Mar 22, 2006 5:29 PM

From Macy to Prince

MACY GRAY's next album, Big, features production work by the new hip-hop/pop duo of JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and BLACK EYED PEAS' WILL.I.AM. Slated for release by year's end, the follow-up to 2003's The Trouble With Being Myself will also sport special guests NATALIE COLE, OUTKAST (Gray appears in the hip-hoppers' upcoming movie, Idlewild) and SLEEPY BROWN. This fall, Gray will also launch the clothing line Natalie Hines.

Madonna Gets Vulgar

Although MADONNA was made to tone down her video for "Sorry," the latest single off Confessions on a Dance Floor, for airplay on MTV, the original version can be viewed at the video production designer's Web site. So fans who eager to see the Material Girl wag her middle finger can head to marcopuig.com/madonna.htm.

Bobby to Reunite With New Edition

BOBBY BROWN will reunite with his Eighties R&B group NEW EDITION for a one-off performance at the Essence Music Festival, relocated this year from New Orleans to Houston's Reliant Park, July 1st through 3rd. DIDDY, JAHEIM and CHRIS BROWN have also been added to a lineup that already features MARY J. BLIGE, LL COOL J, TONI BRAXTON and EARTH, WIND AND FIRE. In recent months, Brown has hinted at the possibility of a 2008 New Edition comeback tour.

Babs May Bid Another Farewell

BARBRA STREISAND is reportedly considering touring for the first time since 2000, with a jaunt that might launch this fall. Streisand, whose last release, 2005's BARRY GIBB collaboration Guilty Pleasures, peaked at Number Five, last performed at a 2004 JOHN KERRY fundraiser. Prior to that, Streisand put in a "farewell" stand at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2000 -- and grossed $14.4 million in two nights.

Video Awards Back in the Big Apple

The MTV Music Video Awards head back to New York this August after a two-year residency at Miami's American Airlines Arena. Hurricane Katrina threatened last year's VMAs when the deadly storm hit South Florida en route to New Orleans, forcing the cancellation of several pre-event shows and parties. The 2006 VMAs are slated for August 31st at the Big Apple's Radio City Music Hall.

TVs Already Unsafe, "Idol" Hits Cellphones

Beginning with this Tuesday's episode of American Idol, Cingular Wireless will remaster the talent show finalists' performances into downloadable ring tones, available to network subscribers the day after each episode is aired. Pending publishing clearance for the song, the ring tones will run at $2.49 a pop and be sold at cingularsource.com/idol/tones.

Hank Jr. Accused of Harassment

A waitress has filed a police report accusing country rocker HANK WILLIAMS, JR. of harassment. The nineteen-year-old alleges that Williams swore at her, tried to kiss her and held her in a chokehold shortly after midnight on Saturday at Memphis' Peabody Hotel, where he was staying while his daughters were being treated after a car accident. A warrant for Williams' arrest has not been issued.

Black Crowes Stay in Flight

BLACK CROWES will embark on a brief spring tour of Canada, starting May 4th in Vancouver. The rockers will then head East, playing eight dates in major Canadian cities . . . THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS and indie singer-songwriter MICHAEL LEVITON will hit the road for a fifteen-date trek, beginning April 22nd in Middletown, Connecticut. Leviton releases his lyrical debut, My Favorite Place to Drown, April 18th . . . BUILT TO SPILL have cancelled their spring tour because frontman DOUG MARTSCH is currently recovering from eye surgery. The band plans to reschedule those dates this fall.

Prince Too Purple for Boozer

According to papers obtained by thesmokinggun.com, PRINCE was slapped with a lawsuit by Utah Jazz power forward CARLOS BOOZER in January, after the funk-rocker made renovations to the Los Angeles mansion he was renting from the basketball star for $70,000 a month. Alterations to the property without Boozer's consent allegedly include purple stripes and the numbers "3121" -- the name of Prince's latest album, out this week -- painted on the mansion's exterior, purple monogrammed carpeting and plumbing for beauty salon chairs. The case was dropped last month, and the home is reportedly now on the market for $11.9 million. Prince -- who recently surprised fans with a Tuesday in-store performance at the Hollywood Sunset Tower Records -- plans to hold a promotional concert for 3121 at the pad.

Email Print