Jackson seeks Irish home?

Is Michael Jackson looking for a new abode? Jackson made headlines last year when he moved to the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain, but the he was spotted in Ireland over the weekend--summarily starting the Jackson rumor mill that he may be searching for a new, European pad.

A location in Ireland would mean easy access to British-based music producer Guy Holmes, whom Jackson signed a management deal with in April. Holmes is the CEO of 2 Seas Records, the record label set to release Jackson’s next album in fall 2007.

Dallas Austin held in Dubai prison on drug charges

Another American musician is making his presence felt in the Middle East, but in a different way. Record producer Dallas Austin, who has written songs for Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men, Madonna, and other pop and R&B artists, was arrested more than a month ago in Dubai for possession of illegal drugs.

Austin aroused the suspicion of Dubai police when he reentered his plane to find something he had left on it. Austin was in Dubai to attend the birthday party of supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Dubai officials said that Austin was carrying marijuana and that the amount of the drug he possessed was small, indicating personal use rather than intent to distribute. According to laws in the United Arab Emirates--the country in which Dubai is located--conviction of drug trafficking can result in a sentence for the death penalty. Some drugs legal in the United States, including over-the-counter medicines, however, are illegal in Dubai. Sources familiar with Austin said he may have possessed the sleeping aid Zolpiden.

On July 2, Austin, working with the US consulate, will enter a plea at a Dubai court.

Krall, Costello expecting baby

On the heels of celebrity couples in the entertainment worlds announcing their expectations for new children, a duo in the music world has followed that lead. A spokesman confirmed the pregnancy of jazz pianist-singer Diana Krall, with the baby due in December. Krall is married to musician Elvis Costello, and in December the couple will also celebrate the third anniversary of their wedding.

Both Costello, who is 51, and Krall, 41, continue to work: Krall plans to release a new album in September and Costello is on tour with Allen Toussaint, the R&B musician he collaborated with on the album The River in Reverse.

Rolling Stone to play dad of Johnny Depp's Jack

Keith Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, will assume the role of the father of Johhny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow in the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, set for a 2007 release date.

After years of trying to land Richards in the role, the time seems right. Richards will be on a temporary moratorium from the Rolling Stones' tour, and he will don the role of Father Sparrow despite falling out of a tree in Fiji in April. "It's a small part, but it's a great part," said the film's director, Gore Verbinski.

Guitarist Santana, pianist Watts become Hollywood Hall of Famers

After performing at this summer's opening night of the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater on Friday, Carlos Santana and Andre Watts also were inducted into the Bowl's Hall of Fame.

Santana and Watts are the 25th and 26th artists to enter into the Hall of Fame, which inducted Frank Sinatra, Joshua Bell, and Trisha Yearwood in 2005. At Friday's performance, Santana played a handful of songs from his albums, including "Europe," "Soul Sacrifice," and "Novus." Other performers Friday night included the Blue Man Group and John Mauceri.

The Bowl honors "recognizes artists whose achievements embody the spirit of the Bowl." More than pop and mainstream music artists, the Bowl caters to other musicians and performers, including conductors, singers, actors, composers, and dancers. In 2004, it inducted pop-rock musician Brian Wilson, classical-music violinist Sarah Change, and composer-conductor Henry Mancini.

The Bowl opened in 1922 but did not found its Hall of Fame until 2000, when Star Wars virtuoso John Williams and country star Garth Brooks were the first inductees.

Judge to Boy George: Show Up in Court or Else

A Manhattan judge has ordered singer Boy George to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on July 26, or else face arrest. Boy George, whose legal name is George O'Dowd, was arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine in October 2005 and did not appear in court on the original court date of July 17, 2006.

"I put people in jail who don't pay fines," Manhattan Judge Anthony Ferrara said to O'Dowd's lawyer. "Why shouldn't I do that? ...I think it's important that Mr. O'Dowd be treated like any other defendant."