• Paul McCartney says he left EMI after forty-five years because “Everybody at EMI had become part of the furniture. I’d be a couch; Coldplay are an armchair.” In an interview with the U.K.’s Times, McCartney said the label became “boring” and he “dreaded going to see” executives there. He added that signing with Starbucks’ Hear Music was also fueled by wanting to release music sooner than the six months EMI said was needed to market it. Fellow EMI-ditchers Radiohead followed a similarly speedy path by releasing In Rainbows online; watch the TV commercial for the January 1st release of Rainbows on CD here.
• UGK’s Pimp C was buried in Texas yesterday, eight days after passing away in Hollywood. Several hundred mourners including the MC’s UGK partner Bun B, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug and David Banner attended the funeral, and Pimp C’s mom gave an unprepared speech explaining, “C said ‘Go ‘head and wing it mama’ … I’m all right, you’re all right, ’cause he’s all right. My C is celebrating. He’s happy to see you.” No cause of death has been determined.
• Michael Jackson is reportedly planning a three-month world tour for next year, set to begin in March. The rumored concerts would allegedly be used to pay off Jackson’s increasing debts, perhaps including outstanding lawyer’s fees from his 2005 child-molestation trial. Yesterday a judge gave MJ twenty-five days to pay or settle by turning over financial information to his former legal reps.
• Florida prosecutors have dropped a domestic battery charge against Scott Stapp. The Creed frontman completed anger-management and substance-abuse counseling, and rid himself of weapons as a part of the deal. His wife accused him of turning violent in May after returning home from a night of using drugs.
• Linkin Park have announced the complete list of dates for their winter 2008 tour with Coheed and Cambria and Chiodos. Check them out after the jump.

Linkin Park Tour Dates:

February 12th – Omaha, NE – Qwest Center Omaha
February 13th – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Ctr
February 15th – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
February 16th – Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
February 18th – Manchester, NH – Verizon Wireless
February 19th – Baltimore, MD – 1st Mariner Arena
February 21st – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
February 22nd – Montreal, QU – Bell Centre
February 23rd – London, ON – John LaBatt Centre
February 25th – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
February 26th – Nashville, TN – Sommet Ctr
February 29th – Oklahoma City, OK – Ford Ctr
March 1st – Albuquerque, NM – Tingley Coliseum
March 2nd – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Ctr
March 4th – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Ctr
March 6th – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint @ Hard Rock
March 7th – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint @ Hard Rock
March 8th – West Valley City, UT – E Center
March 10th – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena