Madonna supports ‘punk prayer’ trio
Madonna voiced hope Monday that three feminist Russian rockers on trial for performing a “punk prayer” against Vladimir Putin will be released soon.
“Obviously I believe in freedom of speech and I’m against censorship, so I hope that the judge is lenient with them and that they are freed soon,” the pop star told The Associated Press during a concert tour of Russia.
Two weeks before Putin’s return to the presidency in a March election, five members of the Pussy Riot band staged their political protest in Moscow’s main cathedral, singing “Virgin Mary, drive Putin away!”
Three of them were arrested, and have spent five months in custody on charges of hooliganism. They face up to seven years in prison if convicted. International rights groups have called them prisoners of conscience, and leading musicians have called for their release.
‘Grey’ author comes to Northwest
“Fifty Shades of Grey” author E L James will soon make her first visits to two hotspots featured in her erotic trilogy: Seattle and Portland.
Vintage Books announced Thursday that the Britain-based writer is including the two U.S. Pacific Northwest cities on a tour this fall to promote her multimillion-selling novels. James will appear at Seattle’s Third Place Books on Sept. 22 and at Portland’s Powell’s Books on Sept. 24.
James will also travel to Houston, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Mellencamp’s son on Duke team
This Duke walk-on will try to help the Blue Devils R-O-C-K in the ACC.
Duke began practice Monday with freshman Hud Mellencamp – the son of rocker John Mellencamp – on its roster.
Mellencamp was home-schooled and did not play high school football, but was an accomplished boxer in Indiana. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound defensive back was issued jersey No. 17.
Coach David Cutcliffe calls him “a pretty courageous young man” who is “trying to do something he’s never done before.”
Cutcliffe said Mellencamp had already been accepted to Duke and said “this was something the youngster wanted to try.” He says the plan is to shield Mellencamp from the media and “try to keep him back behind the scenes” while taking things slowly because of his lack of football experience.
The birthday bunch
Humorist Garrison Keillor is 70. Singer B.J. Thomas is 70. Country singer Rodney Crowell is 62. Actor Wayne Knight is 57. Singer Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden is 54. Actor David Duchovny is 52. Actress Charlize Theron is 37.