The combined star power of Lily Allen and Elton John presenting the GQ Men of the Year Awards must have looked like a dream ticket on paper.
But the two stars didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye at last night’s star-studded event at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
As the evening wore on, Lily’s state gradually deteriorated as she continually sipped champagne on stage.
The 23-year-old, decked out in an extravagant ball gown, soon began slurring, swearing and ad-libbing - and it was only a matter of time before she had an all-too-public fall-out on stage with co-host Elton.
When she came to announce ‘…and now the most important part of the night’, Elton chipped in ‘What? Are you going to have another drink?’
She fired back: ‘F*** off Elton. I am 40 years younger than you and have my whole life ahead of me!’
The shocked audience fell silent.
A clearly rattled Elton replied ‘I could still snort you under the table’. To which she replied: ‘F*** off. I don’t know what you are talking about.’
On more than one occasion, Elton could be seen having a stern word with her in the wings between awards.
She barely made it off the stage after the awards ended - before drinking even more at the afterparty.
I just can’t fathom, what compelled Lily to tell Elton John to FO. I mean… he’s Elton John, you just don’t tell him to FO.
source: ‘I could still snort you under the table’: Elton’s shocking reply after worse-for-wear Lily verbally assaults him onstage [daily mail]
The new couple has been airing out their romance the past few weeks. They first appeared together at the CAA party, then Elton John’s AIDS Foundation screening party and they were not shy about their relationship last night.
Sean Penn and his soon to be ex wife Robin Wright announced their split in late December. The rumor was that Robin caught Sean in bed with two Russian whores while on vacation together. Petra on the other hand had a brief romance with James Blunt around Oscar time last year.
Taking someone to the Oscars pretty much confirms the bumping of uglies. He might of well have had her panties in his mouth.
Sharon Stone was pictured at Elton John’s Oscar party, wearing a rats paw on her lapel. When asked about it, she said:
“It’s for luck.”
I remember back when I was in high school, wearing fur was popular, but it was mostly rabbits fur that everyone wore [not that rabbits don't matter]. I haven’t worn fur since high school, I’m 42.
When PETA came along, it then became a matter of being humane and for the love of vegetarian. It’s made me look at fur differently. Yes, rats are gross… but that’s all the more reason, no?
What others said:
Dlisted says, “Somebody perform some sort of ritual on that rat’s paw and bring it back to life. Sharon needs a beat down and that rat paw is the one to do it.”
Sharon certainly loves her fur. What say now, PETA?
source: Sharon Stone Wearing A Rat’s Paw [dlisted]
**UPDATE [allie]:TMZ is reporting that PETA has already responded:
“Maybe Sharon, passed over by the Academy yet again, was jealous of Ratatouille’s Oscar win and thought a rodent paw might go with her haggard look. Her accessories these days are as dead as her career.”
Elton John is involved in a child porn case after a photo he donated to an art exhibition was seized by cops.
Art gallery bosses at The Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England have withdrawn the explicit photo a day before the exhibition is due to start on Wednesday (26Sep07), reports British newspaper The Sun.
The photo, taken by famed photographer Nan Godin, features two young girls posing provocatively - and is one of 4,000 pictures used in the Sir Elton John Photographic Collection. The Rocket Man hitmaker is said to admire the “directness, truth and poignancy” of Godin’s work.
Police are said to be investigating whether the gallery has broken the law for using the image. A police spokesperson says, “Who owns it or owned it is also part of the investigation.” John’s publicist declined to comment.
Source: “CHILD PORN POLICE TO INVESTIGATE ELTON JOHN” [pr-inside]
Elton John might have beef with Al Gore after that whole inventing the internet thing. Yep, Sir Elton wants the world wide web closed down.
He claims it is destroying good music, saying:
“The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.
“Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn’t bode well for long-term artistic vision.
“It’s just a means to an end.
“We’re talking about things that are going to change the world and change the way people listen to music and that’s not going to happen with people blogging on the internet.
“I mean, get out there — communicate.
“Hopefully the next movement in music will tear down the internet.
“Let’s get out in the streets and march and protest instead of sitting at home and blogging.
“I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span.
“There’s too much technology available.
“I’m sure, as far as music goes, it would be much more interesting than it is today.”
Maybe Elton’s opinions come from his self-described technophobia. The man doesn’t even have a cell phone, let alone an iPod.
But his feelings are kind of contradictory to his actions. Elton’s 60th birthday concert was streamed live over the internet, and he’s also announced this year that his entire back catalogue of albums will be made available for digital download. So which is it, Sir Elton?
His complaint lies mostly in the the quality of the music being made these days:
“In the early Seventies there were at least ten albums released every week that were fantastic.
“Now you’re lucky to find ten albums a year of that quality.
“And there are more albums released each week now than there were then.”
There’s some crappy music, sure, but that’s always been the case. And with the internet we have access to so many artists that it’s amazing. I have to disagree with you, Elton. There may be more to filter through to find the good stuff, but it’s worth it.
Bette Midler will replace Celine Dion as the headliner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, officials announced Thursday, answering the lingering question of who would be chosen to step into some big shoes and the 4,100-seat Colosseum, which Dion virtually sold out for what will be a nearly five-year run by December.
Dion’s show, “A New Day,” has grossed more than $500 million since it began in March 2003, producers said. The Grammy award-winning singer announced in January that she would end her run at the end of the year in the $95 million theater.
Midler said the venue was intimidating but exciting.
“I’m looking forward to it, but also I’m terrified because it’s huge,” she told The Associated Press by telephone. “That’s giving me the vapors.”
“At the same time, they also give you a lot of toys to play with. They give you the lifts and you can fly people in, you can fly them out. There’s all this wing space and hydraulics and stuff, and the dressing rooms are staggering. It should be an opera house somewhere in the Black Forest.”
Midler, 61, said she agreed to a two-year contract to work 100 shows a year, performing five nights a week for 20 weeks beginning Feb. 20.
The schedule is less grueling than Dion’s, who performed 160 shows per year.
“That’s really what made me decide it was going to be fun,” Midler said. “I have a child in school and I have a lot of commitments here in New York City. I like the idea of being able to come and go.”
With Elton John continuing his 50 shows a year through 2008, there will be room for a third Colosseum performer, said John Meglen, the president of Concerts West, an AEG Live company that books talent for Caesars.
“We will probably have one additional artist, which we’ll announce later,” Meglen said. He would not comment on widespread speculation that Cher also will be signed to perform.
Meglen said the Colosseum will go dark after Dion’s last show Dec. 15 until Midler begins.
Midler said she hasn’t decided what her 90-minute show will look and sound like.
“I think it’ll be my usual outrageous, flamboyant, over-the-top show,” she said.
“I have tremendous background singers and I always have a great band,” she added. “If I get lucky, I’ll have semi-nudes. I love showgirls and I love feathers and sequins, so I’m hoping there’ll be plenty of that.”
Irish rock star and global humanitarian Bono became a knight of the British empire Thursday — and joked that his youngest son thought he was about to become a Jedi instead.
Bono, 46, was named a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in an informal, laugh-filled ceremony in the Dublin home of British Ambassador David Reddaway.
“You have permission to call me anything you want — except sir, all right? Lord of lords, your demigodness, that’ll do,” he told reporters afterward. Because he is an Irish citizen, Bono won’t have the title of “sir” before his name. That honor is reserved for citizens of the United Kingdom or British Commonwealth countries. Ireland left the Commonwealth when it became a republic in 1949.
Reddaway paid tribute to Bono’s work as a campaigner against poverty and disease in Africa — but first asked whether he was disappointed that becoming a knight no longer involves a sword or kneeling. “Please, I wasn’t expecting you to kneel,” said Bono, his hand on the ambassador’s shoulder.
Accompanying the rocker were his wife, Ali, and their four children — Jordan, 17; Eve, 15; Elijah, 7; and John, 5. U2 guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton also attended. John was disappointed that his dad wasn’t presented with a light saber, said Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson. “He thought I was becoming a Jedi.”
Bono sported lapel pins for two of his previous European government awards, the Legion d’Honneur from France and the Order of Liberty from Portugal.
Hecklespray’s Stuart Heritage is not particularly impressed. His post title sums it up rather well: “Bono Given A Tiny Balding Pretend British Knighthood.”
Bono received his knighthood in recognition of his services to bleating around all the time in an unbearably self-important way. Just kidding - Bono received his knighthood in recognition of his services to being in a band that has made a successful career out of only really having two songs. Just kidding - Bono received his knighthood in recognition of his services to going “doo doo doo” on adverts for iPods. Just kidding - Bono received his knighthood in recognition of his services to wearing sunglasses indoors on overcast days like a bell-end. Just kidding - Bono received his knighthood in recognition of his services to probably something to do with charity or something.
That’s about right.
And good for Bono - although as an honorary knight we aren’t allowed to refer to Bono as ’sir’, he does join a list of other famous knights like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Michael Caine and Pele, all of whom have their own bespoke suit of armour and jousting lance in their garages and are legally obliged to lead the charge into any country that the Queen feels like invading.
Elizabeth Hurley married her long time lover this morning.
She married her Indian businessman in a private civil ceremony at a 15-century castle, and photographers and spectators descended Saturday on this quiet town in western England to catch a glimpse of their lavish wedding party.
Gloucestershire County Council confirmed that Hurley and Arun Nayar married Friday at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, 125 miles west of London. The pair planned to hold a blessing and party at the castle later Saturday, with guests including Elton John, Kate Moss and Hurley’s ex, Hugh Grant.
Security guards on Saturday patrolled the castle grounds, set amid the Cotswold hills of western England. A large tent had been erected in the grounds, and a covered walkway led from the gardens to the building.
Hurley, 41, and Nayar, 42, reportedly have signed a lucrative deal with Hello! magazine for exclusive rights to images of the event. Hurley made appearances in the “Austin Powers” movies and “Bedazzled” and for several years was the international face of Estee Lauder cosmetics.
Several shopfronts in the picturesque town were adorned with signs and notices wishing the couple good luck.
“Obviously, people are out celebrity spotting I don’t think they’ll see any but they are out at the thought and it’s just a lot of excitement for the small town of Winchcombe,” said butcher Colin Pilcher.
According to reports, the couple will fly to India for celebrations in Mumbai and Rajasthan next week.
During a recent trip to New York City, Victoria signed a $20 million deal with NBC, to host her own reality show. The news broke last night at the big Elton John post-Oscar party at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood. Fellow British invader Simon Cowell helped seal the multi million dollar deal.
Per the Daily Mail:
‘Vic has signed up for one series of the fly-on-the-wall show, which will follow her move to America. Producers want to see how popular it is before agreeing to recommission it. Hubby David, 31, will feature in the show, but we’re told he doesn’t want a very hands-on role… it’s all about Posh.
‘
Sons Brooklyn and Romeo will be absolutely off limits (Posh is one overprotective mama), but the size 00 fashionista promises to lure BFFs Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Jennifer Lopez to ensure megawatt ratings.
While the thought of watching rich A-list celebs parade around on a reality show sounds fab, I’m not sure how I feel about staring at Victoria’s smug frown for 30 minutes a week.
The Dixie Chicks have been known more for their politics than their music the last four years, so it should have come as no surprise that they won five Grammy awards last night.
After death threats, boycotts and a cold shoulder from the country music establishment, the Dixie Chicks gained sweet vindication Sunday night at the 49th annual Grammy Awards, capturing honors in all five of the categories in which they were nominated.
[...]
The Dixie Chicks took home Grammys for the top three awards: record, song and album of the year. Their “Taking the Long Way” (Open Wide/Columbia) won best country album and “Not Ready to Make Nice” also captured best country performance by a duo or group with vocal. That song is an unapologetic response to the furor set off in 2003 when the band’s lead singer, Natalie Maines, made an off-the-cuff antiwar remark to London concertgoers: “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”
But Sunday’s awards were the Recording Academy’s rejoinder to the country music radio establishment, which ignored the album. Accepting the award for song of the year, Ms. Maines joked, “For the first time in my life, I’m speechless.” But she found her voice on later trips to the stage. “I’m very humbled and I think people were using their voice the same way this loudmouth did,” she said, self-referentially, after “Taking the Long Way” was named album of the year. The Dixie Chicks’ sweep of the major Grammy categories served as a sharp counterpoint to their shut-out at the Country Music Association awards in November. The Recording Academy consists of members across the nation who work in all genres of music. The Country Music Association’s membership is concentrated among artists, engineers and executives tied to the Nashville establishment.
The Grammys have a long tradition of giving their country category awards to artists with relatively little appeal to country fans, like k.d. lang, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucinda Williams. They also have a history of making political statements with their awards, most notably the bizarre award to Hillary Clinton for her narration of “It Takes a Village.”
Then again, the Grammys have a habit of finding a favorite and sticking with it, especially in the country category. Vince Gill has won the Best Male Country Vocal Performance award nine times and Johnny Cash, Ronnie Milsap, and Willie Nelson–all favorites with the critics and fans alike–have won repeatedly. Similarly, the Chicks won for “Fly” in 2000, before their political activism, and “Home” on February 23, 2003 and didn’t make their big statement in London until March 10. So, while there’s little doubt that politics played a role here, Grammy voters always liked the Chicks.
Still, as Lorie Byrd points out, their nomination and award in the “best country album” category is rather much, “since the Chicks said this was NOT a country album and it got practically no play on country stations.”
Duncan Black uploaded the video of their performance of “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” at the show to YouTube:
The Chicks still sound great but this song is hardly their “A” material, let alone “Song of the Year.”
The politics of this is all rather odd, generating wild overreaction from both sides. Dissing the president at a concert in the capital of our biggest ally is hardly tantamount to Jane Fonda’s activity in Hanoi. On the other had, we get nonsense like Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead’s remark: “I think people are paranoid. I think that if they speak out, they think they’re gonna get whacked by the government. It’s pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked.” As Betsy Newmark points out, “The government didn’t ‘whack’ the Dixie Chicks. Their fans did. Is the position of the cognoscenti now that fans can’t express their opinions of musical artists by deciding not to buy their music?”
Sean Hackbarth and Dan Riehl both think the Hollywood establishment’s open antagonism to Red State America constitutes a large reason that the music industry is in so much trouble. While I don’t doubt that there’s some minor backlash, it seems far more likely that the wide availability of digital music and the record industry’s clinging to a decades-old album packaging system is the main issue. Red Staters have been making fun of “Hollyweird” for as long as I can remember, yet they continue to go to the movies. And it’s unlikely that people will quit buying Toby Keith and Gretchen Wilson albums to teach the Grammy people a lesson.
Elton John left the stage briefly during a weekend concert in Brisbane after being struck by a bout of nausea, according to a news report Monday. All together now…
EWwww!
John left the stage without a word about two hours into his Sunday concert. He was gone for about five minutes, the Australian Associated Press reported. The 59-year-old star was about to play ‘Crocodile Rock,’ one of the most popular songs of his four-decade career.
When he returned, John used an Australian colloquialism to explain that he had left the stage to vomit. “I thought I’d better chunder in the toilet (rather) than all over the front row,” he was quoted as saying.
Apparently feeling better, John closed the show about 45 minutes later.
A tour spokeswoman said the veteran entertainer had been suffering from an upset stomach.
“He got it out and got on with it,” the spokeswoman said. source
Prince fans, fire up that Little Red Corvette and head for Las Vegas: the purple one will be performing there every weekend starting November 10th.
The diminutive rocker will play Friday- and Saturday-night shows at 3121, a nightclub inside the Rio hotel, according to a Wednesday news release by P R Plus, a Vegas firm representing the club.
Tickets for the 21-and-over shows cost $125 and will be available beginning Nov. 2.
Prince will also host Wednesday-night concerts at the club by other artists.
The Grammy winner, who once changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, will perform at the club indefinitely, a P R Plus representative said.
Prince joins a growing contingent of songsters who have settled in Vegas hotels as regularly featured acts, including Celine Dion , Elton John , Barry Manilow and Toni Braxton.
James Blunt ’s “Goodbye My Lover” is the song most requested at British funerals and remembrance services, closely followed by Robbie Williams ’s “Angels,” according to a survey released on Monday. Is this supposed to be an honor?
Research for the Bereavement Register found just over a half (51 percent) of people ask for a specific song be played at their funeral and 79 percent have talked with family and friends about possible song choices. The survey of 5,000 people also uncovered some unusual final choices for the final goodbye with rock songs like “I’ll Sleep When I am Dead” by Bon Jovi , competing with classical tracks and soul.
“The top 20 really shows how far we have come in terms of saying goodbye. Gone are the days dirges of yore, instead we are seeing contemporary music that is easier to relate to,” said Mark Roy, founder of the Bereavement Register, which removes the names and addresses of people who have died from databases to reduce junk mail.
“Everyone has a favorite song that means something very special to them, often connected to a particular time and place. When the song is played this can be a very emotive reminder of that person,” he said in a statement.
The top 10 requested songs were:
1 - “Goodbye My Lover” - James Blunt
2 - “Angels” - Robbie Williams
3 - “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” - Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley
4 - “Wind Beneath My Wings” - Bette Midler
5 - “Pie Jesu” - Requiem
6 - “Candle In The Wind” - Elton John
7 - “With Or Without You” - U2
8 - “Tears In Heaven” - Eric Clapton
9 - “Every Breath You Take - The Police
10 -”Unchained Melody” - Righteous Brothers
“Maybe Sharon, passed over by the Academy yet again, was jealous of Ratatouille’s Oscar win and thought a rodent paw might go with her haggard look. Her accessories these days are as dead as her career.”
Art gallery bosses at The Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England have withdrawn the explicit photo a day before the exhibition is due to start on Wednesday (26Sep07), reports British newspaper The Sun.
“The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.
Dion’s show, “A New Day,” has grossed more than $500 million since it began in March 2003, producers said. The Grammy award-winning singer announced in January that she would end her run at the end of the year in the $95 million theater. 
She married her Indian businessman in a private civil ceremony at a 15-century castle, and photographers and spectators descended Saturday on this quiet town in western England to catch a glimpse of their lavish wedding party.
