MP3 News Breakers: McCartney, Fall Out Boy, Lil' Wayne, Brown, Duff, (+44)
Divorce settlement denied; Wentz decries album leak; rapper faces lawsuit; legend's body moved; stalker sentenced; injured Barker leaves tour.
McCartney-Mills divorce settlement reported, denied
Widespread media reports that Paul McCartney and estranged wife Heather Mills have reached a divorce settlement have been denied by Mills' attorneys. The bitter divorce was reportedly settled today, with Mill set to pocket nearly $64 million from the four-year marriage. Mills was also reported to have received McCartney's $8 million home in a London suburb and his $12 million mansion in Beverly Hills. But Mishcon de Reya Solicitors, which is representing Mills McCartney in the split, denied the reports. "With regard to the article in yesterday's News of the World, we would like to state that there has been no offer made whatsoever at any time to our client and therefore no settlement has been agreed," the law firm said.
The deal would avoid a potentially messy divorce proceeding. In October 2006, several UK papers reported that Mills' divorce filing contained allegations that McCartney, 64, stabbed her with a broken wine glass, used illegal drugs and drank excessively, hurled abuse at Mills, and forced her to cancel an operation on the leg she lost in a traffic accident before they married because it interfered with his holiday plans. She claimed McCartney did not want her to breast-feed their baby daughter Beatrice, reportedly saying "They are my breasts." The couple separated in May 2006.
Fall Out Boy lashes out at album leak
Midnight vultures are out to get Fall Out Boy. So says the band's lyricist and bassist Pete Wentz, who lashed out after learning that the band's forthcoming album, Infinity on High was leaked onto the Internet ahead of its February 6 release. In a post on the band's Web site, Wentz wrote, "This isn't the end of the world, [but] it certainly feels pretty terrible. We understand those who have to sneak a peek at the presents under the tree the night before, but please remember that as the music industry changes more and more, we only put out a record so we can keep touring and traveling. We want to keep this going for as long as possible. It is unfortunate that a couple of vultures in a plant somewhere can ruin this vision so easily."
Concert promoters sue Lil' Wayne
Lil' Wayne allegedly never showed up for an October 29 concert in Tampa, Florida, admitted he did so but never made up the date, and is now on the receiving end of a breach of contract lawsuit from the show's promoters. Florida-based Nunoise Entertainment and Jahfari Promotions, both based in the Tampa Bay area, filed the lawsuit Friday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court. The lawsuit claims Lil' Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, signed a contract September 18 to perform at a Tampa nightclub on October 29. The rapper never showed up for the concert and returned a $15,000 deposit, but he still owes promoters $45,000 for canceling the show, according to the complaint. The 24-year-old rapper was also obligated to schedule another performance in the area to make up for the missed date but has refused to do so. The promoters claim that Lil' Wayne has caused them more than $200,000 in lost profits from the concert.
James Brown's body moved to undisclosed location
The latest episode in the tale of James Brown's death could be dubbed "Tales From the Undisclosed Crypt." The Godfather of Soul's attorney Buddy Dallas told the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle that Brown's body, which has yet to be buried as his family sorts out his estate, has been moved from his home to an undisclosed location. The solid gold casket is now in a temporary, above-ground crypt, Dallas told the paper, but he declined to say where or elaborate on the reason for the move. "I can't discuss it," he said. Brown's body had been kept in a climate-controlled room on his Beech Island property. It was moved to the crypt on Thursday, the same day the singer's will was filed in Aiken County Probate Court. The will excludes Brown's partner Tomi Rae Hynie and the couple's 5-year-old son, James Jr., as it was prepared prior to the couple's marriage, which occurred while Hynie was married to another man. Brown's family is reportedly planning to open a Graceland-style museum on Brown's estate.
Hilary Duff stalker gets four months
An 18-year-old Russian immigrant has been sentenced to four months in a Los Angeles jail for stalking actress-singer Hilary Duff. Maksim Myaskovskiy was ordered held in Los Angeles County jail immediately after he pleaded no contest Friday to the stalking charge. He was also sentenced to five years' probation by Judge Thomas Sokolov in Torrance Superior Court, south of Los Angeles. Myaskovskiy was arrested in November after a private investigator working for the 19-year-old Duff alleged the youngster had threatened to kill her. Duff and her then-boyfriend, rock singer Joel Madden of the band Good Charlotte, had sought restraining orders against Myaskovskiy and his roommate.
Travis Barker forced off (+44) tour
Travis Barker just can't seem to get his arm healed. The (+44) drummer, who was forced to take an eight-week break from touring last year because of an arm fracture, has now left his band's tour after re-injuring the arm. The original damage occurred while filming the video for his band's first single, "When Your Heart Stops Beating," last September. The tour will carry on without Barker, with drummer Gil Sharone (Fishbone, Stolen Babies, and the Fratellis, among others) filling his shoes temporarily. Barker is set to return to Los Angeles for treatment.
