There's no disputing the fact that hip-hop colossus Big Pun has balls -- since he's put plenty on display at the South Bronx business he opened earlier this week. Don't get the idea that Pun's peddling porn, though: The rapper, whose real name is Christopher Rios, went back to his old 'hood in order to open the first in what he hopes to be a chain of South Bronx Billiards and Barber Shops. "There's no place around here for kids to go and just hang out where there's no getting into trouble," Pun said at a press conference at the sprawling complex, located on a strip of Westchester Avenue just an eight-ball's throw away from where he grew up. "Here, they can hang out, play pool, listen to music. It'll keep kids from running on the streets." If the idea catches on -- and judging from the number of local teens who were in attendance on opening day, it looks like it will -- Pun says that up to twenty more locations may follow. "I hope he does open more of these," said Julian Ramirez, a sixteen-year-old who trekked from the other side of the borough to scope out the scene. "There's not much to do up in Kingsbridge either, and if you want to just chill, you've got no place to go" . . .

Don't cry for Axl Rose. The low-key Guns n' Roses frontman was awarded a continuance in Phoenix Municipal Court today, delaying his appointment to appear in front of Judge Lester by one month. On Feb. 5 -- one day before Rose's thirty-seventh birthday -- the singer is scheduled to answer to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct levied against him nearly a year ago. Rose -- born William B. Bailey -- was arrested Feb. 10, 1998, at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport for allegedly threatening to punch an airport security officer who asked to search his luggage at the Southwest Airlines baggage check. The Guns n' Roses camp says that Rose was only attempting to retrieve a sentimental and fragile birthday gift from his baggage. If convicted, Rose could face a $2,500 fine or several months in jail . . .

Bruce Dickinson gets no respect. It's been six years since the singer left Iron Maiden, and after five albums on his own, his solo career hasn't exactly set the world on fire. So you'd think that he'd be happy to appear on a TV chat show. Au contraire. According to London's Daily Mirror, the long-tressed frontman stormed out of the John Docherty Show only minutes before it was to begin taping. It seems a production assistant had let it slip that the show had engaged a barbershop quartet to serenade the rocker during his interview. No, they weren't going to croon "Bicycle Built for Two," but rather they'd worked up a medley of Iron Maiden's better known numbers and were going to harmonize on them during Dickinson's segment. The singer was livid and stormed out, even after the show's producer promised that they would drop the quartet from the program. So we guess that means we can just scotch any hope of Dickinson reuniting with his former brethren . . .

Industry heavyweights headed a panel at the Manhattan School of Music onJan. 7 as part of the 1999 Grammy in the Schools campaign, but thelegion of high school students bussed into the esteemed Harlem institution only had eyes for panel member: Sean "Puffy" Combs. Combs' every mumble and gesture were met with a chorus of whoops and squeals from the overzealous teenagers, who would periodically run up to the stage to snap a picture of the Puffster. Funny, we figured he'd be lecturing would-be moguls at some Ivy League business school . . .

Rod Stewart is really singing the blues this time. His wife of eight years, New Zealand model Rachel Hunter, walked out on the singer after telling friends that her fifty-four-year-old husband had gotten boring in middle age and had been spending his time playing with train sets or watching television. Hunter, now 29, managed to snare the womanizing Mod after a whirlwind four-month courtship amid the singer's checkered career of loving and leaving blonde beauties over the past two decades. The couple issued a joint statement through Stewart's U.S. management, explaining that "there are no immediate plans for the couple's divorce" . . .

You can't always get what you want, but if you're the Rolling Stones -- or were once flat mates with some of 'em -- you'll wanna pout and stomp your feet until you get what you need. And what old-time Rolling Stones compatriot and author James Phelge needs is a commemorative plaque on the building at 102 Edith Grove in Chelsea, London, where Phelge watched roomies Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones struggle for recognition thirty-seven years ago. On Dec. 31, 1998, Phelge resumed the battle to save the building from the wrecking ball by creating an online petition -- a beggar's banquet of sorts -- where bored surfers can help him in the fight to convert the building to a historical monument. More than 100 international supporters have already signed the campaign book on the site. Why Phelge has not yet tapped the Stones' legion of corporate sponsors is unknown . . .

It's been more than a year since the release of their last album, but it appears that Luna are almost ready to pitch their pup tent again. According to singer Dean Wareham, the foursome entered a New York studio just before the new year, where they laid down twelve tracks for their upcoming album, tentatively titled The Young and the Restless ("No, I'm not afraid of a lawsuit," quipped Wareham via email). Following in the conceptual footsteps of 1995's Penthouse, which ended with a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's French-sung "Bonnie and Clyde," The Young and the Restless includes a final song written in a foreign language, though this time the tongue of choice is German. "Writing in German is a first for me, and it was kind of easy," the Harvard alum singer jokes. The band hopes to master the record some time in January, though Elektra has no release date as yet set . . .

Until some blasphemer digitally grafts the late Jerry Garcia's voice onto a performance by the remaining members of the Dead -- or until the next Dick's Picks album rolls its bones -- the Other Ones will have to sate fans' formidable musical appetites. Only the Strange Remain, a performance album captured during the second half of last year's Furthur Festival, is a two-disc, two-and-a-half hour live collection of Other Ones songs that highlights not only classic Dead tunes, but newer Mickey Hart songs and upbeat Bruce Hornsby selections as well. The album, named for a track off Hart's 1996 release, Mystery Box, was recorded by Tom Flye (Sly & the Family Stone, Allman Brothers), who co-produced the set with the Other Ones. The album will be released on Feb. 9. The track listing is as follows: "St. Stephen/The Eleven," "Jack Straw," "Sugaree," "Corrina," "Only the Strange Remain," "White-Wheeled Limousine," "Estimated Prophet," "Playing in the Band," "The Other One," "Banyan Tree," "Rainbow's Cadillac," "Mountains of the Moon," "Friend of the Devil," "Baba Jingo" and "China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider" . . .

The last time British pop misanthrope Momus wrote a song about an actual person, he found himself in quite a bit of hot water when the tune's subject, transsexual soundtrack composer Wendy Carlos, objected strenuously enough to file a lawsuit against the lovably loony crooner. But rather than complain about being handed a lemon, Momus has decided to make lemonade. His next release, Stars Forever, will feature nothing but songs about people who've not only given permission for their lives to be immortalized on disc, but actually paid for the privilege. The first thirty people to pony up a cool $1,000 will have a song written in their honor and committed to the grooves of the album, which is slated for release in early summer. According to the folks over at Le Grand Magistery, Momus' U.S. label, ten fanatics -- who've clearly made far too much money in the record-collecting underground -- have already reserved spaces on the disc. While we can remember a friend named Roxanne who ran for cover every time the Police song bearing her name hit the radio, it's clear that some folks will do just about anything for fame: If you fit that category, all you need to do is write a 1,000-word description of yourself (or the person you'd like the tune penned for) and send it along with the ten C-notes. One caveat to diehard Momus fans: the singer has given his word that no negative lyrics will be included on "Stars Forever," making it a first in his catalog. You can reserve your place on this record now by e-mailing either Momus at: nick@momus.demon.co.uk or Le Grand Magistery at: magistery@aol.com . . .

After the Barenaked Ladies' New Year's Eve gig in Philadelphia, the Canadian quintet played a post-concert bash at Indre Studios, a local recording space/party haunt in South Philly. From 2 a.m. until well after four-o-clock in the morning, the harmony-happy band jammed for a small crowd of about sixty people. They blitzed through none of their own material but played covers of Rolling Stones songs, Eighties new wave hits and "whatever came into their mind," said Indre co-owner Todd Strine. Roadies, girlfriends and industry types jammed with the goofy Ladies as the band switched instruments with each other and touring keyboardist Chris Brown (who replaced regular keyboardist Kevin Hearn, who's on sabbatical due to illness) got up and sang a version of Prince's "1999." After the show, some of the BNL crew went to check out Philly's legendary Mummers strut down Broad Street for the New Year's Day parade, but the band returned to the road . . .

If Marilyn Manson and Co. come out on the losing end of a lawsuit filed against them Monday (Jan. 6) at Manhattan's Supreme Court, they could be out a collective $24 million for the dope show Manson allegedly pulled after a recent New York gig. According to court papers, Spin executive editor Craig Marks claims that Manson threatened and had him roughed up by his bodyguards. Marks, who believes the assault stemmed from Manson's displeasure at being bumped from a proposed cover story, is seeking a maximum of $1 million in compensatory damages and a minimum of $5 million in punitive damages on four separate charges. Six defendants are named in the suit: Manson, Nothing Records, Interscope Records, two bodyguards and their security firm. Manson's lawyer, Paul Cambria, was quoted in the New York Post saying that witnesses deny Marks was physically assaulted, and that the lawsuit "sounds like someone chasing after publicity. We'll defend this and decide what countermeasures we want to take." Maybe they'll make Marks an offer he can't refuse . . .

British insiders say that Liam Gallagher has recorded a duet with supermodel/actress Elizabeth Hurley and is playing it for pals, cajoling them to guess what woman's voice embellishes the track. Wonder if he played it for his wife Patsy Kensit? Nevertheless, things seem to be going swimmingly in their love nest, and the two were spotted shopping together this past weekend in London. Patsy popped into high-end Harvey Nichols while the scruffy, dufflecoat-wearing Liam lumbered into Harrods demanding to know where he could find Cher, who was scheduled to open this year's annual Harrods after-Christmas sale. Meanwhile, Liam's brother Noel wasn't about to spend his entire post-Christmas holiday shopping. Instead, he rolled into 1999 with New Order; the guitarist was in the crowd at Alexandra Palace on New Year's Eve as his fellow Mancunians set about resurrecting their career. Hopefully Oasis will do the same with the nine new songs Noel's reportedly penned for the group's next album. This time out, the record may even include a track by Liam. No, not the Liz Hurley number, but rather the song he wrote for his six-year old stepson, James Kerr, earlier this year and recorded with Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Craddock . . .

We won't comment on how Mick Jagger's marriage is faring, but witnesses say that he spent the holidays on St. Barts romping in the surf with various offspring -- and that Mrs. Jagger was nowhere to be seen. Jagger left the tropical paradise late last week for Manhattan, and was spotted Jerry-less at the Madison Fine Art Gallery attending British photographer Gered Mankowitz's show, which featured, among other things, sultry shots of the young Jagger as well as snaps of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Jagger's old inamorata Marianne Faithfull. In case you're wondering, the New York Daily News reported that the notoriously thrifty Jagger didn't buy anything, but did sign the guest book with the simple words, "Great Snaps -- St. Paul de Vence. Mick Jagger." (That's where the featured photos of the Rolling Stones were taken back in the rollicking Sixties.) Meanwhile, the makers of Meanie Babies, the Beanie Babies' evil twins, have announced that six celebs will be getting their own less-than-cuddly likenesses rendered in bean bags. Jagger's toy is called Mick Jaguar, which will perch on the shelf right next to beanie figures of Madonna, Dennis Rodman, Howard Stern, Jerry Springer and Jack Nicholson. The six pack can be yours for a mere $50 . . .

Anyone reading these pages knows that Iggy Pop has been involved in some strange pairings lately. While pundits swore that the Igster would reunite with his old pal David Bowie for a duet last year, he fooled us all and did a track for his new album with Medeski, Martin, and Wood -- in Spanish, no less. Now it seems that he will team with idiosyncratic British pop duo Alisha's Attic for Donatella Versace's fashion show in London this Saturday (Jan. 9). Although they're without an American record label, the sister act, consisting of Karen and Shellie Poole, are great favorites of the designer, who took over her brother's business after he was murdered in Miami two years ago. But Donatella's fetishes don't stop there. She absolutely has a thing for punk progenitor Pop, whom she spotted recently on the VH1 Fashion Awards. Naturally, she invited him to share the stage with the Poole sisters, as well as to perform a thirty-minute set himself. Of course, he'll be able to pick out any Versace creations he pleases, free of charge . . .

It's been nearly three years since the release of the Fugees' breakthrough sophomore disc The Score, and spiritual leader Wyclef Jean seems to have gone a little afield of the group's original vision. The inimitable rapper recently recorded a duet with saxophonist Kenny G for the soundtrack of Life, the upcoming Eddie Murphy movie that Jean is scoring. According to Mr. G, doing the song was "a stretch for him," but the two got along so swimmingly that he's considering asking Jean to work on part of his forthcoming album. As for Jean, he's in no apparent hurry to put the Fugees yoke back on; he revealed to New Jersey's Star Ledger last summer that "Certain people have said: 'Don't wait too long to drop another Fugees' record.' But usually a successful group will try to ride on the success of the last album. We're trying to ride on good music. When it's time to do another Fugees album, it will be more anticipated after all the solo projects. It will feel like a class reunion." Insiders say there will be no reunion for the trio in the near future, nor, contrary to other reports, will Jean or Lauryn Hill appear in the New Line Cinema production of Ghetto Superstar, the movie based on fellow Fugee Pras' solo album. The project, which was snapped up by Madonna for her Madguy Films, is set to begin filming in the spring and will feature Pras in a story about a Brooklyn rapper trying to break into the music business . . .

Oscar Scaggs, the twenty-one-year-old son of rock/soul/blues singer Boz Scaggs, died early New Year's Eve in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose. The younger Scaggs was pronounced dead at 5:06 a.m. on Dec. 31 after he was found at a drug dealer's home in the city's Mission District. Oscar had been in an intensive drug rehabilitation program since last January battling an addiction to heroin. According to friends, Oscar was dealt a severe blow a little over a year ago with the loss of his lifelong friend Nicholas Traina, lead singer of Link 80 and son of romance novelist Danielle Steel, who died from a heroin overdose. "I just saw Oscar a couple a weeks ago at our Christmas party, and it seemed to be in good spirits, healthy," said Dawn Holliday, talent booker at Slim's, the club Boz Scaggs owns in San Francisco. Oscar had worked at San Francisco's Diesel clothing store and also moonlighted as a sound technician at Slim's. He and his younger brother Austin, a recent intern at Rolling Stone, would often accompany their father on his tours. According to Holliday, there will be a private memorial for friends of the family later this week. Contributions may be made in his name to the Haight Ashbury Medical Clinic in San Francisco. Oscar is survived by Mr. Scaggs, Austin and his mother Carmella Scaggs . . .

U2 manager Paul McGuinness walked away from a accident in County Wicklow, Ireland, where his Jaguar collided a jeep. According to police, McGuinness only injured his finger -- and, no, he wasn't giving it to the other driver. In other U2 news, drummer Larry Mullen and his wife, Anne Acheson, are parents for the second time. The couple welcomed a daughter into the world on Dec. 23. Bet she won't be sharing a room with brother Aaron Elvis . . .

The RSN Staff
(January 8, 1999)