March 07, 2007

Touring and jamming with the band 30 Seconds to Mars proves to be time consuming for band member Matt Wachter. The bassist has just announced his leave from the band due to lack of time spent with his family.

The band's tour in El Paso, Texas on March 1, 2007 marks the last show of Wachter. Vocalist Jared Leto announced it to the audience towards the end of the show and then dedicated the last score "Attack" for Wachter.

Set to have his first fictional flick, S.R. Bindler has been tapped to direct comedy flick "Surfer, Dude", which has already had Matthew McConaughey onboard as the leadstar.

Bindler, who previously directed "Hands on a Hard Body: The Documentary", will helm the project based on a script he penned alongside Cory Van Dyke. Plot details of the picture has not yet been made public, but it is said that the story is about a soulful surfer in existential crisis.

Kevin Federline goes bald. Not without reason but the aspiring rapper wants to make public his support for estranged wife, the also bald Britney Spears.

K-Fed, who separated from the troubled pop star last year, unveiled his new cut at a party in Las Vegas. In a more personal news, he reportedly also is prepared to reconcile with the mother of two of his children.

A shaft of light is really shining down upon M. Night Shyamalan now as he finally makes his way to sell his spec script of "The Happening", previously known as "The Green Effect", to 20th Century Fox after shopping it around for awhile.

Variety reports that the studio has delightfully given the green light to the filmmaker to go on with the project, which will be his first R-rated effort. It is said that the man is aiming to shoot the film in Philadelphia this August while at the same time continuing to work on the script for "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Strengthening their bond in producing films together, Columbia Pictures and Will Smith are about to develop a big screen adaptation of a novel by an inner-city drug dealer turned Vegas celebrity chef, which is likely to be another inspiring feature coming from them after "The Pursuit of Happyness."

Titled "Cooked" just like the name of the book, written by Jeff Henderson, the project possibly will stay true to the original source material which chronicles the author's journey from top San Diego cocaine dealer to imprisonment, where he discovered a passion for cooking, and his struggles to make it as a chef.

The long separated member of Jesus Mary Chain, Bobby Gillespie is reported to rejoin the group in the band's comeback tour. The concert that will be held in Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in May will also mark the reunion of the members of Jesus Mary Chain since its break-up in 1999.

Its active members, Jim Reid and William Reid has confirmed the comeback of the band. That is why Gillespie is excited in filling in the gap "If they asked me, I would play," he explained. "I haven't played with them since 1985, you know--it's a long time ago. The last time I saw them play was '98 and then they split up three days later."

ABC Radio Networks announced Tuesday March 6th an exclusive agreement with Mexican pop star Thalia to produce and syndicate "The Conexion Thalia Radio Show," a two-hour weekly radio program starring the superstar.

"The Conexion Thalia Radio Show" on ABC Radio en Espanol will feature celebrity interviews, lifestyle segments and information targeted toward Latinos, with Thalia will serve as host. She reportedly will cover all the topics that appeal to an extremely wide demographic of l8-34 year old male and female Latinos and lovers of the culture.

Seemingly aiming to draw in more female audience, Universal Pictures is on the move to develop a romantic comedy entitled "Unnatural Selection" of which script it has successfully purchased from new writer Cameron Fay, who also lands a deal that calls for him to direct.

The flick's story is said to focus on an underachiever who picks up women out of his league by befriending them to then find his match in an old female pal from college who is a divorced woman with one child. No word yet on cast lineup, but it is revealed that Mary Parent and Scott Stuber will both produce via their company Stuber/Parent.

She has had "Dancing With The Stars" in her list. And now Heather Mills is adding one more into her hectic schedules, playing in hit musical.

Rumor has it that Mills has met with theater producer Cameron Mackintosh to discuss the possibility to play Mary Poppins in the hit musical. In order to be able to play the role, Mills will need to perfect her singing and dancing skills.

Well, this sure will be one of the unusual acting stints Pierce Brosnan ever takes. The former James Bond has given positive sign to join Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia!", the big screen adaptation of hit musical stage play of the same title.

"I said yes right away because it meant working with Meryl Streep," the actor admitted. "Secondly, I saw the show with my family in London, and found it just so wonderfully happy and joyful, and so pitched in time forever in the 1970s. What a kick in the pants, to be able to go off and spend time with Meryl on some Greek island, singing ABBA songs."

She's been into one arm to another. Cameron Diaz has been linked to numbers of famous males following her split from longtime boyfriend Justin Timberlake in January.

After persistent rumors on her being romantically linked to professional surfer Kelly Slater and "Blood Diamond" actor Djimon Hounsou, Cameron was spotted making out with rapper-turned-actor Tyrese Gibson.

Lance Armstrong who? Sheryl Crow has had enough of her ex-boyfriend and already in a new relationship.

The recording artist has revealed she is now in a relationship with a man whose name she won't reveal to protect his privacy.

Cultivating awareness of environmental issues through the unifying voice of music, the Green Apple Music & Arts Festival has delightfully constructed a long list of performers set to go onstage as it celebrates the Earth Day for the second time across three big cities of New York, Chicago and San Francisco on April 22, 2007.

Coming onboard to highlight the event in New York that day among others are Taylor Hicks, Tom Paxton and Richard Shindell, Fat Mama, The Radiators, Edwin MccAin, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and Junior Brown. Hicks, "American Idol" winner of the fifth season, will perform at the Beacon Theatre with kid-friendly singer/songwriter Laurie Berkner headlining a free gig on Central Park's Great Hill.

The renovation is done already and the inn is opened for public. Chateau La Rue, named after Tori Spelling's pug dog Mimi La Rue, was opened Saturday March 3rd.

The guesthouse, located in Fallbrook, California - 100 miles south east of Los Angeles, is the focus of Tori and husband Dean McDermott's new reality show, "Tori and Dean: Inn Love." The inn officially opens to guests later this week, with Tori insists to be helping out, even though she is due to give birth to a boy at the end of the month.

A business deal has been signed between Eminem and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). The label under the Universal Music has announced that Eminem's international administration will be taken care of under the new company.

Among the deals discussed in the contract is the right to the Grammy Award winning rapper's greatest hits compilation album "Curtain Call: The Hits" (2005). Also, some songs that he had co-written in 50 Cent's "The Massacre" (2005) and Akon's single "Smack That" that features him.

Three music groups, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Barenaked Ladies and Sister Hazel are signed to perform in the Atlanta-based cruise company Sixthman. Employing the alternative rock theme this time, the ship will set sail early next year.

The cruise which features multiple live performances, meet and greets, Q&A sessions and frequent bumps to the artists, schedules Skynyrds' cruise to sail on 10th up to 14th of Jan 2008 with destination and stop in Mexico. Marshall Tucker Band will also appear in the same cruise. Meanwhile, on the next cruise scheduled Jan 19-24, Sister Hazel is featured along Josh Kelley and other artists. Barenaked Ladies' turn will be on Jan 27 up to Feb 1 where the cruise heads to Grand Cayman and Jamaica.

Seems to have no shortage of offers, Ron Perlman has signed deals to both star in and executive produce a big screen feature titled "Standing Down", which will be developed under Big Screen Entertainment banner.

Written by Ron Zimmerman, the project presents the story about Sgt. Patrick Ulysses Macklin, a career soldier who must face the prospect of life without the US Army. Also attached to star is hip-hop sensation Pras Michel with BSEG CEO Kimberley Kates, Michael Manasseri, and David Zappone all producing.

LL Cool J is expanding his career into the world of advertisement. The rapper is in talks to represent popular lip balm brand, Chapstick.

Per Brand Week magazine, it is claimed that the negotiations are part of a brand extension strategy for artists LL Cool J and 50 Cent, which is being launched by Violator Artist Management. It is said in the publication both LL and 50 Cent are looking forward to expand their celebrity status through new endorsement deals.

It appears that the hero will swing his webs elsewhere before jumping the U.S. skyscrapers.

Evoking surprise among the fans and moviegoers, Sony Pictures has announced that "Spider-Man 3" will open in Japan instead and grace roughly 400 theaters there on May 1, 2007 after a star-studded premiere in Tokyo set to be held on April 16.

Working hard for 14 months in the studio and writing more than 100 scores in preparation of the new album, Linkin Park is finally set to release "Minutes to Midnight" on May 15 in US and May 14 in other countries.

17 songs have been selected to be in the record and single "What I've Done" is chosen to be the first single released. It will be aired in radios starting from April 2. Meanwhile, the making of the video for the track has also been finished. Directed by DJ Joseph Hahn, it took the set in Californian desert.

After letting go his chance to direct "Superman Returns", now McG seems to finally get a comic book property to helm. IESB.net has claimed that the Michigan-born filmmaker is taking over Peter Berg's seat as the director of "The Losers", a big screen adaptation of Vertigo/DC Comics of the same name.

Written by Andy Diggle and drawn by Jock aka Mark Simpson, the original draws its concept based on an obscure old DC Comic revolving around team of soldiers in WWII to present a story about a team of special force soldiers who decide to go against the CIA after being betrayed and abandoned.

Rapper mogul Jay-Z has entered into a deal to sell his clothing company "Rocawear" to Iconix Brand Group, a company that licenses and markets such popular brands as Candies, Joe Boxer, Mudd, London Fog, and Ocean Pacific among others, for $204 million in cash.

The deal, announced Tuesday March 6th, will also make it possible for Jay-Z to net $35 million in Iconix stock, if the Rocawear brand meets certain performance requirements over the next three-five years. And so the rich gets richer.

His big day is coming and he wants it to be real BIG. Kevin Federline, who turns 29 on March 21st, has had a big plan in his head. The rapper wants his fans to come along and celebrate with him at his birthday parties!

Through the program called "Party Like A Celebrity at Kevin Federline's Private Birthday Bashes in Los Angeles & Vegas", the man is offering fans who search the web at searchwithkevin.com an exclusive chance to win tickets to his private birthday bashes in Los Angeles (March 21) and Las Vegas (March 24).

For what is considered as the most anticipated rock tour in 2007, the announcement of Heaven and Hell's tour dates is undoubtedly great news to music fans especially in rock genre. Heaven and Hell as the Ronnie James Dio's version of Black Sabbath is reunited in this tour for the first time since 15 years ago. The band is finally hitting the road starting from March 11 in Vancouver.

There has been 12 stops revealed in the band's official website, including the one night only stop at the prestigious New York's Radio City Music Hall on March 30. Besides the 12 dates, the announcement of additional tour schedules which are up to the end of the year in Europe, Asia and US will follow after.

Building his screenwriting resume after being assigned to pen for "Welfare Queen", Abdul Williams is onboard to carry out writing duties in "Lottery Ticket" for Rogue Pictures which has successfully picked it up based on his treatment.

Presenting a premise of a teenage boy who must keep his winning lottery ticket a secret over a three day weekend, the urban comedy has already had music video director Erik White at helm with Evolution's Oren Koules and Mark Berg both serving as producers. Names to star have not yet been known and neither has the production date.

Has established her own style, the way she dresses does inspire young females to be as fashionable as her. With her becoming an inspiration in fashion, Lauren Conrad is now coming out with her own fashion line, which will be available in high-end boutiques, retail stores and online later this fall.

The star of MTV's popular series "The Hills", moreover, is teaming up with MTV Networks, announced Tuesday March 6th the first-ever celebrity-inspired digital fashion line to be introduced in the Virtual Hills virtual world. Both Lauren's physical and virtual world fashion lines are said to reflect such casual yet smart aesthetic fashion style.

Finally able to secure his next directorial effort, Italian filmmaker Gabriele Muccino has landed deals with Universal Pictures to direct its romantic drama feature "Man and Wife (2009)", which is slated to begin shooting this summer.

No details yet about the plot, but the picture is said to be set in Brooklyn and present a story about an immigrant's love for the U.S.. Penning the screenplay is Lorene Scafaria with Double Feature's Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher producing alongside Domenico Procacci.

Making a balance between its horror and comedy productions, Dimension Films has obtained rights to a comedy pitch entitled "Runt" to develop it at its pit, Variety had learned.

A high-concept comedy about twin brothers who are complete opposites, the project will be directed by "Wild Hogs" helmer Walt Becker who is set to co-write the script as well alongside David Gallagher. The duo previously had their comedy pitch "Schooled" sold to Disney which reportedly has attached Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to star in.