Stones deny Live Earth reports

Take the Rolling Stones off the star-studded list of performers for Al Gore's Live Earth shows in July. The legendary rockers have denied a Fox News report that they would headline the Live Earth show at London's Wembley Stadium on July 7. "Not happening," a spokesman for the band said in an e-mail to Reuters.

A Stones show for Live Earth would have necessitated postponing the band's previously announced show in Rome July 6, as it no longer plays consecutive nights. Largely at guitarist Keith Richards' behest, the Stones rarely align themselves with political events, although Hollywood producer Steve Bing did pay them to play a free concert in Los Angeles four years ago to benefit an environmental group.

Snooze alert: Bono knighted

Speaking of British royalty, Bono was knighted today in recognition of his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work, bringing an extra slice of douche baggery to the realm of British knighthood. "I couldn't be more proud," the U2 singer said at a ceremony at British Ambassador David Reddaway's residence in Dublin, according to U2's Web site. "I would like to thank Her Majesty's ambassador for pinning this award on me in my hometown, and the band for not bursting my balloon."

Bono is now a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or KBE, but as he is an Irish citizen he will not be able to use the title "Sir." Fellow Irish rocker Bob Geldof, also a high-profile rights campaigner, received a KBE in 1986. Honorary knighthoods are awarded to non-British nationals. The knighthood is the latest award for 46-year-old Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson. In 2003, he was given the Legion D'Honneur by the French government, and in 2005 he was Time magazine's Person of the Year along with Bill and Melinda Gates.

After the ceremony Bono joked with reporters that "you can call me pretty much anything you want, except sir. You can call me lord of lords or a demi-god."

Bloc Party singer blasts Oasis

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke let a few weeks go by before responding to Oasis singer Liam Gallagher's diss that Bloc Party "is a band off University Challenge, a British trivia show for college kids. And it was definitely worth the wait.

"I think Oasis are the most overrated and pernicious band of all time," Okereke told Uncut magazine. "They had a totally negative and dangerous impact upon the state of British music. They have made stupidity hip. They claim to be inspired by the Beatles but, and this so saddens me, they have failed to grasp that the Beatles were about constant change and evolution. Oasis are repetitive Luddites."

Smashing Pumpkins to reunite in Paris

The reunited Smashing Pumpkins will end their six-and-a-half year hiatus May 22 when they play a theater show in Paris, the first date of a tour of European festivals, the band's spokesman said this week. It is still unclear who is in the band aside from original members Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, although original members James Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky are widely believed to be uninvolved.

The reunion shows will be the first time the band unveils songs from its upcoming Reprise Records album Zeitgeist, its first CD since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God. A release date has not been set. The Pumpkins will also play the North American V Festival shows in Washington, DC August 5 and Toronto September 8. A statement said to "stay tuned" for news on more North American dates.

Foxy Brown pleads not guilty

Foxy Brown pleaded not guilty yesterday to two misdemeanor charges stemming from an alleged scuffle at a beauty supply store in Florida in which she reportedly threw hair glue at the store clerk. "I am going to stand up and fight and take care of this," the 27-year-old rapper said outside the courthouse, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Prior to entering her plea, Foxy--real name Inga Marchand--narrowly avoided an arrest warrant for not showing up for the original hearing on the case. Defense lawyers convinced Judge Joel Lazarus that the arraignment notice telling Brown about the date was mailed to an old address. Foxy faces charges of battery and resisting arrest without violence.

The charges stem from a February incident in which Brown is alleged to have taken a bunch of beauty products into the store's bathroom and refused to leave when she was told that the store was closed. She allegedly threw hair glue at the store clerk when he asked her to leave and spat on the man as he called 911. Police said she later struggled with an officer who responded to the call. She was released on a $1,500 bond, and later blamed racism for the arrest.