What, No Artist Formerly Known As Prince?
The late Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has announced plans for a June 27 memorial benefit concert by her burial site on their family estate.
In a statement, Spencer said “international stars from classical music, pop and rock” would perform. Among those expected are Cliff Richard, the Three Tenors, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams and opera star Lesley Garrett; those said to have taken a pass include Elton John, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and George Michael.
Not everyone thinks it’s such a swell idea. Ordinary citizens quoted in the British press called it “tasteless,” “disgraceful” and “sick.”
Said Andrew Robathan, a member of Parliament: “I think it’s somewhat macabre to have a gig by the graveside … You could have it, for instance, in (London’s) Hyde Park with exactly the same result.”
Loose talk
KISS guitarist Paul Stanley, on the glam-metal band’s revival (in Entertainment Weekly): “We are KISS and we’re back. Join us … or go down.”
And speaking of the crown jewels …
Neil Diamond turns 57 today.
He’s just out there singing the men in blues
Squeaky clean crooner Pat Boone has received the inaugural Michael the Archangel Award from the National Association of Chiefs of Police for his sympathetic songs about officers injured or killed in the line of duty. “I wanted to humanize the police,” Boone said. “I wanted these songs to be played on the radio, to counteract the thinking that law enforcement is our enemy.”
As long as they don’t rub two sticks together
When Los Angeles County firefighters saved her Malibu estate from flames a few years ago, Janet Jackson thanked them by sending two women to give them deep, relaxing massages. Now, it’s become an annual gift from the singer to the fire station nearest her home. Says a firefighter spokesman: “It couldn’t have made them any happier.”
By now, it’s giving off not-so-good vibrations
The 1932 Ford immortalized by the Beach Boys in the song “Li’l Deuce Coupe” was sold for $47,000 at an auction of several celebrity vehicles in Arizona. The car belonged to Beach Boy Al Jardine.
Her nickname, of course, is Baby MMMBop
The singing Hanson brothers have welcomed a new baby sister into the world. While the group’s management couldn’t confirm her name, fan sites on the World Wide Web say it’s Zoe Genevieve Hanson.
Now, if they could just find somebody to sing
Following two months of trying to find a replacement for fired manager Simon Fuller, the Spice Girls have decided to be their own bosses. As an aide told The Sun newspaper: “They already have a lawyer, a PR and a personal assistant … all they have to worry about is the decision-making.”
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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Rick Bonino