James Brown Arrested

James Brown was arrested yesterday and charged with criminal domestic violence after he allegedly shoved his wife to the bedroom floor at their home in Beech Island, South Carolina.

The singer, 70, posted bond and was released on his own recognizance today. Thirty-four-year-old Tomi Rae Brown, Brown's fourth wife, was taken to the hospital and treated for scratches and bruises on her arm and an injury to her hip.

"I would never hurt my wife," Brown said in a statement. "I love her very much."

Brown and his wife, also one of his backup singers, were married three years ago and have one son, James Joseph Brown II. Last summer, Brown bought a full-page advertisement in the weekly Variety with a picture of the family at Disney World and the bizarre notice: "Due to Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Tomi Rae Brown's heavy, demanding tour schedule, they have decided to go their separate ways."

The arrest isn't Brown's first. He spent more than two years in jail for a 1988 drug and assault arrest. He was convicted on drug charges again a decade later. Last May he was granted a state pardon.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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