche. According to Stollsteimer, White grew angry when the Von Bondie refused to speak with him and pulled him to the ground. According to a police report, White… Read more »

It looks like Jack White’s broken finger has healed at least well enough to throw punches at other garage rockers. The White Stripes frontman was involved in a brawl with Von Bondies singer/guitarist Jason Stollsteimer Saturday night in Detroit’s Magic Stick club, according to police reports. Stollsteimer, who suffered a bloody nose and bruising to his right eye, was treated at Detroit Receiving Hospital and released. White sustained cuts to his left hand. The Von Bondies singer told police that White had tried to speak with him in the club, which was hosting a record release party for alt-country rockers… Read more »

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for civil rights icon Rosa Parks to proceed with her lawsuit against OutKast and others over the rap music duo’s hit song with her name as its title. The justices let stand a U.S. appeals court ruling that reinstated Parks’ false advertising and publicity claims against OutKast and three Bertelsmann AG units – LaFace Records, the record producer, and Arista Records and BMG Entertainment, the distributors. Parks made history in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white man and move to the back of a city… Read more »