SHOWBIZ EXTRA

The Expendables

2010-08-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Expendables

Movie Information

An all-star cast of action-movie icons headline this explosive action thriller about a group of hard-nosed mercenaries who are double-crossed during a treacherous mission. Approached by the shadowy Church to overthrow tyrannical South American dictator General Gaza and restore order to the troubled island country of Vilena, stoic soldier of fortune Barney Ross rounds up an unstoppable team that includes former SAS soldier and blade specialist Lee Christmas; martial arts expert Yin; trigger-happy Hale Caesar; demolitions expert Toll Road and haunted sniper Gunnary Jensen.

Rated: [MA]
Cinema Release: 12 Aug 2010
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Running Time: 103 mins
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Sylvester Stallone

| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review

Rating:
NO ONE in their right mind expected the heights of cinematic excellence from The Expendables, the latest retro-fitted vehicle for veteran action star Sylvester Stallone.

However, clever pre-release marketing -- playing up the presence of Stallone's he-men peers of yesteryear such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Dolph Lundgren -- has generated a lot of ironic goodwill towards the picture.

So if The Expendables could work on a so-bad-it's-good level, then a majority of action fans would be happy enough.

Instead, under the uncreative control of Stallone as director, writer and leading man, the film bullseyes so-bad-it's-sad from the get-go. The precision with which it just keeps hitting that unwanted target is spooky.

Unfortunately, The Expendables is simply a deplorable mess, ineptly thrown together and inertly unexciting.

The much-ballyhooed "return" of Schwarzenegger, who joins Willis briefly for a few quick quips with Stallone, is a bit of a fizzer. All you get is a single scene in a church, in which a half-funny gag is made about Arnie's political career.

The featured cast (comprised of Jason Statham, Jet Li, some wrestlers and ultimate fighters of moderate repute, and assorted D-listers such as Eric Roberts) rarely give the impression they're all that interested in what is going on.

Just another payday, then.

Actually, there is one notable exception who does earn his keep: the incomparable Dolph Lundgren.

The former running mate of Jean-Claude Van Damme (a notable, but wise absentee from the cast) is the sole participant in The Expendables who not only gets the joke that should have been cracked here, but also blunders ahead and tells it anyway.

However, this is very much Stallone's movie, which he goes ahead and ruins with his terrible non-acting and that eerie, mobilised-waxwork appearance he is now sporting.

Seriously, with Stallone's diminished reflexes and complete lack of connection to his surrounds, you could be forgiven for thinking you are watching a crash-test dummy made up to look like Sly.

As for The Expendables' story of a group of mercenaries on a suicide mission to South America, well, it's a moronic throwback to the gory glory days of Stallone's own Rambo series.

By comparison, the recent throwaway action hit The A-Team plays like The Godfather Parts I, II and III against this third-rate tripe.

A US advertising campaign for The Expendables which has been running throughout 2010 warns viewers that there is so much testosterone in the movie, they should "prepare to have a Man-gasm!"

In the interests of public safety, producers may soon have to tweak the ads to warn viewers there is so much stupidity in the movie, they could get struck down by a Man-eurysm.

Splice

2010-08-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

Splice

Movie Information

Elsa and Clive, two young rebellious scientists, defy legal and ethical boundaries and forge ahead with a dangerous experiment: splicing together human and animal DNA to create a new organism. Named "Dren", the creature rapidly develops from a deformed female infant into a beautiful but dangerous winged human-chimera, who forges a bond with both of her creators - only to have that bond turn deadly.

Rated: [MA]
Cinema Release: 12 Aug 2010
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Running Time: 104 mins
Stars: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac

| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review

Rating:

A QUICK dissection of the genetic-engineering thriller Splice reveals distinct trace elements of what is known in the movie business as the Frankenstein Principle.

The theory runs something like this: any screen scientist who dares to play God is doomed for a devil of a time.

Such is the fate surely awaiting lovers and lab partners Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley).

As Splice begins, this Brad and Angelina of the biochemistry world have been making headlines for their recent experiments with DNA. Their pride and joy is an oozy, slug-like organism that can be squeezed to release all number of medicinal fluids.

Cures for ailments ranging from the common cold through to cancer could be just one splash in the gene pool away. However, interference from their corporate backers forces Clive and Elsa to go solo with their next project.

And so, a synthetically bred humanoid known as Dren comes into being. This strange-looking child -- best described as a pretty little girl scrambled with the features of a domestic rodent -- is a handful to raise in secret.

Though Clive and Elsa marvel at her accelerated growth and learning rates, there is something downright disturbing about Dren that they can neither understand nor control.

Writer-director Vincenzo Natali is not above raising the ethical dilemmas surrounding such a renegade scientific achievement, but you can tell he is more at home with dishing out the ick factor in copious quantities.

And so, by the second half of Splice, the film has devolved into a rather silly, yet distinctly unsettling blob of horror.

With Dren (played in her grown-up form by Delphine Cheneac) going rogue and her mutated array of bodily functions going haywire, Clive and Elsa must decide whether they are de facto parents or dedicated scientists.

The climax of this conundrum may not make all that much sense, but it does make one heck of an impact.

UK show to bring Glee effect to charts?

2010-08-24T00:13:00.000-07:00


Must Be The Music judges Jamie Cullum, Sharleen Spiteri and Dizzee Rascal

The warning came early in 2010 - the much-hyped first episode of Glee aired on E4 in January.

Less than a week later it had launched five singles into the top 75 of the UK singles chart.
Since then, according to the Official Charts Company, the American TV series has catapulted a staggering 42 tracks into the top 75 of the UK singles chart. And 17 into the top 40.
During its march on the charts the show has sold 1.8 million tracks, whilst all five Glee albums have gone top five - racking up 800,000 sales in the process.

New model It is then, no big surprise, that a show in the UK is keen to get in on the act of releasing its featured music for download whilst it's on air and afterwards.

Glee has catapulted many tracks into the UK singles chart

Must Be The Music, which started last night on Sky1 HD, is a new music talent show in the vein of X Factor presented by Radio 1's Fearne Cotton and featuring Dizzee Rascal and Jamie Cullum as judges.
From the live semi-final stage (due to air 29 August) the show will make all 15 competitors tracks available for download.
Depending on viewing figures and the show's success - the new model has the potential to impact on the charts.
"We're looking for a big star," says Sky's Head of Entertainment Duncan Gray.
"The kind of star we'll create will actually sell records whilst the programmes on and make money for themselves."
At the moment the plan is for the tracks to be sold for 59p. The artist will get about 31p or 32p of that.
"This is the logical extension of shows like the X Factor and Pop Idol," he says.
'Cheapens' chart

Tinchy Stryder says the TV-to-download model "doesn't feel right"

Of course, this style of releasing music hasn't been met with universal approval.
Jon and Tracy Morter famously used Facebook to propel Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name to last year's Christmas number one to prevent the "X Factor monopoly on the charts".
Some artists agree with their philosophy saying this fast-tracking of musicians to peoples' front rooms feels unfair.
Chart topping rapper Tinchy Stryder: "There are a lot of artists who work hard and go into the studio and put so much effort in.
"Those shows give people that extra exposure so if they're releasing the same day as someone [like me] it makes it a bit more difficult for you to be as successful.
"Overall, it doesn't feel right. It feels better when you put your heart into it instead of going on a TV show."
Professor Green, who recently enjoyed chart success with his debut album Alive Til I'm Dead, isn't keen either.
"It does cheapen things a little bit because it becomes more for the comedy almost," he says.

"If people want to by music in enough numbers then it doesn't matter what the snobs say - basically they're reflecting popular music taste"
Martin Talbot, Official Charts Company

But Gray denies programmes like his are providing unfair competition for hard working artists.
"I don't think it's any different from artists like Lily Allen or Little Boots using their initiative to give themselves a shot on a digital platform," he says.
"I don't think it's a deceitful route to market."
Charts' view In reality there's little the official charts can do. Their job is to simply reflect the choices of the music buying public.
"It'll be exciting," says Martin Talbot from the official charts company. "One of the great things about the chart increasingly is that it's responding to immediate purchases by consumers."
With X Factor returning to ITV later in the month, there have been rumours that Simon Cowell's show will follow suit and adopt this new strategy.
"The bottom line is that the official charts are a mirror on the nation's music tastes," says Talbot.
"If people want to by music in enough numbers then it doesn't matter what the snobs say - basically they're reflecting popular music taste."

Kings Of Leon snub Glee and Ugly Betty offers

2010-08-23T23:52:00.000-07:00

Kings Of Leon have snubbed the chance to lend their music to TV show Glee

Kings Of Leon have snubbed the chance to have their music used on US TV series Glee.

Speaking to NME, bass player Jared Followill revealed the Tennessee band refused to let their music be used by the show.

Singer Caleb Folowill said he had never watched the show but added: "Apparently everybody loves it."
Britney Spears was the most recent star confirmed to appear in the Fox show's forthcoming second series.
Betty snub Regarding the offer from Glee Caleb Followill said: "We had some people call us up wanting to know if we'd allow Use Somebody to appear in the trailer for their next movie, and we turned them down.
"Next day, they called back and tried to put us through to the star of the movie - I won't name names, but he's an incredibly famous actor - to let him try and convince us to agree to do it.
"I was like, 'Man, don't even waste your energy'."
In the interview the Sex On Fire rockers also revealed they'd turned down an approach to appear in Ugly Betty.
"They wanted us to play ourselves. We were supposed to come in and help with some problem or other," said Jared Followill.
The second season of Glee - which follows the fortunes of a high school choir - begins in the US next month.

Sky Ferreira on being friends with Michael Jackson

2010-08-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

Sky says Michael Jackson also had a musical influence on her life

Eighteen-year-old singer Sky Ferreira may have just got her big break, but she's no stranger to pop royalty and even holidayed with Michael Jackson when she was growing up.

The LA-born singer says her grandmother worked with the star for years and became close to him, so he was always around when she was young.

Speaking to Newsbeat, she said: "We just became friends with him. When I was born I was raised around him, I always saw him. I had holidays with him and stuff like that.
"He helped me very much. I didn't know how big he was. It never phased me until I was 13. then I realised how big he was."
The teenager first made her debut on music site MySpace where her sudden popularity bagged her a first record deal.
Things haven't always run smoothly though. She admits that she did fall out with the label at one point when she felt they were making her sing music genres she wasn't happy with.
However she's now realised she can be commercially successful and still be happy.
'Huge writers' Ferreira said: "I love doing top 40 type music. I love doing both. I can do both now. Before I was so caught up in thinking I could only do one type of thing.

Before I wanted to try and do something new and different. I wanted each track to be a different genre - like 12 different genres on my record

Sky Ferreira

"A lot of people don't have an opportunity to do huge radio songs. I realised I was taking advantage of that when I had all these huge writers and producers just throwing these hits at me.
"I actually want a big song. As long as the song's good - that's all that matters."
The record was recorded in Stockholm and London and debut single One is out in the UK on 23 August.
Opening doors The singer describes the track as being "extremely pop" and says she'll save other side projects she's working on so she's not limited to one thing.
She said: "Before I wanted to try and do something new and different. I wanted each track to be a different genre - like 12 different genres on my record.
"But they aren't going to deal with that when they're putting so much money into it. I was like, 'Well none of this would be happening now if I wasn't signed'.
"Not to this extent at least, so you have to give them what they want sometimes. At first it was really hard for me. I just realised recently that it's just going to open more doors for me."
So with Michael Jackson counted amongst her childhood friends, is he a big influence on her music?
She replies: "Yeah. a lot of my music is a throwback to Prince and Vanity 6. I guess the 80s and 90s pop music - that's my favourite era of pop."

Sky Ferreira's debut single One is out in the UK on 23 August.

BBC

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

2010-08-21T04:13:00.000-07:00

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Movie Information

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It's getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart's ass - and now is back in town - to the teenage distraction he's trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn't been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes control her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

VIEW TRAILER

Rated: [M]
Cinema Release: 12 Aug 2010
Director: Edgar Wright
Running Time: 112 mins
Stars: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin

Official Site | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review

Rating:

ON THE list of insanely creative and undeniably influential movies of 2010, you will now find three entries.

Casually, yet oh so emphatically, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World joins Kick-Ass and Inception in taking mainstream cinema to another level.

Like Kick-Ass, this astonishing, exhilarating and funny movie has been fired directly from the world of comic books at the big screen with genre-smashing panache.

Like Inception, the narrative style deployed by Scott Pilgrim re-routes conventional trains of thought in unconventional directions aplenty.
That, however, is where any similarities end, for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is all originality, all the way.

The movie begins at a blinding storytelling speed which will, quite incredibly, be sustained throughout. Inside a digitally manipulated blizzard of meet 'n' greets, flashbacks, verbal zingers, audio glitches and visual scrawls, we can just make out the figure of 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera).

Initially, information about and around Scott's existence is frenetically dispensed to the viewer. So you can just about keep up, but never quite follow where he is heading next.

Here is a brief summary of what immediately comes to light in the dizzying opening act.

Scott lives in the chilly Canadian city of Toronto, where he plays bass in an underground rock combo called the Sex Bob-ombs. He has a "fake high school girlfriend", a naive teenager named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong), with whom he shares a bizarrely chaste relationship.

Scott used to go out with the black-hearted Envy Adams (Brie Larson), but she dumped him a year ago to become a white-hot pop star.

Elsewhere in Scott's eclectic entourage you will find a gay roommate, Wallace (Kieran Culkin), a busybody sister, Stacey (Anna Kendrick), a sort of sidekick, Neil (Johnny Simmons) and the moody woman about town, Julie Powers (Aubrey Plaza).

I'm sure you will agree that is enough potential plotting to fill a movie right there. But unbelievably, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is only just getting started.

Enter neon-haired mystery chick Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). A new arrival to Toronto -- where she works as a delivery girl with Amazon -- Ramona has a look, an attitude and a way with words that Scott cannot resist.
Upon achieving the near-impossible task of worming his way into Ramona's affections, Scott finds he will have a hell of a time remaining there.

Weirdly, a secret society of Ramona's "evil exes" has been formed. If Scott is to be her boyfriend, then he must vanquish each and every one of her former amours.

It's at this point that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World commences a series of audacious headlong dives into a realm of magic realism never encountered on screen before.

Scott's spectacular sequence of battles with the exes -- which include a muscle-bound action movie star (Chris Evans), a super-powered vegan rock star (Brandon Routh) and, umm, twin Japanese keyboard players -- all take place inside a wackily warped virtual reality.

It's as if a switch is flipped, and you are in a parallel universe that has been fed through an 8-bit video-game console from decades ago.

No explanation is ever forthcoming as to how these physics-defying fights are taking place. Or why each of Scott's opponents will shatter into a shower of shiny coins upon defeat.

Like Scott himself, you just have to go with the frenzied flow of it all. Hanging on for dear life has never been so much fun.

Aside from the clever writing (there is so much eminently quotable dialogue, it will take several viewings to get a handle on it all) and the razor-sharp performances of the young ensemble cast, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World also trumps all comers as a complete technical triumph.

British director Edgar Wright ( Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is already known for his complete mastery of all things nerdly. However, the overpowering audio-visual assault he unleashes here -- inventive, yet absolutely relevant to the most minute detail -- is sure to explode the heads of geeks everywhere.

Matching Jack (Melbourne International Film Festival 2010)

2010-08-21T04:07:00.000-07:00

Matching Jack

Movie Information

Marisa is a mother forced to take matters into her own hands to save the life of her son, Jack after he is diagnosed with Leukemia. Determined to find a bone marrow donor, Marisa undertakes a tireless and exhaustive search, including delving into the infidelities of her husband David in the hope that a donor might exist as a result of one of his many extra marital affairs. Meanwhile, during his treatment, Jack befriends Finn, a young Irish boy in the next bed who has also been diagnosed with the same disease.

VIEW TRAILER

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Rated: [M]
Cinema Release: 19 Aug 2010
Director: Nadia Tass
Running Time: 103 mins
Stars: Jacinda Barrett, James Nesbitt, Yvonne Strahovski

| IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review

TO its credit, the Australian kids-with-possibly-terminal-illnesses drama Matching Jack refrains from playing it strictly for weeps.

However, it is the very moments that the film goes wilfully off-topic that prove to be its undoing.

The story centres on a married couple, architect David (Richard Roxburgh) and wife Marissa (Jacinda Barrett) rocked by the news that their only son, Jack (Tom Russell), has contracted leukemia.

With Jack immediately confined to a hospital ward, the understandably panicked parents are told their boy's best chance of beating the life-threatening condition is to find a suitable bone marrow donor.

The odds of doing so are long, because the family's genetic make-up is rare. But as luck would have it, Marissa has just discovered David has been sleeping with every woman he has met for more than 10 years.

Suspecting - no, make that hoping - her cheating husband may have impregnated at least one of his many lovers around town, Marissa embarks on a bizarre door-knocking campaign.

Should there be a David-sired love child or two in existence, there might also be a donor who can save Jack's life.

This is original territory for a film of this type to be covering, but director Nadia Tass never quite finds a way to navigate it smoothly.

Scenes of Marissa continuing her tragi-comic crusade seem strangely forced and unbelievable when viewed alongside Jack's fight with his illness.

In fact, Matching Jack fares better when simply focusing on its young title character, and the boy's moving friendship with another leukemia patient, Finn (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

British actor James Nesbitt also bolsters this superior section of the film, playing Finn's heart-breakingly upbeat father.

Salt

2010-08-21T04:01:00.000-07:00

Movie Information

Before becoming a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. She will prove loyal to these when a defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA

VIEW TRAILER

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Rated: [M]
Cinema Release: 19 Aug 2010
Director: Phillip Noyce
Running Time: 100 mins
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor

IBDb

Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review

FAMOUSLY known as the spy thriller Tom Cruise walked away from because he wanted to keep his powder dry for Mission: Impossible 4, Salt is not out to reinvent any of them there wheels.

But hey, aside from Inception and the other occasional deviation from the norm, what movie these days really is out to expand the medium?

What Salt does have working in its favour - and boy, does she work hard throughout - is Angelina Jolie.

With the screenplay retro-fitted to accommodate a last-minute change of gender for the protagonist, Jolie is challenged to carry this big-budget actioner virtually all on her own.

Deploying both sheer grit and considerable screen presence, the star of the show takes Salt to a level that Cruise would not have been capable of.

This is not to say this film is anything resembling a classic. Salt just does what a post-Bourne espionage affair should, with a minimum of fuss and a maximum dose of adrenalin.

Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a long-serving CIA operative relishing the relative stability of a desk job after several dangerous tours in the field.

A seemingly placid day at HQ is rudely interrupted by the arrival of a Russian defector (Daniel Olbrychski). Evelyn is handed the task of interrogating the mystery man. He says that he has valuable information to trade for his political asylum: advance word on a plot to kill the Russian president, who is visiting the US.

As the cross-examination comes to end, the defector announces he can even name who will pull the trigger on the politician. Someone by the name of Evelyn Salt.

As an initial twist with which to open a movie, this is ripping, lean-forward stuff. So too is what immediately follows.

With her peers unwilling to accept her side of the story - let alone actually even hear it - Evelyn turns rogue and breaks open her old skill-set to clear her name. Or at least that is what the agents chasing her all over Washington, Winter (Liev Schreiber) and Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor), assume she is doing.

However, after the Russian president is indeed shot dead, and Evelyn Salt is found at the scene of the crime, no one knows quite what to think. And that applies to the viewers of Salt as well.

It would be unfair to delve any further into the plot of Salt beyond its intriguing first act.

However, I can assure you that the twists, turns and what-the-heck moments are in bountiful supply right through to the closing credits.

Maintaining a breakneck pace without diminishing a compelling story is a difficult task for most filmmakers, but not Australian director Phillip Noyce.

The need for speed and the sting of the tale are perfectly balanced at all times.

However, most plaudits for the relative success of Salt as a run-gun-and-stun experience must reside with Angelina Jolie.

Witnessing the ferocious physicality Jolie applies to her character - which puts a majority of contemporary male action heroes to shame - is worth the price of admission alone.

Family secret that will keep Miranda Kerr at the top - no stretch marks

2010-08-21T02:49:00.000-07:00

A Gisele in the making: Miranda Kerr shows off her "stretch-proof" body at a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show / AP

SUPERMODEL Miranda Kerr is putting family before funds, with experts predicting her choice to have a child at this stage of her career will cost her lucrative modelling contracts.
The 27-year-old Gunnedah girl, who is four-months pregnant, is one of the world's 10 highest paid models, earning more than $4 million last year.

But her income in the short term is expected to be slashed as she steps out of the limelight.
Her long-term appeal, however, could eventually match Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen, according to leading modelling agencies.
And, according to her grandmother Ann, there's a good reason why Kerr will be able to make a seamless return to the top of the modelling world when she does decide to step back onto the catwalk.
Although she was told to keep mum about her granddaughter's impending birth, Mrs Kerr did reveal one rather personal aspect - stretch marks were never a problem for the Kerr women.

"I can tell you that the family has a good record with stretch marks. Miranda won't have any problems there," Mrs Kerr said.
"In the past month the family has welcomed two great grandchildren into the family and the mums, both beautiful girls like Miranda, are going great. No stretch marks."
Kerr, who had previously said she would like to settle down with actor husband Orlando Bloom and raise a family, will lose fees for photo shoots and catwalk shows while taking her maternity leave.
But Priscillas Model Management owner Priscilla Leighton-Clark said Kerr could use the pregnancy as a platform for bigger pay cheques into the future.
"When you reach the level that she has, you can pick and choose your jobs," Ms Leighton-Clark said. "Because she is a household name, especially here, the pregnancy could, in fact, increase her appeal."
Chadwick Models managing director Martin Walsh said Kerr could step away from the limelight and make a comeback at her own pace.
"Each model is different but if you look at people like Gisele [Bundchen], it shows that you don't need to walk away from the industry," he said.
"It depends on the model but many do step away during the pregnancy and come back later."
Magazines across the globe will be chasing Kerr's signature to shoot the perennial celebrity pregnancy photo spread, following in the footsteps of Demi Moore and Claudia Schiffer.
The first paparazzi shot of Kerr's baby bump is expected to fetch as much as $200,000 with Woman's Day and New Idea magazines competing for the photographs.
Mrs Kerr said she had not spoken with her granddaughter yet but described the news as "very exciting and wonderful".
Kerr and Bloom, 33, wed in a secret Caribbean ceremony in July, one month after they had announced their engagement.
In the September issue of Spanish Vogue, Kerr confirms she is four-months pregnant, ending the worst kept secret in the fashion industry.
Geoff Chambers@news.com.au

Mike Peters and Glen Tilbrook climb Mt. Fuji for rock n' roll cancer charity

2010-08-21T02:44:00.000-07:00

Mike Peters of 'The Alarm,' Donavon Frankenreiter and Matt Grundy, Glenn Tilbrook of 'Squeeze,' and Australian rocker Brien McVernon team with LoveHopeStrength.org

A collaboration of all -star musicians from around the globe are banding together for an epic musical pilgrimage to the summit of Mt. Fuji in conjunction with the Love Hope Strength (LHS) foundation, the world's largest rock n' roll cancer charity.

Leading a group of thirty cancer survivors and supporters from four continents will be Mike Peters, front man for popular Welsh band, The Alarm, Glenn Tilbrook, lead singer of internationally renowned band, Squeeze, wildly popular American pro surfer and singer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter and his band mate Matt Grundy, and Brien McVernon, lead singer of the Retro Rockets, a favorite in their native Australia.

The journey, taking place August 21 ' 29, will raise money and support for the international bone marrow donor registry and LHS's efforts to help people everywhere ' regardless of economic status or location ' gain access to life saving treatments. The trekkers will begin at The Fuji Sengen Shrine, where the pilgrims of over 500 years ago came to pray before they started their climb up the sacred mountain. After a two-day journey on foot, the hike will culminate with a musical ceremony at the summit. The trek will be followed by a voyage to Fuji Yoshida for the Fire Festival or 'Yoshida no Himatsuri,' an annual festival held to appease the Goddess of Mt. Fuji and mark the end of the hiking season. To learn more about the details of the Mt. Fuji voyage, click here .

For LHS, this concert marks the fourth year in a row it has brought together musicians from all walks of life to hike a global landmark as inspiration to those affected by cancer and to help those in need. Previous musical pilgrimages include Mt. Everest in Nepal, the highest concert performed on land, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Machu Picchu in Peru, Mt. Snowdon in the U.K., the Empire State Building and for the previous two years, Pikes Peak in America. Each of the thirty hikers have made a commitment to raise money for the foundation's cause, and LHS expects to raise additional funds via its website and mobile giving.

For Mike Peters, a two-time cancer survivor and LHS co-founder, this journey will be his third in the last month and the tenth musical voyage he has led. Peters recently raised money for Welsh cancer centers by leading the fourth annual hike of Mt. Snowdon in the U.K and a special hike and concert in the Rhondda Valley in mid-August. Also making a repeat performance to show solidarity in the fight against cancer are Glenn Tilbrook and Brien McVernon. The Squeeze front man has journeyed with LHS to Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro while McVernon has been to three of four annual pilgrimages.

'Cancer is now the world's leading cause of death. This event, like others before, will drum up funds to fight the disease with something tangible and hopefully produce inspiration to many people touched by cancer,' said Mike Peters. 'The deep spiritual virtues of Mt. Fuji and the warm, wonderful Japanese culture provide an incredible setting for this journey. We are at once thankful to the Japanese people for welcoming us and excited to wave the prayer flags on peak in a tribute to the love, hope and strength we have for all those who must endure cancer in one form or another.'

"Every one on earth has been affected by cancer in one way or another so it's an honor to be part of a cause that is doing something very tangible to fight this disease. I'm really excited to hike and play music and in the process help bring awareness to everyone about the importance of bone marrow donation" said Donavon Frankenreiter.

' am very proud to be involved in my 3rd trek. Like many, I have had people close to me suffer from cancer and LHS are using vision and imagination to do some amazing things. I have been lucky enough to experience the warmth and generosity of the Japenese people and feel sure they will join me in my admiration and support of LHS' said Glenn Tilbrook

Those wishing to support Mt. Fuji Rocks or future LHS initiatives can sign a prayer flag, shop for goods or make a donation at www.lovehopestrength.org. In addition, those in the US wishing to donate can text the word LOVE to 50555 to make a $5 contribution.
newsdesk@music-news.com

Mark Ronson felt like a 'cliche' when he was dating Daisy Lowe

2010-08-21T02:41:00.001-07:00

The 34-year-old DJ ' who had a brief relationship with the British model in 2008 ' admits his partying in the public eye got out of control to a point where he could no longer recognise himself.

He said: ' look back at pictures of myself from that time and I simply don't recognise myself.

''d go out for a beer after a gig and my photo would be everywhere the next day.

't must have looked like I was living this vapid lifestyle and getting wasted every night.

'Daisy is really sweet but I look back and realise I was turning into a cliche.

'At one point, it seemed normal to be in the papers every day. But that's not normal for me. I'm a DJ and producer. I'm supposed to be one of the indoor kids.'

Mark also insisted his close friend and former collaborator Amy Winehouse isn't 'squandering' her talent, despite her third album being much delayed due to her hard-partying ways.

He told the Daily Mail newspaper: ' haven't recorded anything new with Amy but I don't think she's squandering her talent.

'You have to go through life and pick up experiences before writing new songs.

'She's a smart girl and she's the only one who knows what's going through her head. I'm sure she'll come up with another great album.'
newsdesk@ music-news.com

Lady Gaga becomes World's top Twitterer

2010-08-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

Later today Lady Gaga is expected to confirm her status as the hottest star on the planet, when she becomes the world's most popular Twitter user, according to Famecount.com, the social media statistics service.

At 10:30am GMT the star recorded 5,635,460 followers, versus current Twitter Queen, Britney Spears, at 5,646,028. At current rates of follower growth, Lady Gaga is set to storm past Britney today or, at latest, tomorrow. Lady Gaga's surging popularity brings Britney's reign at the top to a brief end - she only claimed the Twitter crown from Ashton Kutcher less than 3 months ago. At that time Famecount.com had forecast that Lady Gaga would soon usurp Britney.

The milestone further cements Lady Gaga's status as the world's most popular star online. On 25th June she overtook Obama to became the world's most popular living person on Facebook, and currently claims over 16m fans on the network. On an aggregated basis across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, Famecount.com can also confirm that Lady Gaga is now by far the most popular entity online
newsdesk@music-news.com

Joe Satriani confirms new album

2010-08-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Joe Satriani, one of rock music's most renowned electric guitarists, has announced that his highly anticipated 14th studio album 'Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards' is to be released in the UK on Monday October 4th by Epic records. The album release dovetails Satch's autumn UK tour, which kicks off on October 17th at the Manchester Apollo.

Joe Satriani has been a worldwide guitar hero since his 1987 breakthrough album, 'Surfing With The Alien'. Over 10-million albums sales, 15 Grammy nominations and numerous accolades later, Joe continues to push the envelope of modern rock guitar playing.

In 2009 Satriani teamed up with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen plus Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to form Chickenfoot. Their debut album became a global hit and received gold awards in the US, Canada and Europe.

JOE SATRIANI - UK TOUR DATES
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17TH ' MANCHESTER APOLLO
MONDAY OCTOBER 18TH ' BRISTOL COLSTON HALL
TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER ' LONDON HMV HAMMERSMITH APOLLO
THURSDAY 21ST OCTOBER ' NEWCASTLE CITY HALL
FRIDAY 22ND OCTOBER ' GLASGOW CLYDE AUDITORIUM
SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER ' BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL
Andy Snipper@music-news.com

Blue singer Lee Ryan has been charged with common assault

2010-08-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

The Blue singer is accused of hitting his fiancee, 26-year-old Samantha Millar, in the face while in a car in London on Wednesday (18.08.10).

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed: "Lee Ryan, self-employed, of Henley-on-Thames, is due to appear on bail charged with common assault."

Samantha called police after the incident, and Lee was arrested at his home in south London after reportedly refusing requests to go for questioning.

The 27-year-old star ' who has a nine-month-old son Rayn with Samantha ' vehemently denies the charges.

His spokesperson said: "Lee 100 per cent denies common assault.

"He will be fighting theses charges in court".

The 'Army of Lovers' hitmaker is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 27.

This is not the first time the singer has been in trouble with police.

He was arrested in December 2007 for assaulting a taxi driver.

He later appeared in court, where he was fined £300 and complained he 'felt targeted because he is famous'.

Last year, he was quizzed by police on suspicion of smoking cannabis.
newsdesk

Kasabian and Kings of Leon to headline V Festival

2010-08-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

Kasabian won best british band at February's Brit awards

Kasabian and Kings of Leon have been confirmed as headliners for this summer's V Festival.

Other names announced include Florence And The Machine, The Prodigy, Ellie Goulding, Paolo Nutini, La Roux, Pixie Lott, Plan B and Stereophonics.
Cheryl Cole will also add a pop flavour to
proceedings when she tops the bill in The Arena.
Kasabian last played V in 2007 when they were on before Foo Fighters and The Killers.
Their latest album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, went to number one and they also picked up top honours at the Brits and NME awards.
The band said they were excited about being the main draw at V.
Lead singer Tom Meighan said: "We've played it a few times. I think it's a great festival. It's well done.
"It's well put together and the headline acts are fantastic. Of course we're pleased. How could I not be pleased?
"We're headlining V Festival. It's taken some time but now we're there. It's wonderful."
Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon last appeared at the event in 2008, when they were second headliners behind The Verve.
V Festival is staged over two days with the same bands playing at two sites, in Chelmsford and Staffordshire on 21 and 22 August.
In 2009 the festival was headlined by The Killers and Oasis.
However, the Manchester band failed to play the Chelmsford gig and split up a few days later.
V Festival organisers say Scouting For Girls, Kate Nash, Chase and Status and Imogen Heap will also be appearing.

Stars out for Scott Pilgrim premiere

2010-08-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

Introducing...Delorean

2010-08-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Positive about Spain's melting music industry and obsessed with Formula 1, the sun-kissed beats of this Barcelona-based foursome have set hearts racing.

Synth-pop foursome Delorean are based in Barcelona

It's fair to say Spanish football is in a better place right now than their music industry.

In January, the IFPI, who speak for many of the world's record labels, claimed the country could risk becoming a "cultural desert" if it didn't take action against rampant illegal downloading. They said it was destroying opportunities for Spanish talent.
Barcelona-based sunrise-pop foursome Delorean are musing what it means for them and their musical friends.
"I have been reading a lot about how the Spanish illegal downloading is very spread out," says lead singer Ekhi Lopetegi. "The labels are not having the best time.
"At the same time, when it comes to promoting shows it is one of the best times.
"People have free access to the music, you can reach people and they'll come see your show. The shows are bigger; there are more festivals and better conditions for the bands."

DELOREAN, THE FACTS

WHAT: Sun-flushed synth-pop from Spain

FOR FANS OF: Animal Collective, El Guincho, Crystal Castles

DOWNLOAD: Stay Close

LIVE: No UK dates currently scheduled

Delorean

Decade career Ekhi and his bandmates (guitarist Tomas Palomo, keyboardist Unai Lazcano, and drummer Igor Escudeo) are certainly looking on the bright side.
And they have good reason to. Their most recent album Subiza has gained positive global press, earning them gigs with Miike Snow and a world tour.
But it's by no means their first. The foursome, who hail from a small Basque town in the north of Spain, started out as a hardcore-punk band nearly 10 years ago.
"We started Delorean as a pop band to try to new things and leave behind our hardcore background," says Igor.
Indeed, Delorean, as they are today, are far from fist-pummeling punk-rock. Instead, a sun-tanned mix of Animal Collective's muted-rave, Balearic dance, disco, house and indie.
Countryside album For the recording of Subiza they abandoned the wilting heat of the city and headed to the countryside town of the same name where their producer Hans Kruger has a studio.

They've recently been on tour with pop band Miike Snow in America

"We spent a month-and-a-half hanging out with his family, having BBQs, playing ping pong, swimming pool and recording," says Igor. "We named it Subiza to pay them tribute.
"This album for us is the first serious album we've done," chips in Ekhi. "The first one where we tried hard to make a good album."
When they're not being so serious, they run their own club night in Barcelona ("We discovered dubstep, grime, UK funky, UK rave," says Ekhi) and obsessing over F1 motor racing.
The predecessor to Subiza was an EP called Ayrton Senna - after the Brazilian racing driver.
"We are huge F1 fans," smiles Igor. "When we were recording the EP we were obsessed by Ayton Senna and his point of view for life.
"If you check his Wikipedia you'll get loads of interesting phrases."
Like one of Senna's famous mottos, "the danger sensation is exciting. The challenge is to find new dangers", Delorean's unknown adventure appears to just be starting.
BBC

Introducing… YG

2010-08-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Def Jam Records' first west coast signing in 15 years, the 19-year-old tattooed rapper has been christened king of a whole new dance movement.

Compton rapper YG has signed to Def Jam Records

Fair to say, when Newsbeat New Music speaks to most new artists they're not on the set of a movie they're starring in with 50 Cent and Diddy's son.

Californian rapper YG is a little bit different.

In the last couple of years he's risen from making his first ever rhymes responding to someone who "dissed" him on MySpace to picking up acting roles in major films.
In the middle of that huge step the 19-year-old has become the first west coast signing in 15 years for Def Jam - the label that's home to Rihanna, Kanye West and Ne-Yo.
"It's a big job but I don't feel pressure. I just got to work," says YG confidently. "I'm trying to be one of the top artists on Def Jam."
Toot it It's all down to one song. Laid-back summer jam Toot It And Boot It is currently a mainstay on Californian radio.

YG, THE FACTS

WHAT: Laid-back rhymes from Compton teenager
FOR FANS OF: Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z
DOWNLOAD: Toot It And Boot It
LIVE: No UK dates currently scheduled
YG

YG wrote the song in his bedroom a year-and-a-half ago. Quickly it left the streets and the block parties and found the ears of Max Gousse from Def Jam.
He was summoned in front of Grammy award-winning record producer and label boss L.A Reid.
"That experience was crazy," says YG. "I was fresh out of jail.
"They flew me out there, put me in a five-star hotel, I was like, 'This is crazy'.
"I did my thing in front of L.A. Reid - we had a party in the office."
Jerkin' movement Reid liked what he heard.
Since YG's music has reached more people he's somehow been christened the originator of LA's Jerkin' movement - a style of dancing that's transformed parts of the hip hop scene.
We'll let YG explain: "Jerkin' is like a dance thing that's going on out here. I don't jerk but I make music that the jerkers jerk too.
"I'm not a jerk artist but I do make jerk songs."
YG has been approached to play Tupac in an upcoming movie If you search for Jerkin' on YouTube you'll find all sorts of videos showcasing the street dance craze.
It was through the style that Def Jam's Gousse discovered the rapper.
"I was working on a Jerkin' compilation," he says. "When I met YG he stood out from all the other artists."
'Real big' Since YG put pen to paper on a contract Toot It And Boot It has opened some significant doors for the heavily tattooed rapper.
Not only is he acting in Mario Van Peebles latest movie, he's also been approached to play Tupac in an upcoming biopic of the legendary rapper's life called Third Life.
"That's real big," he mulls. "That's just like perfect - that's going to help whatever I'm doing.
"Nothing out there is bigger than that. It's like, 'Tupac, what?'"
His immediate attention though is on his debut album, Fresh On Campus, due out this winter.
He's already collaborated with Lil Wayne and caught the attention of Ty.
Right now, YG's diary is looking promisingly full.
BBC

Introducing... Kassidy

2010-08-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Folk foursome Kassidy are from Glasgow

The year that folk broke.

That's how musical analysts might neatly summarise the current favour for slacker-rock in 2010.
Mumford & Sons have barn danced their way through every major British festival, Laura Marling has become a female anti-hero and, well, everyone's got a beard and a banjo.

All which makes the arrival of Glasgow's Kassidy very timely.
Pub 'friends' They number four - Barry, Chris, Lewis and Hamish - and met through a mixture of friends' bands and fortuitive pub encounters.
"We were all the guys who were the serious ones about music in other bands," explains Hamish.
Officially branded as Kassidy in late 2008 they moved into a shared house in summer 2009 and began turning the old studio building into their atmospheric HQ.
"We can knock on each other's doors any time of day, any time of night," says Lewis.
"We like it because it's the real way to be in a band. All move in - get yourself in one place," says Hamish. "It's what should be."
Shared house Indeed, they've made the most of it. Recording tracks in bedrooms, the hall, the kitchen, any spare spot they've got.
However unlike the entangled folk scene branching out from the south east, their native patch doesn't sound like it has the same camaraderie.
"The Glasgow music scene is a fairly hostile place," says Hamish. "Not many people support each other.
"If they do see any one of their peers - it could be their friends, it could be their family - doing anything they're not, it becomes terribly hostile and they turn against you.
"For quite a few bands we've known it's a kind of dog-eat-dog world. You have to get what you want to yourself."

Kassidy release their second EP next week

Kassidy can't be accused of not doing that. They're releasing their second EP, The Rubbergum EP Volume 2, next week (16 August) to be followed by their debut album next year.

It's a harmonic adventure into a world of cowboy boots, burnt grasslands and scattered mountain clouds recalling the likes of Kings Of Leon and Band Of Horses. In other words, very un-Glasgow.

"I don't think it really matters who you're compared with," says Hamish.

"If it's pigeon-holed with Mumford And Sons and Fleet Foxes that's cool. If it's pigeon-holed with Seasick Steve and White Stripes, that's fine too."

"Ultimately," concludes Hamish, "the goal is to keep doing what we're doing and have fun doing it. I think it's whenever the fun leaves that people start to dislike what they've doing.

"We're enjoying every moment as we go."

BBC

Alesha Dixon joins Help for Heroes Concert line-up

2010-08-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

Alesha Dixon joins the Heroes Concert line-up along with The Wanted

Alesha Dixon, The Wanted, Katherine Jenkins and Enrique Iglesias have been added to the line-up for the Heroes Concert in London.

The event, which takes place on 12 September at Twickenham Stadium, will be held in aid of Help for Heroes.
Acts announced so far include Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Alexandra Burke, Pixie Lott, Plan B and The Saturdays.
There will also be appearances from comedians Jack Dee, Jason Manford, Michael McIntyre, and Peter Kay.
Alesha Dixon said: "I'm really excited and privileged to be playing the concert, firstly and foremost because it's for such an amazing cause but also because there are so many other amazing acts on the bill.
"Our troops have been through so much for us and to give just a little bit back is a real honour."
Organisers have added another 5,000 capacity to the stadium, which means it will hold 60,000 fans and troops.
The gig will be shown on BBC One and broadcast to military bases around the world on British Forces Broadcasting (BFBS).
Help For Heroes raises money to fund rehabilitation centres for injured troops across the UK.
BBC

Get Cape eBay Pakistan aid gig raises £2,000

2010-08-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Get Cape's Sam Duckworth has raised more than £2,000 for Pakistan's flood relief

Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly's Sam Duckworth has raised more than £2,000 for Oxfam's Pakistan flood relief fund after auctioning off one of his own gigs on eBay.

Duckworth, who said he'd play acoustically in the living room of the highest bidder, will now play a show for a fan in Worcester.
After 40 offers, the auction was won by a bid of £2,110.
Last week Duckworth said: "Let's hope we can raise a lot of money to help this nation in times of desperate need."
BBC

Sway 'one hit away from being global celebrity'

2010-08-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Sway says he hasn't gone away and is still working on his third studio album

UK hip hop artist Sway says he's working on being a success and is "one hit away from being a global celebrity".

He was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2006, but despite being signed to Akon's label Konvict Muzik, major success has so far eluded him.
That's something Sway insists could change at any moment.
He said: "It's just about the right timing, the right record in the right territory and things will happen."
Sway is still working on the follow-up to his second full length album The Signature LP.
Last year he told Newsbeat that he'd recorded a track with Liverpool player Ryan Babel and called himself an "outcast" from the UK hip hop scene.
He also revealed that he'd collaborated with the likes of label boss Akon, Tinchy Stryder, Neutrino and Craig David.
'I want the world' The hip hop star says he's still working hard on trying to achieve success.
He said: "When you've got higher aspirations and big expectations on you, you have to do things right and sometimes that takes time.
"I am still with Konvict Muzik. We're still trying to figure out the perfect strategy. Good things take time. I want the world."
Lady Gaga and rapper T-Pain are also signed to Akon's music label.
Sway, 27, says he understands that other acts on the label may be given priority but says he's working hard on his third album.
He said: "One thing you have to learn, being in the situation where you're under such a successful artist - if I think about how busy I am and then I think about Akon's level, you can understand he doesn't have the time to individually push each artist.
"Lady Gaga's big because Lady Gaga - she pushes her own vehicle, she has her own deal.
"Everybody in Konvict who is actually successful is self-made because it's not the kind of label like X Factor or something where they're going to package everything and everything's done and you just walk into that mould. It doesn't work like that.
"As long as I'm alive and as long as I'm still in the studio recording, eventually it's going to happen."
BBC

Britney Spears tells Twitter she's 'having fun' on Glee

2010-08-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears Tweeted that she was having fun on the set of US show Glee

Britney Spears has told followers on her Twitter feed that she's "having so much fun" on the set of Glee.

The US singer is filming a cameo for an episode which will feature her music.
Her songs will feature in fantasy sequences the characters have when they visit the dentist and are put under anaesthetic.
The second season of Glee, which follows the fortunes of a high school choir, begins in the US next month.
Britney Spears, 28, opened her Twitter conversation by saying: "About to do my first shot of the day for Glee tweeties! Here we goooo!"
Then an hour later she updated her feed saying: "What's up GLEEKS? Having so much fun on set!! Can't wait for you guys to see the episode!"
Earlier this month the show's creator Ryan Murphy told Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show in America that the episode wouldn't go into her personal problems over recent years.
He said: "It's about her music and not her personal life. We're handling Britney with sort of kid gloves.
"I really admire what she's done with her life and how she's turned things around."
Madonna and Lady Gaga have both had episodes dedicated to their music although neither appeared on Glee.
Britney Spears released her last studio album, Circus, in 2008 and toured the world last year supporting it.
BBC