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News Breakers: Evanescence, Killers, Kid Rock, Bowie, Borat, Doherty
By Jim Welte - MP3.com
May 7, 2007 at 04:19:00 PM | more stories by this author

Band members fired; singer's wife pregnant; Ritchie lands clubs for teens; Bowie to get Webby; Cohen's publicist denies reports; Doherty arrested.

Evanescence members fired

Evanescence Evanescence

The revolving door around Amy Lee continues. Evanescence guitarist John LeCompt announced that he's been fired from the band, and he also said drummer Rocky Gray is out, the latest of several roster shake-ups for the popular goth-rock act. "I'm done, and I'm pretty upset about it," LeCompt told MTV News. "[Singer] Amy Lee called and fired me today. There's absolutely no loyalty in this band."

In a blog post, Gray wrote, "Amy Lee's management emailed me last night to tell me that, in their view, the contract I signed to record, perform and tour with the group says I'm not allowed to have any free speech in regard to Evanescence. They way they spin it, I'm not even allowed to say I quit the group, I guess. But the news is out there, so, there ya' go. I need to have a lawyer read over all that mess to tell me what, when and how I can tell you all- the REAL FANS- what really went down, if I ever can, haha."

Evanescence is on a short break from its tour in support of its second major release The Open Door, which sold nearly 500,000 copies in the US in its first week and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard. It's sold about 4 million worldwide. The band has two dates scheduled later this month before plans to tour Europe, beginning in Paris on May 25. LeCompt and Gray plan to form a new band called Machina. In 2003, Evanescence guitarist and cofounder Ben Moody quit while the band was touring in Europe. Last July, bassist Will Boyd quit.

Killers singer's wife pregnant

The Killers The Killers

The Killers' frontman Brandon Flowers is reportedly set to become a dad. The Sun reported today that Flowers and his wife Tana are expecting their first child in July. The couple married in Hawaii two years ago. "I'm 25 now and so many things have happened," the singer told the paper. "I'm married, I want to have kids and I feel this album [Sam's Town] is a great interpretation of what's happened up until now. Kids are planned for soon--we just don't want to have them while I'm on the road. The Killers are currently on tour in the US and will be in the UK to play Glastonbury in June, and T in the Park in July.

Kid Rock helps golf team get clubs

Kid Rock. Kid Rock.

Kid Rock and a high school girls' golf team are the makings of a lascivious tale, but the Detroit rocker has stepped up to deliver a philanthropic tale instead. Early last week, six sets of golf clubs were stolen from the car of Claire Neff, the coach of the Milan High School team in the Detroit area. After hearing of the theft, Kid Rock--real name Bob Ritchie--contacted his friend, pro golfer John Daly, who suggested calling TaylorMade Golf, the Detroit Free Press reported. TaylorMade came through, sending Neff the clubs late last week. "I was just stunned," Neff told the paper.

Bowie to get lifetime Webby

David Bowie David Bowie

David Bowie is set to receive a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award on June 5 at an awards gala next month in New York City. The Webbys, the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Web sites, are honoring Bowie's digital efforts, including BowieNet, the seminal Internet service provider he launched in 1998, and UltraStar, his digital media company that creates cutting edge online content for artists like The Rolling Stones, The Police, and Mariah Carey.

Cohen publicist denies Mercury report

Borat and Mercury. Borat and Mercury.

It was too good--or odd--to be true. The publicist for Sacha Baron Cohen has denied media reports that the comic is in line to play Freddie Mercury in a biopic of the late Queen frontman. A rep for the actor and Borat mastermind called the reports "absolutely untrue" and "pure hokum." Late last week, the Daily Mirror cited an anonymous source as saying, "filmmakers are working flat out to get the best possible script. Sacha loves the idea he can get away with playing Freddie after modeling Borat's look on him."

Doherty arrested again

Doherty and girlfriend Kate Moss. Doherty and girlfriend Kate Moss.

And he was doing so well. Pete Doherty reportedly was arrested this weekend on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. He was released on bail pending investigation and was ordered to return to a police station next month. Doherty, frontman for Babyshambles and formerly coleader of The Libertines, has been undergoing drug rehab under court supervision following a number of arrests for possession of drugs, including cocaine, and heroin.

At a court appearance April 18, the rocker said people close to him were insisting that he kick his addiction. "The people I'm closest to have had enough," Doherty said at the time. "They've said it's drugs or them." Doherty had recently undergone a series of promising public events, including a reunion show with Libertines cofounder Carl Barat and praise from the judge overseeing his rehab.

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6 Comments

Oldest First | Newest First
It seems the only thing keeping this act from just being called "Amy Lee" is the fact the band name Evanescence carries weight. It's all about her and always was. Ben Moody wrote good songs, but now all the band needs is a writer that can sample beats and write "evanescence" sounding riffs.

If you take away Amy's vocal style you no longer have this band. The bands management has obviously been shaping the band to become all about Amy and less about the shadows. She is what makes the band and she alone is who sells these records. That comment is not a slam on the musicians in the band at all.

Rocky is a kick ass musician with amazing talents as seen in bands such as Living Sacrifice as well as Soul Embraced. It's just another occourance similar to that of No Doubt and Gwen Stephani. There cannot be a No Doubt record without Gwen, but, she get's all the attention and the records sell again, because of her. It's just part of the business.

Regards,

Seth D. Olson
Creative Director
http://www.TicketNews.com
http://www.TicketSummit.org
Posted 05/08/2007 2:04pm
She probably fired them because she finally realized how BAD the new album is and didn't want the guys to embarrass themselves any longer.
But for real, I thik it was just creative differences.

Where's Ben Moody to make the save?
Posted 05/08/2007 11:01am
WTF Amy??? why no!!! and wth this means: "There's absolutely no loyalty in this band." I need more NFO
Posted 05/08/2007 10:18am
I cant believe they fired one of the guitarists! Those guys were awesome when I saw them in concert, they just lost the biggest part of the band.
Posted 05/08/2007 6:27am
Sounds like Amy Lee is fast becoming the new Gwen Stefani, with the screw the band, screw the music, the fans are just showing up to look at me, attitude
Posted 05/08/2007 5:12am
Pete Doherty is the biggest waste of skin in music today. Well, maybe tied with Courtney Love but that isn't something to be proud of. On a side note I hear that his dealer just bought a million dollar mansion so at least someone is pleased with Pete's habit. Its just a matter of time before Kate takes another ride back down the cocaine slide. Pathetic.
Posted 05/07/2007 8:13pm
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