Stefani Dresses Up Solo Debut Package
Gwen Stefani is offering fans a little something extra via a special edition of her upcoming Interscope solo debut, "Love, Angel, Music, Baby." Due Nov. 23, the disc will come in a fabric-wrapped, gold-embossed digipak and feature a book-style layout with a gold ribbon bookmark. Stefani also custom designed the case for the CD, which will retail for around $40.
The upcoming album is led by the single "What You Waiting For?," co-written by Stefani with Linda Perry. The cut is No. 81 in its second week on the Billboard Hot 100 and also debuted last week on Billboard's Adult Top 40, Top 40 Mainstream and Top 40 Tracks airplay charts.
The accompanying video clip was recently shot in Los Angeles by Francis Lawrence (Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado) and can be streamed on Stefani's official Web site. The artist is expected to perform the song Nov. 14 as part of the opening of the American Music Awards, to be broadcast live on ABC.
Mulder Adds Guest Host to His Resume
CBS has tapped actor David Duchovny, best known as Fox Mulder on the hit series THE X-FILES, to guest host the THE LATE LATE SHOW on Wednesday, October 20, 2004.
Duchovny is one of many actors and comedians who filled in as guest-hosts since former THE LATE LATE SHOW host Craig Kilborn's departure in September.
Back Together Again: Original Duran Duran
NEW YORK - They played the obligatory classics: "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Girls on Film." But when Simon Le Bon ripped into the chorus of the new single "(Reach Up for the) Sunrise," the sun suddenly illuminated Times Square as if to officially mark a new day for Duran Duran.
As the original five members performed for "Good Morning America" last week, it seemed the planets had finally aligned for a band that had been ignored through its ever-changing lineup and lackluster albums of the past ten years.
The British quintet once created a fan hysteria that was compared to the Beatles', and they are largely credited for ushering in the music video age with their innovative and exotic clips. Still, until recently, they couldn't buy the sort of publicity they're now enjoying.
"We are really pleased to be back in the history books where for a while it looked as though we were being written out of them," Le Bon told The Associated Press, commenting on the Lifetime Achievement award MTV finally bestowed upon the video pioneers last year and the sudden excitement over Duran Duran's 12th album, "Astronaut."
It's been three years since Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, guitarist Andy Taylor, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor (none of them related) announced their reunion. Since then, they've played to sold-out crowds and made calculated public appearances to whet fans' appetite for the product. The anticipation also helped to secure a multi-album deal with Epic Records.
"We were dealing with the industry in its most jaded, deprived, downsized state," Andy Taylor recalled, "but when they saw the concert tickets flying out the ... window the question was answered for them and they came to the table with what we wanted."
Enduring good looks didn't hurt the band's cause either, but the former poster boys, now in their 40s, had no intention of simply letting Sony repackage their greatest hits.
"We didn't get back together to play 'Hungry Like the Wolf,'" John Taylor said, revealing the small creases bordering his flirty eyes. "We got back together to see what kind of music we could create together, and oh my God, this is the sound that we've been striving for!"
Who better to achieve that sound than old Duran Duran producer Nile Rogers, alongside Don Gilmore and Dallas Austin — who's been a big fan since he was a kid.
"I don't think they try to come off too trendy or too young or be what they are not," Austin said. "I think if you like Duran Duran you'll really like this record."
Rhodes agrees: "If it hadn't of worked musically and we hadn't have felt that it was something that was as good as everything we had done before, there is no way it would have ever come out. There's just too much pride in what we created together."
The studio chemistry (which the band considers their best since 1983's "Seven and The Ragged Tiger") resulted in a potent, moody album that showcases a newfound comfort in voicing powerful opinions.
"The first batch of songs we did in the South of France were all very upbeat and happy go lucky," Roger Taylor said, "and the second batch was after 9/11."
"Point of No Return," perhaps their most political song to date, deals with America's response to terrorism. Le Bon said the message is that rather than bombing people, "you've got to try and make the world a fairer place."
No matter where this release takes them, the quintet is committed to not letting their youthful insecurities once again divide them. Still, the band may always have to ride the line between '80S nostalgia act and relevant 21st century band.
"We are proud of the '80s, we know where we came from," Le Bon says with a transfixing, crystal-blue gaze. "But it ain't where we're going."
David Letterman to Appear on 'Regis'
NEW YORK - David Letterman, who infrequently appears on anyone's show but his own, will make a guest appearance next month on "Live With Regis and Kelly." Letterman, host of CBS' "Late Show," will appear on Nov. 8, the syndicated morning talk show said Tuesday.
"I think it's nice that he visits our show once every 10 years," co-host Regis Philbin told The Associated Press by phone. "But I'm very pleased."
Philbin and Letterman have long traded friendly barbs. He subbed for Letterman in 2000 when the late-night host underwent heart bypass surgery and again in 2003 while Letterman recuperated from an eye infection.
About their friendship, Philbin says, "that's the problem. We're great friends when I go on his show and then I leave and I don't hear from him. But I'm going to settle that on my home ground."
In anticipation of the event, "Live," with Kelly Ripa as co-host, has released its own Top Ten list, with reasons why Letterman is appearing on the show. Among them: "Thinks Kelly is hot" and "Wants to return Regis' copy of `Deuce Bigalow' in person."
U2, Apple in iPod Deal
NEW YORK (Billboard) - U2 and Apple Computer Inc. are expected to announce next week that they have signed a deal to sell custom iPods.
According to a source, the Irish rock band's upcoming album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," due Nov. 23 via Interscope Records, will come preloaded on iPods that will be available the week of street date.
Interscope, a unit of Universal Music Group, declined to comment; an Apple spokesperson could not be reached.
E-mails from Apple chairman and CEO Steve Jobs and U2 members Bono and the Edge have invited members of the press to a "special event" scheduled for Oct. 26 in San Jose, Calif.
U2's new single "Vertigo" is featured in current television ads for the iPod. The track is currently No. 2 on Billboard's airplay-based Modern Rock Tracks chart, and No. 44 on the Hot 100, which is based on both retail sales and radio airplay.
Buzzing about Oscar
The bad news is that Chris Rock will host the February 27th Oscar ceremony.
The godo news is tha the studios are beginning to roll out the films they hope will be among the top contenders.
It's been a lean year for early Oscar hopefuls. Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ will likely fill one of the five slots for best picture even though it is already out on DVD.
It's become too much of a phenomenon for the academy to ignore.
Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 would have been a shoo-in for best documentary, but the man has an ego as big as his waistline, so he's demanding it be considered for the best picture category instead.
The most likely contenders for best picture of 2004 will be rolling out over the next 10 weeks. High on the list is Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, which offers a glimpse at the high-flying, high-rolling life of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. Unless Oliver Stone's Alexander is a compete dud it will nab one of the coveted spots because Hollywood loves a spectacle.
Musicals are popular once again with both audiences and academy voters, so Joel Schumacher's Phantom of the Opera looks like another safe bet for a best picture nod.
No film is getting more positive advance buzz in Hollywood these days than Mike Nichol's Closer, a story of four people's love and betrayal of one another. It's based on a stage play and stars Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen.
In recent years, the academy has looked for at least one little movie, art film or foreign flick to champion which bodes well for the Che Guvara road movie The Motorcycle Diaries, Bill Murray's quirky The Life Aquatic and Kinsey, the story of America's famous sex therapists.
The most hotly contended category for the 2004 Oscars will be for best actor. There are at least twice as many possibilities as there are slots. Jim Caviezel heads the pack with his performance as the tortured Christ in The Passion of the Christ with Leonardo DiCaprio a close second for his transformation into the power-hungry playboy Howard Hughes in The Aviator. Jamie Foxx does a staggering job of bringing the legendary Ray Charles to life in Ray, as does Liam Neeson in portraying Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey. Hollywood's new-found love affair with Johnny Depp could find him getting nominated for playing J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan in Finding Neverland -- and Colin Ferrell may get nominated for Alexander even though he's wearing a mini-skirt for much of the film.
Jude Law could get a nod for being the unfaithful lover in Closer and don't count Bill Murray out for Life Aquatic.
Law's co-star Julia Roberts will likely head the best actress category by being nominated for Closer. Roberts swears she's putting her career on hold to be a stellar mom. A second Oscar will be a way for Hollywood to show Julia how much they love and need her.
The old guard in Hollywood love Annette Bening and she gives a rousing turn as the fading actress in Being Julia. Nicole Kidman is back in her best haunted mode in the creepy psychological drama Birth.
Kate Winslet could be nominated for Finding Neverland and Laura Linney is a match for Neeson in Kinsey. Gwyneth Paltrow has a good chance of recognition this year for Proof in which she plays a woman haunted by the ghost of her famous father (Anthony Hopkins).
The deciding factor is performance, not only on screen, but at the box office. If pictures such as Birth, Proof, Kinsey, The Life Aquatic, Beyond the Sea and Ray fail to connect with audiences, they'll be just as quickly forgotten by academy members who are swayed as much by popularity as they are by talent and hype.