White Stripes singer injured in crash
White Stripes frontman Jack White was injured after being involved in a car accident, NME reports.
White suffered a fractured hand in the crash, which occurred on Wednesday in his hometown of Detroit.
NME also reports that Hollywood star Renee Zellweger was a passenger in White's car at the time of the accident, although she was not hurt.
The crash has forced the band to scrap two weekend shows at Scotland's T In The Park festival, and the Witnness event in Ireland.
It is uncertain whether the injury will affect the group's upcoming North American tour which begins on July 19.
Clay Aiken Fans Claim 'American Idol's' Results Fixed
It seems that not everyone was happy with the outcome of this season's American Idol. A large group of AI fans have banded together online and have started an email campaign to Fox and the Federal Communications Commission (or FCC), alleging that the talent contest was fixed in favor of winner Ruben Studdard.
A group of emailed complaints collected by TheSmokingGun.com--who requested them from the FCC under the Freedom Of Information Act--profile various complaints, including the accusation that Fox provided fewer lines for runner-up Clay Aiken's voters, that judge Simon Cowell deliberately refrained from picking on Studdard's weight, and that the Fox producers lied about the number of votes received.
The FCC is said to be looking into the matter.
Three weeks ago, just prior to the final vote, Ruben Studdard said there's no rivalry between him and Aiken. "We're really good friends, man,” Studdard said. “You can't help to be with, around these people that long, and not build friendships. I think me and Clay's albums will both do well, and will sell a lot of copies, and everybody'll be happy."
'Pirates' Plunders Box Office for $46.4M
LOS ANGELES - Disney was rolling in doubloons as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" plundered the box office for $46.4 million in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Overall box-office revenues were up slightly, ending a string of four down weekends. The top 12 movies grossed $140 million, up 3.5 percent from the same weekend last year.
For the year, Hollywood receipts are running about 5 percent behind 2002 revenues.
Based on the Disney theme-park attraction, the movie starring Johnny Depp had taken in $70.4 million since opening Wednesday.
Debuting in second place was Sean Connery's literary superhero adventure "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," which had a $23.25 million opening weekend. Connery stars as Victorian-era adventurer Allan Quatermain leading a team of characters lifted from literature, including Dorian Gray, Capt. Nemo and Dr. Jekyll.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" commandeered the box-office lead from the previous weekend's No. 1 flick, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," which fell to third place with $19.6 million. "Terminator 3" pushed its 12-day total to $110.5 million.
"Finding Nemo," the year's top-grossing movie, was No. 5 for the weekend with $8.2 million, lifting its total to $290.8 million.
The surreal fairy tale "Northfork" debuted strongly in limited release, taking in $61,000 at five theaters. From sibling filmmakers Mark and Michael Polish, "Northfork" stars Nick Nolte, James Woods and Daryl Hannah in the story of locals who refuse to evacuate their town to make way for a hydroelectric dam.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" stars Depp as a rascally pirate on a quest to retrieve his stolen ship from his first mate (Geoffrey Rush) and a crew of cursed mutineers who turn into skeletons in moonlight.
Produced by blockbuster baron Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, the well-reviewed "Pirates" offered elaborate stunts and visual effects for the action crowd and a classy cast that elevated it above the usual summer popcorn picture.
A staple in Errol Flynn's days, pirate movies had fallen on hard times in Hollywood with such modern bombs as "Cutthroat Island" and "Treasure Planet."
"Everybody had said pirate movies were cursed. The curse is officially over," said Chuck Viane, Disney head of distribution.
Disney bombed with its previous theme-park adaptation, last summer's "The Country Bears." But with the success of "Pirates," audiences skeptical about seeing movies based on Disney attractions might be a bit more primed for the next one, this fall's "The Haunted Mansion," starring Eddie Murphy.
The studio is running trailers for "The Haunted Mansion" before "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., with final figures to be released Monday:
1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," $46.4 million.
2. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," $23.25 million.
3. "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," $19.6 million.
4. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," $12 million.
5. "Finding Nemo," $8.2 million.
6. "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," $7.3 million.
7. "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas," $4.6 million.
8. "28 Days Later," $4.25 million.
9. "The Hulk," $3.7 million.
10. "The Italian Job," $2.8 million.
TOTALS TO DATE
Finding Nemo ......................... $290.8 million
The Hulk ............................. $124.7 million
Terminator 3 ......................... $110.5 million
The Italian Job ...................... $ 88.9 million
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle .......$ 81.7 million
Pirates of the Caribbean ............. $ 70.4 million
Legally Blonde 2 ..................... $ 62.9 million
28 Days Later ........................ $ 28.5 million
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. $ 23.3 million
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas ..... $ 19.1 million
Jazz Great Benny Carter Dead at 95 in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Legendary jazz pioneer and big band leader Benny Carter, who helped break Hollywood's bar to black composers, died on Saturday at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, friends said on Sunday. He was 95.
Carter, who was one of the first black composers and arrangers to work on mainstream Hollywood films, including such classics as "Stormy Weather," had been hospitalized for about two weeks, complaining of bronchitis and fatigue, said family friend Virginia Wicks.
"If Benny was not there, we wouldn't be here," said composer and arranger Quincy Jones, a close friend and protege. "We walked through the door on his shoulders. He was a quiet and dignified man. And one of a kind."
In a career that spanned seven decades, Carter played with such jazz luminaries as pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith, Fats Waller, Miles Davis and Dizzie Gillespie. He is also credited with launching Ella Fitzgerald's career by introducing her to bandleader Chick Webb.
A largely self-taught musician, Carter established the swing-era, big band sound through ensemble compositions for the Fletcher Henderson orchestra and later his own band.
Born in 1907 in New York City, Carter studied piano with his mother and was inspired by his neighbor, Bubber Miley, a musician with Duke Ellington's band.
He began sitting in at Harlem night spots at the age of 15, having left school. By 1928, he was recording with Henderson's band and is credited with groundbreaking arrangements like "Keep A Song In Your Soul."
"He was one of the architects of the big band sound," said longtime Carter friend and biographer Ed Berger.
Carter applied the principles of the jazz solo to whole sections of the orchestra in a way that made them swing as they never had before, said Berger.
As a result, the major big bands at the peak of their popularity in the 1930s sought him out and his own orchestra attracted a who's who of jazz musicians, including such sidemen as saxophonist Chu Berry and pianist Teddy Wilson.
"They were sort of an incubator for great soloists," said Berger.
Carter's compositions, including "Blues in My Heart" and "When Lights Are Low," have become jazz standards.
In 1941, he formed a sextet that included such bebop pioneers as trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and drummer Kenny Clarke. Known as a courtly and patient mentor, Carter nurtured some of the next generation's major stars in jazz.
"Everyone should listen to Benny Carter, he's a whole musical education," said Miles Davis, who played with Carter in his California-based big band that also included trombonist J.J. Johnson and drummer Max Roach.
Carter was also a pioneer in breaking down color barriers for black musicians and composers. He formed the first international and interracial band in the Netherlands in the mid-1930s and a decade later became one of the first black composers to work in film and television.
A self-effacing and private man, Carter was modest about his accomplishments. "No one was ever more articulate than Benny Carter -- except about himself," said Berger. "He would not admit that this was any great, earth-shattering thing. To him it was just another gig."
Carter is survived by his wife, Hilma, a daughter, Joyce Mills, a grandchild and a great grandchild, said Wicks.
Awesome! Absolutely awesome!!!
The wait is finally over. Warner Bros. has officially announced their first DVD release of classic Looney Tunes animated shorts for October 28th. Here's what to expect...
The Looney Tunes Golden Collection will retail for $64.92 and will contain 56 of the very best animated shorts, restored and remastered to pristine quality, on 4 discs. You'll also get audio commentaries, music-only tracks, behind-the-scenes featurettes and documentaries and much more.
The Looney Tunes Premier Collection will retail for $26.99. It's 2 discs will feature 28 of the best restored and remastered shorts, featuring the "best of favorite characters" and some supplemental material.
Also available that day will be Looney Tunes: Reality Check! and Looney Tunes: Stranger Than Fiction (SRP $19.98 each). Reality Check features newly-created shorts spoofing reality TV, while Stranger Than Fiction includes new shorts spoofing sci-fi movie blockbusters and TV shows.
We should have all the details for you on Monday.
Also... be sure to come back here for ANOTHER big announcement from Warner on Monday morning. You can probably guess what it is.
We suggest you take the RED pill.
See you then!