Entertaining Posts

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Rapper Nate Dogg dead at 41

LOS ANGELES | Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:56pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap artist Nate Dogg, known for his collaborations with such hip-hop stars as Dr. Dre, Warren G and longtime friend Snoop Dog, has died at age 41.

The cause of death was not immediately known, but Nate Dogg, born Nathaniel D. Hale, had suffered from recurrent health problems, including strokes in 2007 and 2008, The Hollywood Reporter said.

News of his death on Tuesday was first reported in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, his hometown newspaper, and Snoop Dogg send out a Twitter message on his friend's passing a short time later.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 ... I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan all doggs go to heaven," he tweeted.

Other entertainers posting tweets included comedian Dave Chappelle and singer Erykah Badu.

A contemporary of Snoop and the late Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac), Nate Dogg made his recording debut with the single "Deeez Nuuuts" on Dr. Dre's landmark 1992 album "The Chronic," and appeared on 2Pac's seminal double-disc set "All Eyes on Me."

Other collaborators included Eminem, 50 Cent and Ludacris.

Described by AllMusic.com as "the soul man of G-funk," Nate also teamed up with Warren G for one of the biggest hip-hop hits of the 1990s, "Regulate," which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1994.

He and Warren G later parted company, but Nate Dogg hit the charts again in 1996 with "Never Leave Me Alone," featuring Snoop, and released his own debut album, "G-Funk Classics, Vols. 1 & 2," early the following year on Interscope Records.

He followed that with two more solo collections, the latest, titled "Nate Dogg," was released in 2008.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

A Minute With: Lucinda Williams tackles aging, death

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES | Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:01pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Age is more than a number to Lucinda Williams. It's also a song lyric.

The singer/songwriter confronts the sensitive subject in one of the first songs on her new album "Blessed."

In a lament to her late manager, she reveals her shock at hearing of his death. "I'm 57 but I could be seven years old," she sings in "Copenhagen."

Not many entertainers of a certain age, especially female rockers in an industry powered by fresh-faced sensations such as 17 year-old Justin Bieber, are so willing to acknowledge the passage of time.

But middle age is also a badge of honor, a sign of survival, especially when her sprightly peers include Steve Earle, Dave Alvin and Chrissie Hynde.

Others went before their time, though, including wheelchair-bound singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt, who committed suicide in 2009, aged 45. Williams, now 58, pays tribute to him in the song "Seeing Black."

Q. "Seeing Black" is one of a handful of melodically up-tempo songs, yet the subject is obviously dark. It seems you're more inquisitive about the subject. You're not condemning him, are you?

A. "No, not really. I've always tried to stay away from that -- whenever I'm writing, whoever the subject is in the song -- and try to be empathetic, even though I might be a little angry or whatever the word is. I'm still trying to be empathetic."

Q. Can you be angry at someone like Vic Chesnutt who spent the better part of his life in a wheelchair and was obviously in a lot of pain and frustrated by his situation?

A. "I didn't know the situation that well. I didn't know if he was in physical pain. I knew that he was in a wheelchair, but I didn't realize that he had mounting medical bills, that he also had a history of depression and apparently had attempted suicide before. So I didn't know that. You always want to think someone would have come to you for help before they made that kind of decision. The action inspired the song, but it certainly goes deeper than that."

Q. Are you inquisitive about the subject?

A. "Well, aren't we all?! What happens during those last final moments, and everything."

Q. The reference to your age, 57, most women in showbiz are pretty shy about being so upfront and honest about the passage of time. But you get straight to the point.

A. "I don't have to worry about that, really. What I do doesn't depend on that."

Q. Do you look out at the crowd, see all these young kids and you go, Jeez!

Justin Bieber meets wax double

LONDON | Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:14am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Teenage pop sensation Justin Bieber took time out from touring on Tuesday to visit the Madame Tussauds museum in London and pose next to a waxwork model of himself.

The model, dressed in a red and black checked shirt and black jeans, was one of three Bieber replicas being unveiled -- the others were in Amsterdam and New York.

"It's pretty incredible to see," said the 17-year-old, before joking about how small the waxwork was. "As you can see, you know, I'm at least six feet taller than this guy."

Liz Edwards, spokeswoman for the museum, said the real Bieber would naturally change quickly over the eight months it took to create the life-like model.

"So we really wanted to make sure we made a 'moment in time' figure," she said. "But it's the hair that everyone is paying the biggest attention to. So, I'd say it's the hair that's been the biggest challenge."

The singer, already one of the world's biggest pop stars with albums "My World" and My World 2.0", was accompanied to the event by his mother, and he greeted a small crowd of fans.

He said that he would ideally like his waxwork figure to stand next to U.S. rapper Tupac Shakur.

"Biebermania" has hit Britain during his visit, with hundreds of screaming fans crowding outside his hotel in the northern city of Liverpool last week forcing police to close down the area.

Bieber has two more concerts in London before playing in several other British cities and then heading for mainland Europe.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Charlie Sheen adds five cities to national tour

LOS ANGELES | Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:19pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Charlie Sheen on Tuesday added five new shows to the schedule of live performances he has mounted in the wake of being fired last week from his hit television program "Two And A Half Men."

Sheen's "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option Show" will expand beyond previous cities of Detroit and Chicago to include New York City, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio and Wallingford, Conn.

The new shows were posted on the sales site of Ticketmaster. The trek currently begins on April 5 in Cleveland and ends one week later in Boston. The new stops were added following reports over the weekend that the first two shows sold out quickly.

Sheen, who was TV's highest paid actor for his role as a skirt-chasing, heavy-drinking bachelor on No. 1-rated comedy "Two And A Half Men," has made headlines worldwide since January when he entered a home-based rehab program for drug and alcohol abuse. Production of his show was suspended.

After completing treatment, the actor said he wanted to return to work, but the show's producer Chuck Lorre, its makers at Warner Bros Television and the CBS network that aired it kept the program on hold.

Sheen went on several radio and TV interviews, complaining loudly about Warner Bros. and insulting Lorre by calling him "a stupid, stupid little man," among many other things. Warner Bros then fired him. He has sued both Warner Bros and Lorre for $100 million claiming he was wrongfully terminated.

For its part, Warner Bros. has claimed in a letter to Sheen's lawyer that the actor was engaged in "dangerously self-destructive conduct and appears to be very ill." Warner Bros. said Sheen had difficulty remembering lines, could not collaborate and had poisoned key working relationships.

Indeed, Sheen has had a troubled 2010, pleading guilty to assaulting his now ex-wife, being put on probation, spending several stints in rehab and in hospitals.

In recent weeks, he has gone on a personal media blitz starting a webcast called "Sheen's Korner," in which he talks about whatever is on his mind, and opening his own Twitter account to stay connected to fans.

Not much is known about his show beyond the description on the Ticketmaster site, which reads: "Will there be surprises? Will there be guests? Will there be mayhem? Will you laugh? Will you scream? Will you know the truth? WILL THERE BE MORE?!?! This IS where you will hear the REAL story from the Warlock. Bring it. I dare you to keep up with me."

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

Pop sensation Justin Bieber meets wax double

LONDON | Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:49pm EDT