Monthly Archives: July 2002

Good Times With Ed Case

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Ed Case’s name has been high on the list of next big things and his debut album, ‘Ed’s Guestlist’, has been anticipated for almost as long.

Nearly two years after making Gorillaz a household name with his two-step rework of 2000’s ‘Clint Eastwood’, he finally delivers his 17 collaborations, which supply the missing link between So Solid Crew’s frenetic energy and Artful Dodger’s pop savvy.

From the breezy ‘September Sun’, featuring Spooks singer Ming Xia, to the warp speed bark of So Solid Crew’s MC Harvey on ‘When I Roll’, tunes are as unshakable as they are diverse.

By rights such eclecticism should spell disaster. Miraculously though, he finds a middle ground where both rabid urban battle cries like ‘Who Ya Wanna Be?’ and glistening radio-ready tunes ‘Better Late Than Never’ and ‘Understand Love’ come with sing-along choruses and bass bin flexing rhythm tracks.

‘Good Times’, out in stores already is an excellent purchase. The number features ex-Skunk Anansie singer Skin so grab yours today.

Visit Ed at his authorized webpage, http://www.ed-case.com.

Check out Wild Orchid

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Check out the amazing Pop Duo Wild Orchids new album Hypnotic, being released August 2002. These girls were recently on the RCA record lable and had JC Chasez of Nsync write three of their songs off their last album Fire. Now on a new label Yellow Brick Records, WO is back and better than ever. For more information check out the Wild-Orchid.net fansite and the Wild Orchid Official Homepage

Geri Halliwell To Be Judge On Popstars 2

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Previously part of the phenomena that was the Spice Girls, pop star Geri Halliwell will be a judge on the forthcoming series of ‘Popstars 2 – The Rivals’. It has also been reported that Geri’s ex, Chris Evans will also be a judge. The pair will be on rival teams picking two new bands to battle it out for a Christmas No 1.

Rumoured to be earning GBP150,000 each from the show, Chris and Geri may get their wages doubled, what with endorsements from the show and all.

An insider told the News of the World “It’ll make great TV because they’re sure to have it out with each other on screen. Geri has never forgiven Chris for dumping her.”

‘Popstars 2- The Rivals’ will start in September and the two teams of judges, including Pop Idol’s Pete Waterman, will each pick their top band.

Not Very Nice N’Sync In Rent And In Space

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N’Sync has visited New York’s Virgin Megastore loads of times in the last few years but not once have they been greeted with a healthy welcome from the employees. Yes, the boys from N’Sync are not exactly what you would call sweet.

“Justin has an attitude problem” says one source. Complaining seems to be the consistent story among the employees. “I need more water. I need more light. I need more make-up -blah, blah, blah. They make me sick” says another source.

Meanwhile, N’Sync’s Joey Fatone is to take some time out from the band, to tread the boards in a musical.

The appropriately named singer-cum-actor, who’s already starred in a couple of moderately successful movies, is planning to play filmmaker and video artist Mark Cohen in the Broadway version of the musical Rent.

Fatone has just started rehearsing for the production and will take his debut bow on 5th of August.

And finally, after all the confusion surrounding his participation in a forthcoming spaceflight, it’s been revealed that Joey’s bandmate Lance Bass is currently at a cosmonaut training centre in Russia, where he’s preparing for his trip.

According to reports, The Russian Space Agency have confirmed that Lance is currently in training, although they’ve pointed out that negotiations are ongoing and, as-of-yet, no contract has been signed.

P Diddy To Star In Making The Band II

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Sean P Diddy Combs will star in a reality show on MTV this autumn about the finding and making of a hip-hop band and will not focus on the entertainment impresario’s private life.

“This is not ‘The Osbournes’ in P Diddy’s house ok” said John Miller, an MTV executive. This was said because before Wednesday’s announcement, there was speculation in the music industry that Diddy would join the growing list of stars with shows similar to MTV’s highly successful one about the personal life of heavy metal rock star Ozzy Osbourne and his family.

Rather, Combs will star in 10 half-hour ‘Making the Band II’ shows starting 12th of October on the cable network featuring candid scenes of his business, not personal life.

“It gives me a chance to have it clear to people what I do. That I just don’t throw white parties in the Hamptons every day. That I do work 20 hours a day and I am good at what I do,” Diddy said at a news conference.

Diddy sees himself as “this generation’s starmaker,” like Motown legend Barry Gordy for his generation.

Diddy, his assistants and camera crews will travel to at least eight U.S. cities starting next week in search of a band he can then mould into stars.

Diddy said he is uniquely placed to do the show, because he is a recording artist as well as head of a record label, Bad Boy Entertainment.

Among Bad Boy successes are Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans plus 112, a male vocal group.

Jack Osbourne Dating British Aspiring Pop Star, Catalina Guirado

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People are pretty puzzled over this pair-up since he’s a roly-poly, spotty, spectacled geek and he has managed to bag himself a British beauty.

Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, star of my favourite MTV fly-on-the-wall show, ‘The Osbournes’ has been seen publicly romancing attractive British model Catalina Guirado.

It’s been reported that Jack has been helping her launch a pop career in LA and the pair have been seen on dates. He’s writing songs for the girl and friends say that they’re pratically inseparable.

Just about everyone knows who Jack is. But just who is Catalina? Well, she started out in showbiz on Chris Evan’s ‘TFI Friday’. She was the looker who threw herself at ugly blokes on the Friday night series, only to end up being given the knock-back.

She says “Jack is a sweet guy and really knows his stuff. He’s very talented. I’m taking him out and showing him a good time. Yes, we’re dating, but in an American sense. Make of that what you will.”

It’s said that it’s not the first time eye-catching Catalina has gone for someone with specs appeal. She went out with her boss, TFI’s host Chris Evans, when they worked together and has also dated Prodigy’s Liam Howlett and actor Rufus Sewell.

Madonna’s Not Up For Grabs And To Play A Lesbian

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Bad news for Madonna who was hoping to star in the movie version of her current play Up For Grabs. The pop queen may have to fend off Nicole Kidman who is being considered for the role.

Madge is in the final week of her West End run in the play where she plays a scrupulous art dealer called Loren. She’s been hoping to play the part on the big screen but the play’s author, David Williamson, wants to rope in Nicole Kidman as the star.

Meanwhile, Madonna is to set yet another precedent in her latest role as Bond girl in the new action flick ‘Die Another Day’. The sultry singer has demanded that her character, a feisty fencer, be a lesbian simply because she doesn’t want to kiss star Pierce Brosnan in the script.

She insisted that her character must, therefore, be gay and apparently it seems that the Queen of Pop has got her way.

An insider told the Star “She is practically the only female in the film who doesn’t canoodle with Bond, although it wasn’t because she isn’t considered sexy enough to be classic Bond girl material. Madonna likes to be controversial. She’s getting a real kick out of the idea that she is the first lesbian Bond girl.”

Anastacia’s Busy Work Schedule

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To promote Tuesday’s US release of her second album for Epic Records, ‘Freak Of Nature’ which has already sold several million copies in Europe, Anastacia will do 10 days of TV appearances.

Commenting on the hectic pop star schedule, Anastacia, whose fans include Elton John, said “People always say being a pop star is all about glamour. Well, come with me for one week, and you’ll see. Seriously, there’s nothing glamorous about it. We’re in a different country, a different hotel, a different bed, every day, and you’re working at least, a minimum of 15 hours a day, every day.”

“See, a typical day in Europe would be, like, we’d do a TV show in England at 6 in the morning, another show at noon in Scotland, press conference in Paris at 4 pm, and then back to London for a show that very night. And that’s just one day.”

“Come to think of it, my new home is the inside of a plane. I haven’t had a vacation, even a weekend off, in 2 1/2 years” the pretty singer who was named Best Pop Artist at last year’s MTV Europe Awards said.

Craig David Duets With Sting

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Craig and Sting? Now, it may seem an unlikely coupling but even then, apparently, the duet’s said to be a spectacular one. Studio executives who have heard the track reckon it could be the worldwide hit that cements Craig’s growing popularity in America.

The pair secretly recorded ‘Rise And Fall’ in a North London studio two weeks ago. The track, which sees the pair singing about the perils of stardom, features the guitar riff from Sting’s hit ‘Shape Of My Heart’.

Craig loved the original and tried to pen a tune around it a year ago. He sent an early version to Sting who jumped at the chance to team up.

“Craig wrote the track about the dangers of fame and how people blow their chances. It’s an unusual coupling but Sting is a big fan of Craig’s and sees him as a real young talent. The track is a classic and will appeal across the generations. It’ll bring a lot of Sting’s fans to Craig and vice versa. Their voices sound fantastic together.” That came from Craig’s spokesperson.

The song is likely to be released as a single next year and will obviously be found in Craig’s untitled sophomore album which sources say might be out in November.

Gareth And His Label Cheated To Be At The Top Of The UK Singles Chart

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Pop Idol’s jovial judge Dr Fox has condemned Gareth Gates and his record company for scrubbing JXL’s Elvis Presley remix off so that the gappy-toothed star can get to the top slot of the UK singles chart.

The be-spectacled muso thinks that the move is a mocking effort to ‘fix’ the charts by guaranteeing no big competition for Gareth.

The King’s song ‘A Little Less Conversation’ has been one of the top hits of the year, but BMG stopped stocking stores last Friday. The DJ told the newspapers “People are always saying the charts are not exciting because they are fixed. It is not true always but in this particular case, yes, I would say there has been a fix. It’s so obvious.”You know, if it was indeed a move by his record label, then I’m pretty sure Gareth’s no angel then since he must have known about it.

Meanwhile, Gareth’s decision to cover an Elvis song could defuse controversy over the move to delete JXL’s remix of ‘A Little Less Conversation’.

He plans to release ‘Suspicious Minds’ as part of a double A-side with ‘Pop Idol’ victor Will Young. The other main track will be their duet on the Beatles’ song ‘Long And Winding Road’.

Will and Gareth’s joint effort will be out in September.