Rachel Stevens postpones wedding for 'Strictly Come Dancing'

Rachel Stevens has postponed her upcoming wedding.

The former S Club 7 star was due to marry Alex Bourne this autumn but has cancelled her plans so she can concentrate on British TV talent show 'Strictly Come Dancing', a decision which reportedly upset her fiance.

A source told Britain's Star magazine: "Alex feels really put out. He proposed to Rachel and she said yes, and they planned to get married later this year. It's clearly not going to happen now.

"Rachel is really ambitious and puts her career first. Their wedding is on hold and saying Alex is slightly miffed about that is an understatement."

The singer has been dating Alex - who she went to school with - for over a year, and has admitted starring in the show has forced her to rethink her marriage plans.

Rachel said: "I did think about trying to squeeze a wedding in during the show, but there was just no way. It will have to wait until it has ended."

The 30-year-old star is partnered with Vincent Simone, who reached the quarter finals of the show two years ago, and is delighted to be starring in the show as her career as stalled since she left S Club 7 in 2002.

The source added: "The chance has come at a welcome point for Rachel because she wasn't getting many offers. Rachel tried to explain that to Alex - who also hasn't had much work recently. But he felt she should have told the producers she would do the next year instead."

Rachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an British singer, actress and occasional model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club (7), and launched a solo recording career in 2003 with having released seven singles and two albums in the UK until 2005: "Negotiate With Love" and "I Said Never Again But Here We are" albums. Her last album "Come And Get It" was released in 2005.

Pigeon Detectives release new single"

'Say It Like You Mean It’ is the new single from Rothwell boys The Pigeon Detectives, released on 20th October on Dance To the Radio. This single can be found here, in their last album "Emergency".

The release will precede the band’s forthcoming UK headline tour which sees them up and down the country in November and December, including their biggest ever London date at Alexandra Palace. The single is taken from the gold album 'Emergency’ released earlier this year and features two unlikely cover version across the formats as well as live and demo versions of the song. Huey Lewis and the News’ 1985 (ahem) classic 'The Power of Love’ gets the Pigeon’s treatment. Also featured will be Hot Chip’s 'Ready For The Floor’ which the band played on the Radio One Live Lounge earlier this year (and which will feature on the forthcoming Radio1 Live Lounge vol. III compilation released by Sony BMG this Autumn).

After a huge UK tour in the spring, followed by lots of festival appearances over the summer the band took a well deserved break (of about 10 days!). They went to the US early September, starting on the East Coast (filming the video for 'Say It Like You Mean It’ in NY), travelled to Toronto for a festival alongside Oasis and the Foo Fighters (squeezing in a date with The Kooks), and then go back to the US (West Coast) this week. The band return to headline The White Air Festival on the Isle of Wight on the 20th September, go to Japan for two dates then return to Europe to play for a couple of weeks before the UK shows. They’ll have plenty air miles to use over Christmas.

Pigeon Detectives are also known for such albums, like "Everybody Wants Me", "Live De La Semaine Dvbs" and "I Found Out".

John Mayer strips for Heidi Klum

John Mayer performed a surprise striptease for Heidi Klum.

The 'Gravity’ singer - who recently split from 'Friends’ actress Jennifer Aniston - reportedly lowered his trousers and danced around in front of the 'Project Runway’ host at a nightclub in New York’s trendy SoHo district, making her laugh hysterically.

However, according to the New York Daily News newspaper, sources close to Heidi - who is married to singer Seal – have played down reports she was flirting with the 30-year-old singer, insisting the pair are just old friends.

John has reportedly been upset he doesn’t getting the same amount of media attention since splitting from Hollywood beauty Jennifer.

One paparazzo said: "John thinks he's as famous as Jennifer now. Last week, he went to a party, tipped off the paparazzi, and even had decoy cars at the ready when he was leaving.

'Nice, but no one bothered to follow them, which made John think he 'lost' everyone, when really it was because no one bothered to follow him."

Another source says that since recently wrapping up his tour, John has been in Miami pining for Jennifer.

The source said: 'Miami reminds him so much of the good times he had with Jen, so it was really weird. He just didn't seem himself. I'm not sure if he is really over his breakup with Jennifer.'

The last album of John Mayer was "Where the light is" rock album, released in 2008.

50 Cent bigs up Eminem

50 Cent says Eminem will be the "number one rap artist" when he makes his comeback.

The 'In Da Club' rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - praised his former mentor, saying his new material will be far superior to any other hip-hop release.

He told BANG Showbiz: "I think when he comes back he will absolutely claim the spot as the number one rap artist.

"I get the opportunity to listen to material prior to its release and I'm sure it's better than anything that's out. "Eminem's different. A lot of material he has written is just scrapped, because it's got to feel like it's just happened, like it's new. That's just how he works as an artist."

Eminem friend and protegee Bishop Lamont recently confirmed the 'Slim Shady' star - real name Marshall Mathers - is looking forward to assaulting the charts once again.

He said: "Em is excited. He's been quiet too long, and he's got a lot to get off his chest."

Eminem revealed earlier this year that he was working on new material during a radio station prank call to LL Cool J. 'The Real Slim Shady' singer phoned into his own radio station, Shade 45, and pretended to be an unsigned rapper.

His real identity was discovered after he rapped to his own hit, 'Lose Yourself'. After confirming it was him, Eminem added: "Everything is good. I'm just in the studio right now working on songs and stuff like that."

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972),[1] known as Slim Shady and his primary stage name Eminem, is an Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor. Having sold over seventy million albums worldwide,[2][3] Eminem is one of the highest-selling rappers of all time.

Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling hip hop album in history, followed by an increasing amount of popularity, critical praise, as well as controversy. While Eminem has won many Grammy Awards, been praised for having "verbal energy", high quality of lyricism and been ranked at number nine on MTV's list of The Greatest MCs of All Time,#13 on the MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music" and #82 on Rolling Stone's "The Immortals" he has often been infamous for the controversy surrounding many of these lyrics, including allegations of glorifying homophobia, misogyny, and violence. [wikipedia]

The Orange Lights: A Few Good Days

The record company blurb states that The Orange Lights 'unleash’ their new single A Few Good Days (song could be found here). Now 'unleash’ is a word that carries certain imagery. It invokes a vision of a restless force straining to be released ready to cause mayhem. When Russell Crowe ordered his generals to '...unleash Hell’, the result
was devastation, and the complete obliteration of the opposition: a demonstration of absolute power.

So, one would expect a ten tonne hammer of a song swung at your head with lethal intent. Oh no, what we have is a limp wristed wet paper bag of a song, that aspires to be grandiose and epic, but instead it is idle and complacent. Everything about it sounds lazy; the weedy faux fey vocals, the by the number guitar, drums, bass, the 'epic’ bit in the middle.

This is uninspired, corporate, cynical tick-box song-writing, tailor made for the V festival audience.

The albums of Orange Lights can be downloaded from westsounds.com.

Gong: The Arista Years

Gong has presented their new album "The Arista Years".
This is not the same Gong that produced the extreme Psych of 'Radio Gnome Invisible’ or 'Flying Teapot’ but rather the later version headed up by Pierre Moerlen and moving into a far more jazzy and funk orientated realm. There are guest appearances by Didier Malherbe, Mike Oldfield and Darryl Way but the music is much less whimsical and more focused and percussive and – lets be honest – much better musically although lacking the
extreme sense of originality of Daevid Allen’s original band.

What you are getting here is the three albums that Gong produced for Arista spread across two CDs and with the live album half on one and half on the other but without the sense of wholeness that each album had when they were first released.
The guitar work throughout is influenced by Steve Hillage and Mike Oldfield but the most influential instruments seem to be Vibes and crash cymbals – not surprising since Moerlen was originally a drummer!

But the music is a good example of where Jazz & Fusion were headed in the eighties and in their own right these tracks are highly evolved and very listenable to – just not heart-stoppingly unique as the original Gong were capable of.
The whole album can be downloaded here.

Kimmie Rhodes: Walls Fall Down

When a voice as clear and sweet as Kimmie Rhodes’ sings about the 'mean old world runs on .. sex & gasoline' or admonishes us all about 'Mother nature
doesn’t like it when ya tease her' it makes you wake up and take notice.

Now, I’m not usually a great listener to Country & Western although I do have an abiding love of roots and Americana, and Kimmie Rhodes usually falls into the C&W side of the equation – even if she is based in Austin Texas – but this album manages to grab my attention and listen throughout. And truth be told, she is one fine singer and the album is a cracker.

It does stray into oversweet territory occasionally; 'Beautiful’ is a little too cloying for my tastes but that is offset by 'Sex & Gasoline’ or I’ve Been Loved By You’ or the gorgeous 'All in all' and the overall impression is of a singer with a great voice, superb control and great songs. The version of 'Fool On The Hill’ here sounds fresh and original – no attempt to copy the psych effects that are usually used. The standout number has to be 'Your Majesty’, self-written by Rhodes but sounding and feeling like Neil Young and with a killer guitar line.The production is relaxed and clean and the playing throughout is excellent. There is none of the Dolly Parton-esque excess that C& W can be party to and it doesn’t stray towards the bluegrass and yee-hah school but it doesn’t have the edge that bands like OCMS or Hey Negrita bring to it either.

This should really be listened to wearing a fringed buckskin jacket and boots but the quality of the music transcends the corniness that could be slung at it and the end result is really fine.

The whole album could be found here.

Hilary Duff's father jailed

Hilary Duff's father has been jailed for contempt of court.

Robert Duff was reportedly arrested yesterday (27.08.08) and sent by a judge to a Texas county jail for allegedly violating an injunction by selling assets without court approval.

He must pay the $368,000 he earned from the sale into a court fund and serve 10 days in jail. The arrest came following an earlier dispute between the 20-year-old singer's parents over her birthday party.

Robert and Susan - who have been involved in a bitter divorce battle for two-and-a-half years - appeared in court after Susan requested $25,000 to spend on presents and a party for Hilary's 21st birthday next month - the same sum she claims they spent on elder daughter Haylie's 21st in 2006.

A lawyer for Robert asked Susan - who claimed she relies on financial help from Hilary to pay lawyers' fees and other bills - if her "adult millionaire daughter would be upset if she did not receive an expensive gift and party for her birthday".

Susan replied that her daughter "is emotionally upset by the abandonment of her father and deserves to have some kind of recognition for a young life well lived", before claiming he currently spends his cash on buying his girlfriend's sons gifts.

Robert was ordered to pay $12,500 to Susan for Hilary's birthday, before being arrested for contempt of court. His lawyer says he plans to appeal.

Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress, pop singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, Duff gained fame for playing the title role in the television series Lizzie McGuire. Duff went on to have a film career; her most commercially successful movies include Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), and A Cinderella Story (2004).
Duff has expanded her repertoire into pop music, with four RIAA certified Platinum albums and over thirteen million albums sold worldwide.[1] Her first studio album, Metamorphosis (2003), was certified triple platinum and she followed it up with two more platinum albums, Hilary Duff (2004) and Most Wanted (2005). Duff's last studio album, Dignity, was released in April 2007 and was certified Gold in August 2007.[2]

Dr. Dre's son's autopsy fails to find a cause of death

An autopsy of Dr. Dre's son, Andre Young Jr. has failed to find a cause of death.

Authorities have been unable to establish how he died, so further tests on the 20-year-old have been ordered, the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner has revealed.

Andre Jr. was found unresponsive at his California home by his mother Jenita Porter, who he lived with, on Saturday (23.08.08).

She called paramedics, who declared him dead when they reached the scene. Captain Ed Winter told People magazine: "We don't know yet why he died. "There were no signs of trauma or foul play. We'll be doing toxicology and other tests, which will take up to six weeks."

According to the officer, a toxicology test is carried out "mainly to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a part in a person's death".

Andre had been out with friends the night before his death but his mother says she heard him come home around 5.30am. Dr. Dre - who lives in a separate home in California with his younger children and wife Nicole Threatt - released a statement through his publicist earlier this week saying: "Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son. Please respect his family's grief and privacy at this time."

The 43-year-old star also has four other children. He has a 17-year-old son Marcel with his ex-lover, singer Michel'le as well as two kids with Nicole, 11-year-old son Truth and daughter Truly, seven.

Dre is also the biological father of rapper Hood Surgeon.

Nicole Scherzinger writes track for Lewis Hamilton

Nicole Scherzinger has written a song for her racing driver boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.

Nicole has recorded 'I think I'm in Love' for the Formula One ace, but is unsure whether to include it on the new Pussycat Dolls record or save it for her next solo album.

Describing the track, Nicole said: "It is a very personal song. It's very in-depth and emotional - a real song that I know is going to connect with people."

The song may possibly feature on the Pussycat Dolls' second album 'Doll Domination' - which is to be released next month.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "She has only just finished it, but it could be rushed onto the new album. There are reports on the internet claiming to have the tracklist, but so far only about seven songs are definite. Nicole is really proud of this one and they could squeeze it on."

Dating 'Don't Cha' singer Nicole has also inspired Lewis to pick up his guitar. Earlier this week, it was revealed Lewis has composed a song for her.

Nicole said: "He wrote a song for me and played it on the guitar." Lewis and Nicole met at the MTV awards in Munich, Germany, last November and started properly dating in May this year.

'Doll Domination' will be released on September 23.

Its rumoured tracklisting is:

When I Grow Up
Bottle Pop
Away
Psycho
Fly the World
In Person
I Hate This Part
Whatever Happens
Barely Breathe
If I Were a Man
Love Gun
Take Over the World
Elevator
Watchamacallit

Alicia Keys says fame has taken its toll on her

Alicia Keys says her fame can make you 'a ghost of yourself.'
Alicia J. Augello-Cook (born January 25, 1981), known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, pianist and actress. Keys has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has won numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards, seventeen Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards.
Her debut album Songs in A Minor was a worldwide success, selling nearly 11 millions albums, and received five Grammy Awards in 2002, with Alicia winning Best New Artist and also Song of the Year for "Fallin'". (wikipedia)
The 27-year-old singer says her gruelling tour schedule and long years of musical training have taken their toll on her life.
Despite selling over 23 million albums and winning over 80 major awards – including 11 Grammys – Alicia says her fame has a huge downside.
She told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper: 'Fame can bring a lot of emptiness. You are so driven that you work 20 hours a day, you get four hours of sleep, you do all that for 10 years straight.
'Then, all of a sudden, you think, 'I'm a singer and, yes, I'm a songwriter and, yes, I perform, but what else is in my life? Do I have a family? Am I growing inside? Am I always too busy to see my mother and the people I love?’
'You have to numb yourself because you are away so long. It can change you and that is not the type of person I want to be. People always want something from you - you become like a ghost of yourself or of the person you could be.'
Alicia - who is to perform the theme tune to the next James Bond film 'Quantum of Solace’ with White Stripes singer Jack White - says her soul searching began when she gave up work to look after her dying grandmother last year.
She added: 'Losing her made me realise how close I came to the edge. It took a while before I could even say the word 'grandmother’ because I was so upset.'
Despite vowing to cut back on her workload, Alicia will release her latest single 'Superwoman’ on September 1.

Jackson Browne sues McCain over song use

Jackson Browne sues McCain over song use
Jackson Browne is suing Republican presidential nominee John McCain and the Republican party for using his song “Running on Empty” in a recent TV commercial, said msnbc.
In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Browne claims McCain and the party did not obtain permission to use the song for an ad in which “Senator McCain and the Republicans mock Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation.”
Browne, a lifelong Democrat, is seeking unspecified damages as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of “Running on Empty” in any form by the McCain campaign.
Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician, whose introspective lyrics made him the poster boy for the Southern California confessional singer-songwriter movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2004, Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by fellow American musical artist and good friend, Bruce Springsteen. In the same year, Browne received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Los Angeles' Occidental College for "a remarkable musical career that has successfully combined an intensely personal artistry with a broader vision of social change and justice". One of his last albums is Solo Acoustic Vol. 2. (wikipedia).