R. Kelly trial postponed again

R. Kelly's long-delayed trial on a litany of child pornography charges has been postponed yet again, likely giving the Chicago singer enough time to churn out another 15 or 20 chapters of his never-ending soap opera, Trapped in the Closet. Nearly five years since he was first accused of having sex with an underage girl, Kelly's trial has been pushed back from a September 17 start date.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Judge Vincent Michael Gaughan has postponed the trial because lead prosecutor Shauna Boliker recently had a baby and isn't able to proceed. The 40-year-old singer--real name Robert Kelly--was arrested in 2002 and faces 14 counts of child pornography, which includes a video tape of what prosecutors believe is Kelly engaging in sexual acts with a teenage girl. The judge previously ruled that the jury would be allowed to view the videotape in question.

A new date for the trial has yet to be determined. The next status hearing in the case is set for Monday. If Kelly is convicted of the charges, he faces a prison term of up to 15 years and a fine of up to $100,000.

Anthony not bitter over missed reunion

Given the chance by MTV News to slam his former Van Halen bandmates for not including him in their latest reunion plans, bassist Michael Anthony declined. In an interview with MTV, Anthony said the band's decision to replace him with Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son Wolfgang wasn't a big surprise.

"It's not like it was totally unexpected," he said, "only because of the strain from the 2004 tour and how everything's been since then." Van Halen's 2004 reunion jaunt with Roth replacement Sammy Hagar, which grossed almost $55 million, reportedly ended with band members on bad terms.

"That's the one thing that's really kind of sad," Anthony continued. "It would have been cool to get onstage with Dave again, but I'm not going to whine about it because that's the way it is. Why waste my time trying to make a stink about it?"

Anthony and Hagar are hitting the road together instead with a fall tour that kicks off October 19 in Biloxi, Mississippi. The tour will feature Anthony's Mad Anthony Express, Los Tres Gusanos, the Other Half, and Sammy and the Wabos. "I just want to go out and play for the fans," Anthony explained. "Sammy sold part of his tequila company and made a lot of money on that, so he doesn't have to do anything if he doesn't want to."

Boyz II Men inks label deal

It's time for an East Coast Family reunion. Veteran R&B outfit Boyz II Men has signed with Decca for a November 13 release of a new album, Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA. The project was produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and also features a guest turn by Brian McKnight on an as-yet-unnamed track.

On Hitsville, the group tackles such Motown hits as Marvin Gaye's "Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing" and "Mercy Mercy Me," the Temptations' "Just My Imagination," Michael Jackson's "Got to Be There" and Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears." Hitsville" is the follow-up to 2006's The Remedy, which was released exclusively in Japan and only via the band's Web site in the US. No word on whether Another Bad Creation and Bell Biv Davoe are next up on Decca's docket.

Dallas musician killed by girlfriend's neighbor

Edie Brickell has lost one of her New Bohemians. Dallas musician Jeffrey Carter Albrecht, who was a member of the band Edie Brickell & New Bohemians since 1999 and also played with Paul Simon and Charlie Sexton, was shot to death early this morning after trying to kick in the door of his girlfriend's neighbor, police told the Associated Press.

The neighbor, who has not been identified, was asleep in bed when he awakened around 4 a.m. to his wife screaming that someone was breaking into the house, according to a police report. The neighbor yelled through the door for Albrecht to leave and then fired his handgun through the door. Albrecht, 34, was struck in the head and died at the scene, police said.

The neighbor believed a burglar was trying to break in, Dallas police spokesman Sgt. Gil Cerda said. The case is under investigation and no arrests have been made. Danny Balis, Albrecht's roommate and fellow member of the Dallas rock band Sorta, said the shooter lived next door to Albrecht's girlfriend.

Published and broadcast reports quoted police saying that Albrecht beat up his girlfriend and then tried to kick down the neighbor's door in a drunken rage. The couple had no history of domestic violence, but the girlfriend had bruises on her face, police said. She did not suffer serious injury. Albrecht's manager said the alleged behavior was out of character for the musician.