Criticizes festival's organizers on his blog
NEW YORK -- Claiming "this is the most offended I've ever been," a livid Kanye West has taken to his blog to offer his side of the story for why he wound up performing several hours late at the Bonnaroo festival this month.
At the time, the delay was blamed on production problems with West's high-tech stage scheme and the fact that Pearl Jam's set before West ran an hour long. West was supposed to perform at 2:45 a.m. but didn't take the stage until 4:30.
"For over a month we went back and forth on whether or not we could even fit my stage at the festival," West wrote. "One day they would say yes. We'd send them our specs (and) then they'd say OK. Then they would send specs back that didn't fit the stage."
"They tried to give me a time slot where it was still light outside," he continued. "I have a f***ing light show dumb ass. It's not called 'Glow in the Dark' for no reason squid brains!"
West claims he and his team eventually settled on a 3 a.m. start time but that his crew was not allowed to load in or set anything up until Pearl Jam finished. And he says by the time he finally did go on, the crowd had thrown bottles on stage, soaking it with liquid, and broken one of his video screens.
At the end of his post, West turns apologetic that he "didn't have the ability to give the performance I wanted to," adding, "Sometimes I go two, three days without sleep working on my performance. I have to ice my knees after every show and they hurt when I walk through the airport. Having an expensive stage cuts my payday in half. Call me what you want, but never say I didn't give my all."
A Bonnaroo spokesperson was unavailable for comment.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
'We were lied to'
Claim they were misled about nature of Monday's rally
East Coast members of SAG's national leadership board are fuming over what they say were lies told by union president Alan Rosenberg and national executive director Doug Allen about the nature of Monday's rally.
The rally at guild headquarters -- which drew hundreds of SAG and WGA members as well as dual cardholders who also are members of AFTRA -- included AFTRA bashing and calls for AFTRA members to vote down the recently brokered primetime/TV contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
A member of SAG's national executive committee who attended a meeting Friday said Allen and Rosenberg had said that the rally would be pro-SAG and nothing more.
"We were told this would be a pro rally for the (SAG) negotiating team," the member said. "Anything that was remotely anti-AFTRA, we were told by Alan Rosenberg and the national executive director, wouldn't happen. We were lied to by both of them."
A source close to negotiations said the East Coast contingency's allegations are inaccurate.
Friday's meeting took place while SAG was awaiting AFTRA's response to a request to delay its ratification vote, the source said, adding that it was made "very clear" that the rally was to support the negotiations. It also was discussed that if AFTRA refused to delay, that could change the tone of the rally.
NEC members voted 13-11 in favor of going forward with an educational campaign for members about the downfalls of the AFTRA contract that would cost at least $75,000 of guild funds, which already had been set aside for negotiations.
SAG said the vote -- which was split between Hollywood NEC members, who voted in favor, and East Coast and regional members, who opposed -- was about the AFTRA campaign and not about the budget for it, as previously reported.
In the meantime, some SAG members are reaching out to Rosenberg about the anti-AFTRA action. Todd Hissong, president of SAG's Chicago branch, said SAG and AFTRA members in his city have sent Rosenberg and others an "advisory motion" asking them to call off the campaign.
"We are not telling anybody how to vote on the AFTRA contract," he said. "(The campaign) is an unconscionable waste of our resources and our time. And Chicago's rank and file does not support it."
AFTRA and the AMPTP reached their deal May 28, and AFTRA's national board voted Friday to send the new deal to its members for ratification. That vote is expected before July 7.
SAG and AFTRA have Los Angeles membership meetings planned this week. SAG will hold a town hall meeting tonight; AFTRA is set to meet Thursday night.
Lauren Horwitch is news editor of Back Stage West.
See Also
Cormega
Artist: Cormega
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
The Testament
Year: 2005
Tracks: 14
62 Pick Ups
Year: 2005
Tracks: 3
Legal Hustle
Year: 2004
Tracks: 17
An underground and critical favourite, Cormega was the rare hard-core rapper to acquire extolment from all directions, and while he ne'er quite crossed over like some of his New York City peers, he retained a estimable independence over the years yet, self-releasing his exploit on the Legal Hustle label. Born Cory McKay, Cormega grew up in the same Queensbridge trapping projects that were dwelling to a generation of rappers, to the highest degree notably Nas, Mobb Deep, AZ, and Tragedy Khadafi, and a previous generation that magnificently included Marley Marl and the Juice Crew.
Following some early guest appearances on releases by DJ Hot Day (e.g., "Fix It Off" on PHD's Without Warning [1991]), Cormega did fourth dimension, which put his tap life history on hold for a few years. In 1994 Nas mentioned him by diagnose on Illmatic, on "One Love" ("And night fourth dimension is more trife than ever/What up with Cormega, did you see him, are y'all together?"), and upon Cormega's release from pokey in 1995, he was featured as a guest on Nas' endorsement album, It Was Written (1996), on "Approbative Action" with AZ and Foxy Brown. Plans were made for a mathematical group -- named the Firm, lED by Nas, with production by Trackmasters and Dr. Dre -- that would recapitulate the collaborative nature of "Affirmative Action" over the course of an album. Cormega was excluded from the project, however, replaced by fellow Queensbridge rapper Nature. A rift 'tween Cormega and Nas resulted, prima to some bitter exchanges all over the years (the deuce after spotted up their differences, reuniting to perform "Affirmative Action" with Foxy Brown live onstage in December 2006).
Too upon his expiration from jailhouse, Cormega signed a recording constrict with Def Jam that seemed promising at the time. During 1995-1996, he went around recording his debut album, The Testament, with such producers as Sha Money XL, Havoc, Jae Supreme, and Hot Day. Def Jam ne'er released the album, unluckily, and Cormega was forced to hold off out his contract, which didn't exhale until 2000. In the lag, he made rare appearances, including features on the How to Be a Player soundtrack (1997), Mobb Deep's Murda Muzik record album (1999), and Nas' QB Finest digest (2000). Finally disengage of his Def Jam get, Cormega founded his possess sovereign label, Legal Hustle, and, via a partnership with Landspeed Records, released his debut album, The Realness (2001), comprised of new recorded real. The record album was critically acclaimed and peaked at number 111 on the Billboard cc (more tellingly, number four on the Top Independent Albums and number one on the Top Heatseekers charts). A second album followed, The True Meaning (2002), and was likewise critically acclaimed, earning Independent Album of the Year at the Source Awards in 2003. The record album batty the Top 100 of the Billboard cc (peaking at number 95).
Cormega then took some time off to raise his girl, born in November 2002, before he resumed music trading operations. In 2004 he returned with Legal Hustle, a collaborative album, and Special Edition, a twofer including both The Realness and The True Meaning. In 2005 he released The Testament, his unreleased Def Jam record album from ten years prior, to which he had of late secured the rights to the master tapes, and in 2006 he was co-featured on My Brother's Keeper, a collaborative album as well billed to Lake, a fellow Queensbridge rapper of some celebrity. In 2007 Cormega released WHO Am I?, a DVD documental covering the time period of 2001-2005; a CD soundtrack comprised of new recorded music was included as well. Also in 2007, he released Got Beats?, an instrumental show featuring an telling roll of producers, including DJ Premier, the Alchemist, Ayatollah, and Ski Beatz.
Ballards Sister Wants To Dig Up Soul Stars Body
Hulk Hogan Apologizes For Controversial Remarks, Says Nick's 'Mental State Was Unraveling'
During an appearance Tuesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," an emotional Hulk Hogan apologized for comments he made during telephone conversations with his son Nick (real name: Nick Bollea), who is currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail in Largo, Florida. Nick is serving an eight-month sentence for his role in an August car crash that left his friend, former U.S. Marine John Graziano, brain-dead and in a coma.
Last month, Nick Hogan pleaded guilty to felony reckless driving involving serious bodily injury; up until last week, he was being held in solitary confinement, but was transferred into a cell with three other inmates and a television.
Last week, audio tapes of Hogan's phone calls to his imprisoned son surfaced online, and during one conversation, the elder Hogan can be heard suggesting to Nick that Graziano's condition was "God's will." On "Larry King," Hogan apologized for the remark, and told King that his comments were intended to alleviate some of the stress his son was experiencing during the weeks he'd spent in solitary.
"It was like the whole world [was] crashing down on my son," Hogan explained, at times fighting back tears. "Solitary confinement — most hardened criminals unravel after two or three days. Nick survived in there 28, 29 days. During that period of time, as I'm sitting there, 28 or 29 days, hardly any sleep, I did everything I could, from laugh to cry with my son, to try to tell jokes, to try to be serious, to try to keep him present and aware and walking in the spirit of God and say, be grateful if we get a break. Be grateful if somebody hits us with another slam-dunk, be grateful that we know what is in front of us.
"I was trying to help give Nick some type of relief because he is consumed with the unknown," Hogan continued. "As I was just digging to try to find a way for my son to get through another day or another hour, I was just trying to explain to him that it's
'in God's hands' or 'it's God's will.' That's what people have said for thousands of years. Did I say things wrong? Yes. I am sorry. I said it incorrectly because my son, every time I called or every time he would call me, [and] as the days went by and we couldn't get him out, especially when the sheriff, the prosecuting attorney, everybody said we want to move him and then there was no movement.
"We were desperate," the wrestler added. "I didn't, even though they were trying to protect him physically because he's a juvenile in an adult prison, his mental state was unraveling. And I just had no way to help him. I was desperate. And I never meant to hurt John or the Graziano family."
Hogan also told King that, while he knew the call was being recorded, he's disappointed that the tapes were released to the media.
"This was the only thing Nick had left," he said. "This is the privacy everybody had in prison ... and to have that taken away? I was more worried than ever about his mental state."
Toward the end of the interview, Hogan said he believes the public understood his family's plight.
"At the end of the day, the support and the people — the people that are outside of this building — they're with us on this thing. So it's going to be OK. It's going to be OK," he said. "My son is a good child, and like I said, this is in God's hands. Things happen for a reason. This is to make Nick a better person. In my belief, this is to make John a better person. It is like I said before, you know, it is God's will where we're at with this situation. I refuse to accept any negativity, any naysayers. I firmly believe there is a plan. It is God's plan and God's will. We walk in the spirit of Christ and we believe for a reason that things happen. I apologize for it. I never meant to hurt anyone."
At one point, King asked Hogan if he felt in any way personally responsible for what happened to his son and Graziano, the wrestler said he did.
"It is a constant soul-searching mission," he said. "We're to a point with my life and everything that I have — I was almost in a situation where I'm not trying to be a control freak but, knowing what I had at hand with the family, being married 23 years, for everything just to disappear on me, for my wife to file for divorce and the marriage to be broken long before that, and then the accident happened and the civil case, and my son getting put in jail; I just soul-searched, figuring out what could I have done. It's just hard."
See Also
Tori Amos leaves Epic Records
Singer-songwriter's next album due next spring
NEW YORK -- Tori Amos has ended her tenure with Epic Records and "has chosen the path of independence for her next work," according to her manager.
"As with many of her contemporaries, Tori is devising new and exciting ways of getting her music to the masses without the boundaries and limitations of the major music companies," manager John Witherspoon tells Billboard's Ask Billboard column.
Amos' next album, due in spring 2009, will be "a project of new music and visuals which is being started in the summer," he said.
Amos is also writing a musical for the British National Theater, "The Light Princess," and in July will unveil a graphic novel, "Comic Book Tattoo," based on her catalog.
Amos recorded for Atlantic from 1992-2001 before signing with Epic. Her last album for that label was 2007's "American Doll Posse."
Keith Caulfield contributed to this report.
NEW YORK -- Tori Amos has ended her tenure with Epic Records and "has chosen the path of independence for her next work," according to her manager.
"As with many of her contemporaries, Tori is devising new and exciting ways of getting her music to the masses without the boundaries and limitations of the major music companies," manager John Witherspoon tells Billboard's Ask Billboard column.
Amos' next album, due in spring 2009, will be "a project of new music and visuals which is being started in the summer," he said.
Amos is also writing a musical for the British National Theater, "The Light Princess," and in July will unveil a graphic novel, "Comic Book Tattoo," based on her catalog.
Amos recorded for Atlantic from 1992-2001 before signing with Epic. Her last album for that label was 2007's "American Doll Posse."
Keith Caulfield contributed to this report.
Alanis Morissette Partners With Mercedes-Benz and 'Mixed Tape' for New 'Underneath' Video
MONTVALE, N.J., June 9 -- Seven-time Grammy winning artist
Alanis Morissette has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and its "Mixed Tape"
online music magazine for "Underneath," the first video/single from her
highly anticipated new album Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise
Records). Alanis, a strong supporter of environmental causes and
organizations, chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC for the
music clip.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080609/NYM023 )
"Making green choices on a local level is important in creating global
change," says Alanis. "I'm glad that Mercedes-Benz is introducing a great
option with the new E320 BlueTEC, and thrilled to include it in the video
for my new song 'Underneath' as it fits right in with the concept."
In the video, which was shot in Los Angeles, Alanis is sitting at a bus
stop wearing a "Save the Earth" t-shirt and distributing fliers to
encourage concern for the environment. When a Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC
passes by, Alanis salutes the Mercedes driver in appreciation for their
environmentally aware choice.
Flavors of Entanglement will go on sale in Italy and Germany on May 30,
and June 2 in most other countries except Japan and United States where it
will arrive on June 2 and June 10, respectively. The new video is in extra
large rotation on VH-1 following its debut on May 20. In June, the
"Underneath" video featuring the E320 BlueTEC sedan will appear online both
at Mixed Tape, the downloadable Mercedes-Benz music magazine
(http://www.mercedes-benz.tv/mixedtape), and at the Mercedes-Benz USA BlueTEC
micro site (http://www.mbusa.com).
BlueTEC denotes state-of-the-art engine and exhaust technology which
produces the cleanest diesels available on the market today. Utilizing this
technology, the V6-powered E320 BlueTEC diesel is able to provide the
powerful torque of a large V8 engine with the low fuel consumption of a
four-cylinder compact. This fall, the E320 BlueTEC sedan will be joined by
a trio of Mercedes-Benz SUV's using this advanced powerplant, including
ML320 BlueTEC SUV, the larger GL320 BlueTEC, and the versatile R320
BlueTEC.
Beyond their fuel efficiency, from an environmental standpoint, BlueTEC
vehicles are the cleanest diesels available in the world today. Since
diesels inherently burn less fuel than gasoline vehicles, they also produce
significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide (C02). Also, in BlueTEC
vehicles particulate levels are reduced to levels comparable -- or better
than -- that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Last year, the Mercedes-Benz
E320 BlueTEC was named the "2007 World Green Car," an awards program
initiated, organized, and conducted by automotive journalists from around
the globe.
About Alanis Morissette
Since her arrival in 1995 Alanis Morissette has become one of the most
influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply
expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise, seven
Grammy Awards and a dedicated fan base that extends throughout the world,
with album sales exceeding 40 million. Among a breadth of charity work,
Morissette especially finds time to support environmental causes and
organizations, such as Reverb, a non-profit that helps musicians and music
fans to achieve environmental sustainability through carbon-neutral
initiatives. Morissette was one of the first artists to have her "Feast on
Scraps" CD and DVD materials on recycled paper. Initially she paid for this
out of her own pocket, with it now becoming an industry standard. Her tour
bus runs on biodiesel. Her passions also include women's issues and
artists' rights on behalf of which she has written several articles as well
as spoken to congress. Morissette's new album Flavors of Entanglement, was
co-written and produced by Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Imogen Heap), and is her
first original studio release in four years. More information is available
at http://www.alanis.com.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is
responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and
Maybach products in the United States. In 2007, MBUSA achieved an all-time
sales record of 253,433 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever
in its history and achieving 14 consecutive years of sales growth. More
information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa.com and http://www.maybachusa.com.
See Also
Alanis Morissette has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and its "Mixed Tape"
online music magazine for "Underneath," the first video/single from her
highly anticipated new album Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise
Records). Alanis, a strong supporter of environmental causes and
organizations, chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC for the
music clip.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080609/NYM023 )
"Making green choices on a local level is important in creating global
change," says Alanis. "I'm glad that Mercedes-Benz is introducing a great
option with the new E320 BlueTEC, and thrilled to include it in the video
for my new song 'Underneath' as it fits right in with the concept."
In the video, which was shot in Los Angeles, Alanis is sitting at a bus
stop wearing a "Save the Earth" t-shirt and distributing fliers to
encourage concern for the environment. When a Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC
passes by, Alanis salutes the Mercedes driver in appreciation for their
environmentally aware choice.
Flavors of Entanglement will go on sale in Italy and Germany on May 30,
and June 2 in most other countries except Japan and United States where it
will arrive on June 2 and June 10, respectively. The new video is in extra
large rotation on VH-1 following its debut on May 20. In June, the
"Underneath" video featuring the E320 BlueTEC sedan will appear online both
at Mixed Tape, the downloadable Mercedes-Benz music magazine
(http://www.mercedes-benz.tv/mixedtape), and at the Mercedes-Benz USA BlueTEC
micro site (http://www.mbusa.com).
BlueTEC denotes state-of-the-art engine and exhaust technology which
produces the cleanest diesels available on the market today. Utilizing this
technology, the V6-powered E320 BlueTEC diesel is able to provide the
powerful torque of a large V8 engine with the low fuel consumption of a
four-cylinder compact. This fall, the E320 BlueTEC sedan will be joined by
a trio of Mercedes-Benz SUV's using this advanced powerplant, including
ML320 BlueTEC SUV, the larger GL320 BlueTEC, and the versatile R320
BlueTEC.
Beyond their fuel efficiency, from an environmental standpoint, BlueTEC
vehicles are the cleanest diesels available in the world today. Since
diesels inherently burn less fuel than gasoline vehicles, they also produce
significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide (C02). Also, in BlueTEC
vehicles particulate levels are reduced to levels comparable -- or better
than -- that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Last year, the Mercedes-Benz
E320 BlueTEC was named the "2007 World Green Car," an awards program
initiated, organized, and conducted by automotive journalists from around
the globe.
About Alanis Morissette
Since her arrival in 1995 Alanis Morissette has become one of the most
influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply
expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise, seven
Grammy Awards and a dedicated fan base that extends throughout the world,
with album sales exceeding 40 million. Among a breadth of charity work,
Morissette especially finds time to support environmental causes and
organizations, such as Reverb, a non-profit that helps musicians and music
fans to achieve environmental sustainability through carbon-neutral
initiatives. Morissette was one of the first artists to have her "Feast on
Scraps" CD and DVD materials on recycled paper. Initially she paid for this
out of her own pocket, with it now becoming an industry standard. Her tour
bus runs on biodiesel. Her passions also include women's issues and
artists' rights on behalf of which she has written several articles as well
as spoken to congress. Morissette's new album Flavors of Entanglement, was
co-written and produced by Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Imogen Heap), and is her
first original studio release in four years. More information is available
at http://www.alanis.com.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is
responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and
Maybach products in the United States. In 2007, MBUSA achieved an all-time
sales record of 253,433 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever
in its history and achieving 14 consecutive years of sales growth. More
information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa.com and http://www.maybachusa.com.
See Also
Harley, Muscle feat Gerideau
Artist: Harley, Muscle feat Gerideau
Genre(s):
House
Discography:
Deeper Love (SS013)
Year: 2007
Tracks: 4
Rose Mcgowan - Mcgowan Exercised With Broken Foot
Jessica Biel cast in new indie movie
Jessica Biel has been cast as the lead in the indie romantic comedy 'Easy Virtue'.
Based on the Noel Coward play, the film tells the story of an American divorcee (Biel) who heads to the South of France. Once there she jumps into a whirlwind romance and wedding with an English guy (Ben Barnes, the handsome devil who is soon to be seen in the next Narnia film).
Then the newly weds travel to the UK to face the music with his disapproving parents (Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas).
Alfred Hitchcock did the first film adaptation of Coward's 1924 play for a 1928 silent movie and this time around 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' director Stephan Elliott will be at the helm.
Last year was a great one for the former '7th Heaven' star following on from her performance in The Illusionist alongside Ed Norton and 2008 already looks set to top it.
She recently finished filming 'Powder Blue' with Forest Whitaker and 'A Woman of No Importance' with Annette Bening.
She's currently preparing to star in the thriller 'Die a Little', based on Megan Abbott's acclaimed 2006 novel. She recently produced as well as starred in the short film 'Hole in the Paper Sky', which will be released later this year and is preparing to hone her production skills even further in 'Die A Little'.
Based on the Noel Coward play, the film tells the story of an American divorcee (Biel) who heads to the South of France. Once there she jumps into a whirlwind romance and wedding with an English guy (Ben Barnes, the handsome devil who is soon to be seen in the next Narnia film).
Then the newly weds travel to the UK to face the music with his disapproving parents (Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas).
Alfred Hitchcock did the first film adaptation of Coward's 1924 play for a 1928 silent movie and this time around 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' director Stephan Elliott will be at the helm.
Last year was a great one for the former '7th Heaven' star following on from her performance in The Illusionist alongside Ed Norton and 2008 already looks set to top it.
She recently finished filming 'Powder Blue' with Forest Whitaker and 'A Woman of No Importance' with Annette Bening.
She's currently preparing to star in the thriller 'Die a Little', based on Megan Abbott's acclaimed 2006 novel. She recently produced as well as starred in the short film 'Hole in the Paper Sky', which will be released later this year and is preparing to hone her production skills even further in 'Die A Little'.
Reservoir Dogs - Madsen Hospital Dash After Hotel Outburst
RESERVOIR DOGS star MICHAEL MADSEN was rushed to hospital on Sunday (08Jun08) following an outburst at an exclusive hotel in London, according to tabloid reports.
Authorities were allegedly called to the hotel after a disturbance involving the actor prompted worried guests to report his erratic behaviour to staff at London's Dorchester Hotel, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper.
The Hollywood hard man was allegedly "shouting and screaming" before being led through the hotel's ballroom to be taken to a nearby hospital.
The star was treated for cuts and bruises before being discharged, reports the publication.
A spokesman for London police tells the publication there was no arrests made over the incident and no further action would be taken.
A representative for Madsen says, "We are aware there was an incident in London, but we have no comment to make."
See Also
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