Mar 29, 2006 5:21 PM

From Jack White to K-Fed

Much-anticipated JACK WHITE side project the RACONTEURS will play their first U.S. gig at New York's Irving Plaza on April 7th. Tickets for the gig go on sale through Ticketmaster this Thursday. This is only the second U.S. date announced thus far -- they're also playing Chicago's Lollapalooza on August 4th. Their debut, Broken Boy Soldiers, surfaces May 16th, with the single "Steady, As She Goes," hitting stores May 9th.

Morrissey Takes One for the Seals

When MORRISSEY tours in support of his latest solo release, Ringleader of the Tormentors, due April 4th, the former SMITHS frontman will not be stopping in Canada. In light of PAUL McCARTNEY's recent activism against the country's annual baby seal hunt, Morrissey has also decided to protest the "barbaric slaughter." The melancholy crooner asks that fans go so far as to boycott Canadian products.

Bon Jovi's Sambora Gets Bad Break

BON JOVI guitarist RICHIE SAMBORA broke his arm last week after falling down at his Los Angeles pad. While on the mend, Sambora, 46, will wear a sling and is expected to make a quick recovery that will not flub any dates on the New Jersey rockers' Have a Nice Day World Tour. The band's next stop is Japan, on April 8th.

The Game Starts a New Feud

The GAME filed a copyright infringement suit in Los Angles against Koch Entertainment, who released five albums and a DVD of early demos from the rapper. The West Coast rap star alleges that Koch did not secure rights or licenses for distribution from him. The Game, born Jayceon Taylor, would like the label to desist from releasing The Game: Untold Story, The Game: Untold Story Vol. II, The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed, The Game: Untold Story Chopped and Screwed Vol. II and The Game: Untold Story Special Addition (CD and DVD). He is also seeking damages.

Crow Performs With Strings Attached

SHERYL CROW, Wildflower Tour from New York, a concert featuring Crow backed by a sixteen-piece string section led by conductor DAVID CAMPBELL, will air May 11th on PBS. Taped last October over a two-night stint at New York's Lincoln Center -- before Crow was treated for breast cancer -- the performance features new orchestrations of her hits "If It Makes You Happy" and "All I Wanna Do," as well as cuts from her latest effort, last year's Wildflower. Crow is set to tour again this summer, beginning June 12th in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Beach Boys, Beatles Muses Pass Away

EUGENE LANDY, the psychologist whose "twenty-four-hour therapy" clientele included ALICE COOPER and the BEACH BOYS' BRIAN WILSON, died on March 22nd of lung cancer at the age of seventy-one. In 1975, Levy and his team were hired by Wilson's wife to monitor the phobia- and drug-addled rocker at all hours, nursing him off drugs and junk food before the Beach Boys' fifteenth anniversary concert. Although fired shortly before the performance, Wilson rehired Levy in the Eighties, who would go on to become Wilson's manager . . . IVOR CUTLER, 83, a Surrealist poet and songwriter who appeared in the 1967 BEATLES film Magical Mystery Tour, died in London on March 3rd after suffering a stroke . . . JESSEE TAYLOR, 55, a longtime JOE ELY BAND guitarist, died of complications from hepatitis C at home in Austin, Texas, on March 7th.

Spector Builds Wall of Lawsuits

Legendary producer PHIL SPECTOR -- currently awaiting trial for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson -- is now being sued by his former personal assistant. Michelle Blaine is seeking more than $5 million in damages on sexual harassment allegations. Blaine is contending that Spector continually proposed marriage to her so that she would not testify against him in his murder trial. (California law maintains that spouses cannot be forced to testify against one another.) Spector first sued Blaine in September, accusing her of stealing hundreds and thousands of dollars from him, which she claims were all authorized payments and gifts.

K-Fed to Set the World on Fire (Seriously)

BRITNEY SPEARS' husband KEVIN FEDERLINE has dubbed his debut album Playing With Fire. In a statement, the wannabe rapper -- also known as K-FED -- explained, "My album is sure to set the dance floors across the world on fire!" He is determined to release the album in August. His second single, "For Real," dealing with how unfairly the media portrays him, will stream beforehand . . . In other Federline family news, Spears is being sued by three former employees. According to the Los Angeles Times, three security guards who were fired in November are now seeking compensation for unpaid overtime and the final paychecks they claim the pop star withheld.

Email Print