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THE SPECIALS frontman TERRY HALL has dismissed accusations he banished fellow singer JERRY DAMMERS from their comeback tour.
The reformed British ska band has lined up a string of gigs across the U.K. in the spring (09) after their successful appearance at Britain’s Bestival show in September (08) - the first time they played together since their 1981 split.
Founding member Dammers won’t be joining the group on the forthcoming tour - alleging in a statement in December (08) that his bandmates had "driven him out" of plans for a reformation.
But Hall insists it was Dammers’ decision to opt out of the reunion tour - and claims the keyboard player and songwriter will regret missing out on the experience.
He says, "I’ve read Jerry’s statement and I just don’t get it. ‘They’re trying to kick me out of the band’ - not at all mate, not at all. I spoke to Jerry night after night all through 2008. He wanted to do one date, in (the band’s native city) Coventry, in front of 30,000 people, at the football stadium. I thought that was a bit of a Take That thing. We wanted to play 2,000 to 3,000-sized venues.
"I don’t think he likes the idea of touring, to be honest. I think he hid that a bit in his statement. But apart from that, I have no idea why Jerry isn’t doing it.
"Hand on my heart, this is what I feel is a bit sad for Jerry. He’s f**king missing out. He’s missing out on being in this incredible band. We haven’t changed that much, we still take the p**s out of each other, there’s an understanding that hasn’t gone away. And he’s missing out on that, and it’s sad for him, to be honest."

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Legendary tenor PLACIDO DOMINGO has been crowned the winner of the first ever $1 million (£700,000) Birgit Nilsson award for his outstanding achievements in classical music.
Late Swedish soprano Nilsson established a foundation prior to her death in 2005 for a prize to be given to an individual for excellence in opera and concert.
She picked Domingo as the winner of the inaugural award - but officials kept the name in a sealed envelope until Friday’s (20Feb09) announcement.
He was chosen for the prestigious prize for "outstanding achievements in the international field of opera and concert", according to The Birgit Nilsson Foundation.
Domingo is one of the most versatile tenors in history, having sung 128 roles, and is widely known as one of The Three Tenors alongside José Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti.
The Spanish star is also a conductor, and general director of both the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera.
He will receive his award at a prizegiving ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden later this year (09).

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HEATH LEDGER’s ex-girlfriend NAOMI WATTS is urging Academy Awards bosses to recognise the late actor’s talents by honouring him with a posthumous Oscar on Sunday (22Feb09) night.
The King Kong star, who is now dating actor Liev Schreiber, romanced Ledger for two years after they met on the set of Aussie film Ned Kelly in 2002. They split amicably and remained friends.
Ledger was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar on 22 January (09) exactly year after he died of an accidental drug overdose in New York.
And Watts is adamant that the Academy board should give Ledger the tribute for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight - because he was such an extraordinary star.
She says, "I hope he does win. He was amazing and his work should be recognised.
"I always knew it from the time we met on Ned Kelly. When we first rehearsed together I was blown away by his presence and the detail in his performance. I just thought, ‘Wow, this guy is extraordinary, he has got something really special.’" Ledger has already been posthumously honoured with a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award for his turn as the comic book villain and will compete against Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) and Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) for the coveted Academy Award in Los Angeles on Sunday.

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Los Angeles police have launched an official investigation into how a photograph allegedly showing a badly bruised RIHANNA was leaked on the internet.
The shocking snap, which was posted on celebrity website TMZ.com, features a close-up of what appears to be the Umbrella singer with contusions on her forehead, a swollen nose and a bloody lip.
The injuries are said to relate to a reported fight between the singer and her boyfriend Chris Brown in the early hours of 8 February (09), which allegedly left her in need of hospital treatment.
Brown was charged with making criminal threats following the incident.
L.A. police have refused to confirm the identity of the woman in the photo, but admit the picture was taken during a recent domestic violence investigation.
Officials at the police department have now launched a probe to find whoever was responsible for the leak.
A statement from the L.A. police reads, "The unauthorised release of a domestic violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation. The Media Relations Section began receiving numerous enquiries about the release of a photograph associated with a domestic violence incident that occurred on February 8, 2009, involving entertainer Chris Brown. The photograph has the appearance of one taken during an official Domestic Violence investigation.
"The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence.
"The Department launched an immediate internal investigation and subsequently filed a personnel complaint. A violation of this type is considered serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination."

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FLEETWOOD MAC star STEVIE NICKS insists she did offer SHERYL CROW a chance to join the band on tour - but was left "disappointed" when the rocker passed up the opportunity.
Crow recently denied reports she was invited to play with the legendary group ahead of their upcoming first tour in five years, labelling the reports "rumours".
But iconic singer Nicks insists she was desperate for Crowe to join them onstage and invited her on the tour, but claims the star turned down the offer over the band’s hectic schedule.
Nicks tells Msnbc.com, �I explained to Sheryl what it was like to be in the group - that it�s all-encompassing. Like on 2003�s Say You Will tour, we went out expecting to do 40 shows, and it turned in to 135 shows. So Sheryl called me and said, �I�ll have to pass.� As Stevie Nicks, I was disappointed. As her friend, I told her she made the right decision.�

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VICTORIA BECKHAM’s fashion dreams have taken another blow - the star’s denim clothing line has been dropped from an exclusive U.S. store in a row over her new dress collection.
American stores Henri Bendel and Kitson have already dropped Beckham’s dVb range due to poor sales.
And now executives at upmarket chain Saks Fifth Avenue have followed suit, amid accusations the star offered her new collection of designer gowns to a rival store.
Bosses of the New York shop were reportedly furious by Beckham’s decision to sell her much-hyped dresses exclusively in rival store Bergdorf Goodman.
A source tells the New York Post, "They were offended when she sold her dress line to Bergdorf’s and not to Saks, even though Saks launched her denim line in their New York store. Bergdorf never carried her jeans, but they got her designer line anyway." A representative for Beckham says, "At this time there is no Victoria Beckham product stocked at Saks, but we continue to work closely with several leading stores and many independent U.S. fashion retailers."

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HARRISON FORD is reportedly set to wed his longtime girlfriend CALISTA FLOCKHART, according to U.S. reports.
The couple, dating since 2002, became engaged on 1 April 2007 and are now ready to walk down the aisle after reportedly applying for a marriage licence in the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they own a home.
New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams reports that the actors have already taken blood tests, a necessity to obtain the right to wed in the U.S., and are ready to file joint tax returns - a practise only carried out by married couples.
She writes, "Jackson Hole bigmouths swear Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart took blood tests and got licenses so (it) could be they already are, or soon will be, filing joint returns." Flockhart, 44, has a son, Liam, whom she adopted in 2001, while Ford, 66, has four children - two grown-up sons with first wife Mary Marquardt, and a son and daughter from his second marriage to Melissa Mathison.

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MAD MEN star JON HAMM can fall back on cooking if his acting career ever drys up - he spent years working in kitchens as a struggling star.
The Golden Globe winner worked in a string of Los Angeles restaurants in the 1990s as he tried to become a working actor.
And his partner of nearly 12 years, actress Jennifer Westfeldt, is thankful for his culinary background.
Westfeldt tells America’s Us Weekly magazine, "He’s a much better cook than I am, frankly. He’s learned everything he knows from working in restaurants."

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SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE star FREIDA PINTO landed her headmistress mother in big trouble when she was a child - by making up stories about a captive brother.
The Indian actress always dreamed of having a little brother and would tell school friends that her mum would keep her imaginary sibling locked away at home.
She recalls, "I told my friends, ‘I do have a little brother and my mum locks him up at home and doesn’t let him get out of the house, but every time I go back home from school, I play with him.’ "My friends just wouldn’t believe me… so they went and told their parents and their parents came and asked my mother and my mum was, like, shocked.
"I put my mum in a lot of trouble there."

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MICKEY ROURKE fears he will miss out on the Best Actor prize at the upcoming Academy Awards (22Feb09) - as payback for his troubled past relationships with Hollywood movie executives.
The actor has made a triumphant return to the big-screen having spent years out of the limelight after a string of run-ins with film bosses, well documented troubles with the law and a failed foray into professional boxing.
He has already secured prestigious Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for his comeback performance in The Wrestler and is widely tipped to take home a coveted Oscar prize.
But Rourke is convinced he will be shunned by the Academy at Sunday’s ceremony - as punishment for his past hot-headed behaviour.
He says, "It’s voted for by people from the movie business and in the past I’ve hacked them all off. I was good at that. It came easy to me. I stupidly said acting wasn’t a job for a real man. I threatened producers, raged at directors, forgot my agent’s name. I really burned my bridges. And a lot of people have long memories."

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Actress KATHLEEN TURNER is set to return to the Broadway stage this weekend (21-22Feb09) after injuring her knee on Tuesday (17Feb09).
Turner, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, is currently starring in a new adaptation of comedy The Third Story in New York.
Producers were forced to cancel three shows this week after Turner injured herself off-stage following her Tuesday (17Feb09) night performance.
But a spokesman for the play has now announced the star will return to work on Saturday (21Feb09) for the matinee show, complete with a leg brace and a cane.
The play’s co-artistic director Bernard Telsey has praised Turner’s dedication to the job. He says, "Kathleen Turner personifies the attitude of the Broadway trouper. Against any odds, she must - and will - make her performance." The show, at the Lucille Lortel Theater, is scheduled to run until 15 March (09).

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R&B superstar BEYONCE has yet to spend any of her multi-million dollar fortune - insisting she hasn’t bought any luxury items with her cash.
The singer was recently named the richest star under 30 years old - with an estimated $80 million (£55 million) in the bank.
But Beyonce - whose wedding ring is worth $5 million (£3.5 million) - is adamant that she has invested all of her money wisely, and won’t be spending any of her earnings on fast cars or expensive jewellery.
She says, "Honestly, I’m very frugal. I haven’t bought a car since I was 16 or any diamonds since I was 17. I have a lot of property. I’ve invested my money and I don’t have to make any more, thank God, because I’m set.
"I’m now able really to be free and just do thngs that make me happy. It’s an effort to stay grounded."

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BON JOVI rocker JON BON JOVI fears he may be starting to lose his hair - and is already devising treatments to help save his prized locks.
The 46-year-old singer has long been known for his long, flowing tresses but has opted for a shorter style in recent years.
And he puts the change down to his receding hairline, which is starting to make him paranoid about ending up bald.
Bon Jovi says, "Oh, let me tell you, I am so worried (about my hair). I look at guys like Sting and think, ‘Well, he’s cool about it,’ but I’m already losing it a bit and I’m so aware of it.
"Someone told me that you have to regularly massage your scalp, so I do that all the time. You look like a jerk, but it’s got to be worth a shot, right?"

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Organiser’s of the Brit Awards have denied leaking the result of PAUL WELLER’s Best Male win at Wednesday night’s (18Feb09) ceremony - after bookmakers in England lost an estimated $140,000 (£100,000) over the prize British betting shops Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, William Hill and Tote all stopped taking wagers on Weller to win the award amid fears of a ‘leak’ over the result - after an avalanche of stakes were placed in just a few hours last Sunday (15Feb09).
And their worst fears came true at the Wednesday (28Feb09) night ceremony in London when Weller beat Will Young, Ian Brown, The Streets - aka rapper Mike Skinner - and James Morrison to land the coveted prize.
Weller’s win cost the gambling industry around $140,000 (£100,000) and industry bosses claim that the star’s pre-recorded acceptance speech could have led to the flurry of bets.
But Brit Awards bosses are adamant they did everything they could to keep the result out of the public domain.
A spokesman says, "Every precaution is taken to keep results under lock and key.�

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OZZY OSBOURNE’s daughter KELLY has reportedly left rehab after she was photographed shopping with her mother in California.
The 24-year-old entered the Hazelden Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center in Oregon last month (Jan09) to be treated for undisclosed reasons.
Osbourne is now said to have completed the 30-day program after she was spotted out and about in Malibu, California with her mum, Sharon, according to British newspaper Metro.
It was the third spell in rehab for the reality TV star, who previously endured a stay at California’s Promises Clinic in 2004, where she was treated for an addiction to painkillers.
Osbourne found herself back in the clinic in 2005 following a relapse.

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Singer JOHN LEGEND has written an open letter to a New York newspaper - criticising the editor for running a controversial cartoon featuring the shooting of a chimp.
The R&B star is calling for a boycott of the New York Post following the publication of a picture which shows two police officers standing over the body of a chimpanzee they just shot, with one remarking, ‘They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.’ The drawing is a reference to a recent news story about a woman who was mauled by a pet chimpanzee, which was subsequently shot by cops.
But the cartoon has come under fire, with many claiming it is a thinly-veiled mockery of new President Barack Obama, because of the link to the recent stimulus legislation, designed to prop up the U.S. economy.
And Legend was so outraged by the cartoon, he has written an open letter to officials at the paper.
He writes, "I’m trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon. I guess you thought it would be funny. Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? "You should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible." And Legend goes on to insist that he will be cutting all ties with the publication in future.
He adds, "I’m personally boycotting your paper and won’t do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well." Officials at the New York Post printed an apology following the outcry over the drawing, claiming the drawing has been "taken as something else" and that "a cartoon is just a cartoon".

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HEATH LEDGER’s father KIM has hinted he will accept the late star’s Best Supporting Actor Oscar if he wins at the event on Sunday (22Feb08) - but admits collecting the honour will be "bittersweet".
Ledger was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as The Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight on 22 January (09), the first anniversary of his death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
There has been much speculation over who will collect the prestigious industry trophy in the tragic star’s place, with fans even voting in a recent poll, putting Ledger’s daughter Matilda and her mum Michelle Williams in a near dead-heat with the actor’s parents Kim and Sally.
The proud pair flew into Los Angeles from Ledger’s hometown of Perth, Australia on Wednesday (18Feb08) in preparation for the prizegiving, and Kim told reporters he would possibly honour his son in front of the star-studded crowd if the Academy voted for him.
He told UsWeekly.com, "I may say a few words. (It’ll be) bittersweet, obviously.
"I’m extremely proud. You can’t expect to win something like this. (The Academy) could just as easily turn left, as (it) could go right." Ledger has already been posthumously honoured with a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award for his turn as the comic book villain.

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A photograph appearing to show a badly bruised RIHANNA after her reported fight with ex-boyfriend CHRIS BROWN has appeared on a celebrity website.
The shocking snap features a close-up of what appears to be the Umbrella singer with heavy bruising on her forehead, a swollen nose and a bloody lip.
The image was posted on TMZ.com. It is not known from where the photograph was sourced as WENN goes to press.
Rihanna returned to her native Barbados last week (begs09Feb09) after she was reportedly assaulted by her then-boyfriend Brown in the early hours of 8 February (09). The fight is said to have left her in need of hospital treatment.
Brown is facing possible jail time after he was charged by Los Angeles police with making criminal threats following the incident.
Earlier this week (16Feb09), Rihanna’s cousin told reporters the star’s injuries were not as "as bad as people make them sound".
Yvonne Fenty said, "Rihanna is holding up well. Everyone is looking after her. Her injuries weren’t near as bad as people make them sound." Brown released a statement on Sunday (15Feb09) admitting he is "saddened" by the events of last Sunday, and is seeking counselling from his pastor and his family.
Rihanna has yet to issue an official statement about the incident.

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