Search Results for: Thursday

Hip-hop phenomenon Eminem trounced all comers in 2002 and tentatively claimed top album of the year honors after selling more than 7.4 million copies of “The Eminem Show” (Interscope/Shady) in the U.S., according to figures released Thursday by Nielsen SoundScan. The album’s performance defied a sharply downward trend in the industry as a whole, as CD album sales tumbled by 9% to 624.2 million for the year through Dec. 22. In fact, Slim Shady beat his nearest rival, Universal Music Group label mate Nelly by more than 2.6 million discs. Nelly’s “Nellyville” (Universal) shifted just under 4.8 million albums and… Read more »

Celebrity photographer Herb Ritts, who directed videos for Madonna, ‘NSYNC, Britney Spears and others, died Thursday morning of complications from pneumonia. He was 50. In March, Ritts worked with Shakira on the video for “Underneath Your Clothes,” and last year he was responsible for the desolate apartment visuals in ‘NSYNC’s heartbroken “Gone,” the saucy bounce of Jennifer Lopez’s “Ain’t It Funny” and the sandy, sexy beach scenery in Britney’s “Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know.” Two of Ritts’ other well-known videos similarly boasted a skillful blend of sand and sex appeal – Madonna’s “Cherish” and Chris Isaak’s breakthrough… Read more »

Despite the arrest of her drummer over the weekend, pop singer Pink will still get the party started here Wednesday on the last stop of her six-month world tour. Drummer William Johnson was arrested Sunday when a routine passport check revealed a warrant for his arrest for grand larceny in New York, said Deputy Attorney General Neil Murakami. Johnson was released after posting $50,000 cash bail, officials said. Johnson was in court for an extradition hearing on Tuesday and is scheduled to appear at another hearing on Thursday before heading back to New York. Lawyers for Johnson told local television… Read more »

Kelly Osbourne stoked hostilities between the Osbourne family and former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan at the New York City area radio show, Claus Fest, in Uniondale, New York on Thursday night (December 12). Corgan and Sharon Osbourne had a tiff several years ago, after she quit as the Pumpkins manager. The feud came alive again at the Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles on December 7. At that show, Kelly’s boyfriend, Bert McCracken of the Used, allegedly tried to trip Corgan, who performed with his new band Zwan. Corgan allegedly struck back by kicking McCracken in the stomach, according… Read more »

Techno artist Moby was attacked by two men while signing autographs outside a nightclub following a radio station-sponsored holiday concert, police said. According to police and witnesses, Moby, whose real name is Richard M. Melville, was approached by the men about 1 a.m. Thursday outside the Paradise Rock Club. One of the men punched Moby in the back of the head and on the right side of his face, breaking the singer’s glasses and cutting and bruising his face. When two club security guards tried to stop the attack, the assailants sprayed a macelike substance at Moby, Moby’s manager and… Read more »

A man who racked up nearly $33,000 on credit cards while using Will Smith’s identity can forget about any independence days for the next three years. Carlos Lomax of Duquesne, who pleaded guilty in September to one count of using unauthorized credit cards, was sentenced Thursday to 37 months in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Picking said Lomax, 42, opened 14 bogus credit accounts at Pittsburgh-area stores as Willard C. Smith, the full name of the actor-rapper who’s starred in movies including “Independence Day,” without Smith’s authorization. All the accounts used Lomax’s home address, where authorities in January found… Read more »

David Lee Roth has filed a lawsuit against his ex-Van Halen bandmates, accusing them of conspiring to keep money from him. The lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court alleges that Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony diverted royalties and breached their fiduciary duty to Roth. The singer claims the band signed a deal with Warner Bros. in 1996 without his knowledge or authorization for increased royalties from album sales. He claims his financial losses were estimated to be at least $200,000 at the end of 2001. The former frontman wants an accountant to review the royalties and… Read more »

When Guns N’ Roses announced they were going on tour this fall after a nine-year hiatus, fans of the heavy metal band snapped up tickets. Axl Rose was back and there was talk of a new album. But the comeback has been no “Paradise City.” Rose, the mercurial frontman whose disappearing acts have long irritated fans, failed to show up for the opening show Nov. 7 in Vancouver, prompting thousands of ticket holders to riot outside the venue. The band was a no-show again last week in Philadelphia, and fans got unruly. By then it became apparent that the “Chinese… Read more »

Oasis has postponed two German concerts, following a brawl in a Munich hotel over the weekend. The English band has postponed its November 4 show in Dusselfdorf and a date in Bremen, Thursday December 5. The postponement of the shows came after the group had already postponed appearances in Munich Sunday and in Hamburg on Monday. The further postponement came about because the band’s singer, Liam Gallagher, required further medical attention after sustaining facial injuries and several broken teeth in the nightclub fight. A official statement on the band’s website (oasis.net) says: “Following the events of last weekend, Oasis have… Read more »

Korn have canceled the final five dates of their Pop Sux! tour due to Jonathan Davis’ strained vocal cords. The string of scrapped dates begins Saturday. Shows in Binghamton, New York, Erie, Pennsylvania; Utica, New York; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Bridgeport, Connecticut were pruned from the itinerary, according to the band’s publicist. They will not be rescheduled. Davis’ doctors and his vocal coach advised that he could suffer permanent damage if he continues to perform, the publicist said. Nevertheless, the show must go on in Canada, apparently. Davis and bandmates bassist Fieldy, drummer David Silveria, and guitarists Munky and Head will… Read more »