Russell Brand brings a British twist to MTV awards

LOS ANGELES �

America, meet Russell Brand.

In his native England, he's a comedy giant - instantaneously identifiable by his Einstein-like tousle of black hair and formfitting, chest-baring, glam-rock clothes - a television host and standup comic with his own radio show and weekly column in The Guardian. In the U.S., he's that British guy who was in the movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

But that all could change Sunday, when Brand hosts the MTV Video Music Awards - the TV institution that lured millions of viewers with Britney Spears' fumbled comeback last year and her fabled kiss with Madonna before that. Brand said he has no intentions to hijack the awards for his have promotional purposes, but he knows the show volition serve as his introduction to a broad American audience.

"It's awful, because evidently I'm not known in this country, so it's a real unusual situation to be in," aforesaid the 33-year-old, noting that past hosts have been "really, in truth famous." "I think I'd be mad if I wasn't unquiet, although I've clinically been declared insane on several occasions. Perhaps my thin apprehension is a scratch of my return to sanity."

Brand might not be exaggerating about his diagnosing. At base he's known for his hedonistic tendencies and drug-addled past, and he sought treatment for drug addiction and sex addiction. He detailed his storied history in "My Booky Wook," a memoir that was a bestseller in Britain and is due to be published in the U.S. in February.

A moving picture version of his story has already been greenlit, but the film has been put on deem while Brand juggles other projects, including shaping his American image.

"I was scarcely advised that this is not the right clip to do that ascribable to the content," he said. "Also, because actually I'm acquiring a lot of offers to play a pot of former people and I play myself" in the film. "Maybe that isn't the best way for the people in America to get to know me because that book is kind of candid in some places."

Besides, Brand's schedule is packed. He'll seem with Adam Sandler and Keri Russell in the Christmas sept film "Bedtime Stories." He's also co-writing and star in a film Sandler will give rise next year, Brand aforementioned. He's reprising his "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" role in "Get Him to the Greek," a film based on his rock-star character, Aldous Snow. He's got another holy Writ in the works, and he's holding up with his weekly newspaper editorial, radio usher and standup gigs back home.

"My entire life is utterly outlined by work out and action," he aforementioned. "Luckily I work with really gifted and well-organized people, other than I recall I would become ill.

This week, though, his focus is on the MTV Video Music Awards, where he hopes to create a "celebratory" vibe that keeps the spotlight on the performers and winners.

"The focus will only add up on to me if spontaneity ensues," he said. "It would be shortsighted and egotistic for me to make it about me, although inevitably I will a bit."

It's Brand's undeniable charm and bent for self-generated comedy that inspired MTV to tap the congenator unknown as host of its streamer awards show, said MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler.

"He is both cerebral and straight-ahead anti-intellectual in the same mother wit, and he's really got a with child take on American culture," Toffler aforementioned. "For us it's similar to the first year we had Chris Rock and Arsenio Hall. They were kind of close to to bust wide open. (They) weren't huge household names, simply they in spades brought the edge and the unpredictability."

Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, T.I. and Pink are among the performers set to appear on the unrecorded show, which begins at 9 p.m. EDT. Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Phelps are set to present awards. Spears will make an appearance, and other surprises are planned, though Brand won't offer any hints.

"I'm hoping that spontaneity will play a part," he said. "When you hear some of the performances that they've got planned, there's so much technical precision needed. How on Earth ar they departure to do that? Surely something is going to catch fire."

It might just be Brand's American image.

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MTV is owned by Viacom Inc.

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On the Net:

http://www.vma.mtv.com

http://www.russellbrand.tv

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AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody contributed to this report.

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Mp3 music: Keziah Jones

Artist: Keziah Jones: mp3 download    Genre(s):  Pop     Keziah Jones's discography:      Liquid Sunshine    Year: 1999    Tracks: 13 A Nigerian-born rocking chair heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Fela Kuti, Keziah Jones gained popularity in England and France with singles like "Regular recurrence Is Love" and "Beautiful Emile." Jones was sent to a boarding schoolhouse in London when he was eight, and he started busking in the London Underground when he was in his teens. He gigged up a personnel in Covent Garden and Portobello Road, which lED to his discovery by manager Phil Pickett. One bassist (Phil "Soulfulness" Sewell), one drummer (Richie Stevens), and many gigs later, Jones base himself with his first class honours degree album, Blufunk Is a Fact!, in 1992. Several more albums ensued o'er the side by side 15 years (African Space Craft, Liquified Sunshine, and Dim Orpheus among them), fixing Jones as one of the more than large blues-rock musicians on the European euphony shot in the late '90s and early 2000s.

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Artist: Mixed by Tomahawk

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 NHS50CD

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Pearl

Amy Winehouse Performs At Nelson Mandela�s 90th

Amy Winehouse has made a return to the stage following her recent hospitalization - after she fainted in her London apartment - performing live for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park on Friday (June 27). To watch her performance, click ‘read more’.


Photo courtesy of Universal.

"Kung Fu Panda" kicks Sandler at box office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Moviegoers across North America were in a fighting mood during the weekend, cheering the family cartoon "Kung Fu Panda" to the top spot at a box office packed with hits.


DreamWorks Animation's Jack Black comedy about a panda who dreams of martial arts glory handily beat forecasts by earning an estimated $60 million during its first three days, distributor Paramount Pictures said on Sunday.


But it was not a complete knockout. Columbia Pictures' Adam Sandler comedy "You Don't Mess with the Zohan," in which the comedian plays an Israeli commando-turned-New York hairdresser, opened at No. 2 with $40 million, also beating forecasts.


Going into the weekend, the championship could have gone either way. In one corner, "Kung Fu Panda" was powered by rave reviews and an underserved family audience; in the other, Sandler could count on young male fans unlikely to be swayed by negative notices from puzzled critics.


Last weekend's champ, New Line Cinema's romantic comedy "Sex and the City," fell to No. 4 with $21.3 million, a massive 63 percent drop from its surprisingly strong opening weekend. Sales to date stand at $99.3 million for the big-screen adaptation of HBO's fashion-and-relationship series.


Just ahead of it was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" with $22.8 million, down one place. The total for the Paramount-distributed adventure rose to $253 million after three weekends.


Viacom Inc-owned Paramount distributes DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc productions. Columbia Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp. New Line is a division of Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. Pictures.


(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Patricia Zengerle)

Pittsburgh's Point Park emerges as a top-notch theatre school

PITTSBURGH - When actress and Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking was thinking about an idea for a short ballet about two piano keys falling in love, she chose a small, not-so-well-known university in this city to try it out.

The suggestion to experiment with Point Park University students came from longtime friend and composer Jeff Saver, a teaching artist-in-residence. It was a decision Reinking didn't regret.

"A little miracle happened today and it happened in Pittsburgh," Reinking told the students after choreographing and rehearsing the ballet's finale a day before the recent performance. "It makes me want to come back to Pittsburgh. This is what makes choreographers want to hire you."

This 3,500-student university is gaining a reputation for turning out talented stage performers. Point Park says at least 18 former or current students are working in Broadway shows including "Cry-Baby," "A Chorus Line," "Chicago," "Curtains," "Mary Poppins" and "Gypsy."

The school, located in several downtown buildings, merged the film, dance and theatre departments in 1999 to form the Conservatory of Performing Arts. It has grown from about 350 students studying performing arts in 1998 to about 750 at the conservatory, where one in 10 applicants gets admitted.

The conservatory has three student theatre companies and one professional company putting on more than 250 performances annually. Five world premieres were slated for the 2007-08 school year, and the school's US$210 million expansion plan includes a new theatre downtown.

Key to the students' success is its teachers, the university says.

"These aren't academics who used to do something; they're all professional artists," said conservatory dean Ronald Allan-Lindblom. "This isn't a place you come to study criticism."

Alumna Nili Bassman, appearing on Broadway in "Curtains," said, "They were training me to have the skills necessary to be a working actress."

Many of Point Park's alumni aren't household names - its best known grad, Melina Kanakaredes, plays Detective Stella Bonasera on "CSI: NY" - but the talent at the university wows many.

"They're wonderfully trained . . . incredibly talented," said Broadway dancer and choreographer Krissy Richmond, who helped Reinking direct the ballet. "I'm overwhelmed. I didn't know this (talent) existed outside New York City."

Tome Cousin and Rob Ashford are two of the school's success stories.

Choreographer Ashford won the Drama Desk award for "Cry-Baby," which opened recently on Broadway, and he's also been nominated for a Tony for the show. He won a Tony for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 2002, and was nominated for "Curtains" and "The Wedding Singer." He made his directorial debut last year with "Parade" in London, where he also choreographed "Guys and Dolls" and "Evita," and was nominated for several Laurence Olivier awards - the British equivalent of the Tony. He will make his Broadway directorial debut next year with a revival of "Brigadoon."

Cousin will direct a new company of "Contact" for Broadway director and producer Susan Stroman at the North Shore Music Theater near Boston in June. Cousin also wrote the libretto/musical book for "VanDerZee (The Picture Takin' Man)," about famed Harlem Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee, and hopes to have a reading of his work this summer on its way to Broadway in 2010.

Cousin and Ashford are also among several artists who visit Point Park to conduct master classes, lecture or direct productions.

At a master class last month, musical theatre major Shannon Denney got to perform for Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Ragtime," the first Broadway show that made her cry.

"He's probably the only composer who has made such a strong impression on my life," said Denney, 21. "He was so genuine, so giving, so wonderful. ... It was probably one of the best experiences of my life."

More than a dozen performing arts seniors got to showcase their talents last month to casting directors, producers and directors in New York, before heading for a first-ever Los Angeles showcase, presented by movie producer Jimmy Miller, a Point Park alumni.

Saver, the teaching artist-in-residence, was hired by Point Park last fall. He composed the musicals "Dodsworth" and "Time After Time," and worked on 13 Broadway shows, including "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "A Chorus Line." He also directed music for the original Broadway production of "Into the Woods" and the revival of "Chicago," starring Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth.

Saver's friendship with these performers proved a boon to his students this spring.

When two-time Emmy-and Tony-winner Neuwirth came to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony in March, she attended Point Park's production of the Stephen Sondheim musical "Assassins."

The next day, Saver's students got to watch her rehearse. They saw a Broadway, TV and film actress prepare for a show and listened to her vibrant voice fill the theatre as she performed songs from "Chicago" and "Cabaret," as well as two Kurt Weill compositions arranged by Saver.

Later, they peppered her with questions about succeeding in show business.

"Practice and audition," Neuwirth advised. "Don't be like anybody else. All of you are gifted. . . . Get on stage as much as you can - bad jobs, good jobs. Don't turn up your nose at anything."

In April, the dancers worked for about 21 hours with Richmond and Reinking, who couldn't have been happier with the result - a cheeky, playful piece in which the characters are piano keys and the two centre keys fall in love.

"I'm astounded by these kids," Reinking said. "I don't think I could have gotten this much out of 30 people on Broadway in such a short time. They're very brave and they're very funny. It takes great craft."

Actor Bill Nunn also picked Point Park for his experimental project - dramatizing an African folk tale to be performed at several schools to expose children to theatre.

"The amount of acting going on (at Point Park) is incredible and they're eager to expose their kids to more. . . . The kids are phenomenal," said Nunn, who appeared in the "Spider-Man" movies and four Spike Lee films, including "Do The Right Thing."

One afternoon, dance professor Ronald Hutson choreographed moves Nunn could use in the performance and the students threw themselves enthusiastically into learning the routines.

"Just being able to work with (professionals) shows you can be in that position," said Jocelyne Ditumona, 20, a theatre major from Congo. "It inspires you to move to achieve what you want in life."

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Shania Twain speaks about marriage breakdown

Shania Twain says she needs time to mend her "broken heart" following her marriage breakdown.The singer has thanked her fans for their support since she split from Robert 'Mutt' Lange after 14 years of marriage, and is hoping to express her emotions through her music.She wrote on her official blog: "As I am sure you have seen or heard, I am going through a rough time personally in my life. I wanted you all to know that I could not be getting through this without you. Your letters, emails and words of encouragement give me strength. Your overwhelming support reminds me to smile, no matter how deep the pain and to always be grateful for all the beautiful blessings in my life."I have so much to say but I know the best way for me to speak is through my music. This is my therapy, my passion, and my love. I look forward to sharing it with all of you as I begin this new journey. I need some time to heal this broken heart but make no mistake. I will be back and hopefully stronger than ever. Thank you my friends, from the bottom of my heart."




Shania, 42, and 59-year-old producer Robert first met in 1993 and married just six months later.Rumours their relationship was in trouble first surfaced in 2000, but the couple stayed together, and moved to Switzerland shortly after reports emerged.Shania and Robert worked together extensively, with him producing and co-writing many of her hits including You're Still the One and Man! I Feel Like A Woman!.The couple have a seven-year-old son Eja D'Angelo.While it was reported Shania's friend Marie-Anne Thiebaud is the reason behind the split following her affair with Robert, both parties have denied the allegations.- BANG! SHOWBIZ

Tapes 'n Tapes, City Academy, Manchester

Minneapolis band Tapes 'n Tapes have followed the customary route to indie stardom: rave reviews on blogs such as Pitchfork, an A&R feeding frenzy at South by Southwest and an enormous buzz. However, only two years after their The Loon debut looked set to catapult them to household-name status, second album Walk It Off has received less euphoric reviews and they are struggling to keep up with other bands - not least the one playing the larger venue upstairs. This has not escaped singer Josh Grier. "Good evening, we're Vampire Weekend," he quips.

Tapes 'n Tapes could be forgiven for wondering why their gig isn't generating the same sold-out ticket action. After all, their jerky jams, with a smidgeon of hi-life guitar, are eerily close to the formula on which their New York rivals have rollercoasted to fame. However, Tapes 'n Tapes' juxtapositions of dynamics and texture tend to lack impact, and take longer to lure you in. Influenced by Pavement, Pixies and possibly Pere Ubu, they play quirky rock fronted by a singer who sounds like he just got out of bed, and propelled by a drummer who resembles a headmaster dispensing corporal punishment. They should turn Matt Kretzmann's keyboards up and trim the more unwieldy jams, but songs like Headshock and the pulverising The Dirty Dirty have oodles of appeal. The bittersweet Say Back Something shows that they can write simple, disarmingly lovely pop songs: perhaps they should more often. At one point, the lights go off and on again, prompting cheers, which T'nT must hope is an omen for what is still a hugely promising career.


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At least 3 jurors chosen for R. Kelly trial

The wife of a Baptist preacher from R. Kelly's hometown, a business executive and a telecommunications company employee were the first three jurors chosen Monday for the R&B superstar's child pornography trial.

The executive, a middle-aged man, called child pornography "the lowest of the low" during questioning by the judge and attorneys. But he said he felt he could give a fair trial to the 41-year-old Kelly, who is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.

At one point, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan said nobody in the room condoned child pornography and Kelly appeared to nod his head in agreement.




















Kelly, known for sexually charged hits like "Bump N' Grind," has pleaded not guilty. The alleged victim, now 23, says it wasn't her on the videotape.

The preacher's wife from Olympia Fields, where Kelly lives, said her religious beliefs would not affect her service as a juror. The judge reminded her that the trial involved "laws of man, not the laws of God," and she said she understood.

Potential jurors who were dismissed included a man in his 50s who prosecutors said clearly was awe-struck by Kelly's celebrity and a security guard who said Kelly would have "some explaining to do" if he was on the video.

Sixteen jurors, four of them alternates, are to be chosen for the trial. Court officials have said questioning and selection from the 150 potential jurors is expected to take about a week.

The alleged victim's denial that she is on the videotape will present prosecutors with a unique challenge once the trial is under way. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't admitted it's Kelly in the video.

Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the alleged victim was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.

If jurors find the Grammy-winning artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.

Kelly's lawyers had argued any jury pool has been irrevocably tainted because of pretrial publicity.

But Gaughan denied a defense motion to postpone the trial, which had already been delayed for six years, suggesting jury selection could weed out any tainted jurors.

Although Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-like song "I Believe I Can Fly," his biggest hits are bawdy ballads like "Ignition" and his current single, "Hair Braider." He is due to release a new album in July.

Giovanni Marradi

   
Artist: Giovanni Marradi

   Genre(s): 
New Age
   

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Discography:


   
 Treasures Of Time

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 14


   
 Alone

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Tracks: 10


   
 Nocturnes

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Tracks: 12


   
 Quietude Forever

   Year: 1996   
Tracks: 10


   
 Passion

   Year: 1996   
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 Only You

   Year: 1995   
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Tracks: 12

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Shane MacGowan

Errors, Johnny Foreigner & More Join Latitude Line-Up

Even more names have been announced for the Latitude Festival next month and tickets are selling fast.

New bands confirmed for the Lake Stage, which is part of BBC Introducing are: Errors, James Yuill, Johnny Foreigner, Gideon Conn, Jonquil, Cheeky Cheeky And The Nosebleeds, Sky Larkin, This City, Voluntary Butler Scheme, Kabeedies, Swanton Bombs, The Wave Pictures, The Cocknbullkid and Lovvers.

BBC Introducing will be curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens.

Latitude festival will be held on July 17th-20th in Suffolk and weekend / Saturday day tickets have already sold out, leaving just Friday and Sunday day tickets.

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Lindsay Lohan: Stolen Fur Coat Update

While owners of a New York nightclub have offered to settle a legal battle between Lindsay Lohan and Masha Markova over a fur coat which the actress allegedly stole while partying in the city, PETA have asked for the garment to be donated to the homeless.

Lohan is being sued by the New York student, who claims the Mean Girls star swiped her $12,000 (£6,000) mink coat in January.

John Englebert, owner of top Manhattan hotspots Prime and Suzie Wong, has offered to buy Lindsay a new $11,000 (£5,500) blonde mink coat, as well as settle the lawsuit against her as a thank you for being such a valued customer.

A spokeswoman for the club boss says: "Lindsay has always been a fixture and a party girl in his establishments and John does not want her to catch a cold in this frigid start to the summer."

Englebert adds Access Hollywood: "I am offering to take Lindsay on a mink shopping spree with me, to have the coat of her choice. My motto has always been, `If the coat fits, buy it.'"

Anti-fur activists at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) won’t be too happy with LiLo’s potential purchase - they are already urging Masha, the original owner of the mink coat, to donate the dead animal to someone more needy.

PETA boss Dan Mathews has written to Markov, explaining: "That coat belonged to dozens of animals that were electrocuted, gassed, strangled, drowned or beaten to death just so you could try to appear wealthy."

Mathews suggests Markova watch an anti-fur video hosted by former fur-wearer Martha Stewart and then donate the fur, which was a gift from the student's grandmother, to the homeless.

Do you think there is too much fuss surrounding this fur coat incident? Be sure to leave your comments below.

Christensen says Ledger was 'enigmatic'

Model Helena Christensen has spoken about the loss her friend Heath Ledger, who was found dead at his New York apartment on 22 January.
Speaking at the Y-3 fashion show in New York, the model told People magazine that she has "only good memories" of Ledger.
Christensen said that she had been travelling to visit Ledger when news of his death broke.
Speaking about how she is coping since his death, she said: "Time passes. It's doesn't make it easier, but you try to do the best you can. When you have a child, they kind of bring you back to the moment in a really comforting way."
"Losing any friend is horrific, but he just has this thing about him - this special, enigmatic thing that I have never met in anyone before."
She also said: "That's what all of his friends are saying. They are totally devastated by losing someone who gave them so much. He gave everyone so much."

John Mayer: 'Guitar Hero Fans Are Fake Wannabes'

John Mayer is not a fan of the game Guitar Hero, because he thinks it makes it easy for untalented people to pretend they are good at playing the instrument.

Jennifer Aniston’s bitter new man claims no game could ever match the enjoyment gained from playing the axe for real.

He tells Rolling Stone: "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.

“And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?"

He may be able to play a guitar, but that doesn’t mean his songs are any good.

Yale honours Sir Paul

Paul McCartney has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale University in the US. Yale said the 65-year-old awakened a generation, giving a fresh sound to rock, roll, rhythm and blues. A band played the Beatles' hit Hey Jude as McCartney walked on stage to accept the degree.