By Hans Fink
We could talk about how MICHAEL JACKSON’s mom is suing AEG over the death of her son or LADY GAGA’s YouTube video plea to repeal the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. However, if you have the Internet and/or TV, it would be redundant at this point. So let’s rehash some of the more obscure corners of music news instead.
When not advocating acts of sipping gin and juice while smoking endo, SNOOP DOGG apparently also advocates speaking out against cyber-crime. Launching his “Hack Is Wack” campaign in cahoots with Norton Symantec, the makers of anti-virus/anti-spyware, this campaign encourages aspiring young rappers to record and submit videos of themselves spitting anti-cyber-crime raps. The top video wins some sort of prize. The competition is stiff as, ironically, since of all the videos uploaded so far, not a one has earned higher than a three-star rating. Looks like everyone is tie for “mediocre” place in this contest. One can’t help but wonder why someone who raps about street crime is against cyber-crime. I think the message is, “if it ain’t street crime, it ain’t legit.” Hear that, cyber-criminals? Y’all ain’t from the streets.
Comedian/actor/presenter (yes, apparently presenting is a profession) RUSSELL BRAND faces a court hearing this month for engaging in the gentlemanly art of fisticuffs with paparazzi photographers last month in defense of his fiancé, KATY PERRY. Oh, did I mention the lucky bastard is engaged to Katy Perry? Yeah. So apparently the happy couple was at an airport when some overzealous paparazzi prompted a pummeling from the Perry-poking presenter. I love alliteration.
In what could prove to be pure brilliance or utter disaster, actor SACHA BARON COHEN of Borat and Ali G fame will be portraying legendary Queen frontman FREDDIE MERCURY in an as-of-yet untitled biopic. There is actually no joke here, aside from the fact that this is actually happening and Queen fans will simply have to make their peace with it.
In what should be humorous news, a jury in Atlanta has awarded $40,000 in favor of a plaintiff suing KID ROCK and his entourage for assault at a local Waffle House. The total damages being divided amongst the parties involved in the assault, Kid Rock’s share came to a flat $6,000, as the famed white trash singer alleges that he never assaulted the plaintiff with his fists, only verbally. It was in fact his entourage that carried out the dirty work. Ahhhh, typical rock star shenanigans . . . banging groupies, trashing hotel rooms and ordering your entourage to assault people at Waffle Houses. Good to hear some in the industry still rock it like it’s the ’80s.
