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THE SPECIALS’ comeback tour is becoming overshadowed by a feud between frontman TERRY HALL and songwriter JERRY DAMMERS.
The pair has been bickering since the reunion was announced last year (08).
Dammers accused Hall of excluding him from plans, prompting the singer to hit back, claiming Dammers chose to opt out of the tour.
Now the keyboard player has written an open letter to British newspaper the Guardian claiming he wasn’t invited to meetings to discuss the reunion and rehearsals.
Dammers writes, "Terry’s manager circulated emails from which I was excluded. Rehearsals were held without me, and I only managed to attend two - one of which was attended by only four people." But Dammers leaves the door open for a full reunion, adding, "Despite all this I never give up hope of some sort of reconciliation."

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Singer GEORGE STRAIT has earned his fifth nomination for the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards after receiving a mention in the Album of the Year category.
The country star’s Troubadour will battle Taylor Swift’s Fearless, Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride, Jamey Johnson’s That Lonesome Song, and Montgomery Gentry’s Back When I Knew It All for the prize.
The Album of the Year frontrunners were revealed on Thursday (05Mar09) at a press conference in Nashville, Tennessee - a month after the rest of the nominations were unveiled due to changes in the category qualifications.
Brad Paisley leads the way for the 2009 ceremony with six nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist, while Strait now ties with former Trick Pony singer Heidi Newfield with five nods apiece.
The awards show is due to take place on 5 April (09) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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British rockers BLUR’s much-heralded comeback looks set to be shortlived - drummer DAVE ROWNTREE wants to quit music completely to concentrate on his new career as a barrister.
After announcing plans for a reunion earlier this year (09), Blur burst back onto the scene with a secret performance at the NME Awards last month (Feb09), a taster for a string of U.K. gigs this summer (09).
But the band will have to find a new percussionist if they want to prolong the comeback - Rowntree has embraced an internship at a London law firm, and wants to make it his full time job.
He reveals, "I only went along for a day but then they said I could go in once a week as work experience. Now I go in three times a week. Hopefully I can go and work there when I’m finished with the Blur tour." Rowntree is also due to revive his political ambitions after being selected to represent Britain’s Labour Party as a local councillor.

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Actor SHIA LABEOUF is eager to stay out of trouble following his 2008 car crash - he’s hired a chauffeur to drive him around town.
The Transformers star, 22, was left with a crushed wrist after a collision with another vehicle in Hollywood last July (08). He was cleared of driving under the influence (DUI) by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, but handed a year-long driving ban in January (09) after refusing to undergo "chemical tests" at the scene of the accident.
And LaBeouf has now turned to a driver to transport him comfortably from one place to another - although he’s reportedly issued a rule about clothing to help him blend in.
A source tells Star magazine, "Shia doesn’t like the idea of having a full time driver, so he sits in the passenger seat.
"Shia also insisted that his chauffeur wear street clothes instead of a uniform."

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HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU co-stars JUSTIN LONG and GINNIFER GOODWIN have sparked rumours they are dating after attending a post-Oscars party hand in hand, according to U.S. tabloid reports.
The actors have both been single since splitting from their respective partners - Long broke up with Drew Barrymore last year (08), while Goodwin called off her engagement to Chris Klein in December (08).
And although the good pals have previously denied their friendship is anything more than platonic, Star magazine claims they have grown closer in recent weeks and put their romance on display at Vanity Fair’s Hollywood bash on 22 February (09).
A source tells the tabloid, "(They) were very close. She was stroking his arm, he was kissing her cheek, and they held hands all evening.
"They were trying to be cool, but it was obvious they’re a couple." And the insider alleges a romance has always been a possibility, adding, "She’s always secretly had a crush on him."

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IVANA TRUMP’s eight-month marriage to toyboy ROSSANO RUBICONDI was a business deal to help boost the Italian model’s career, according to reports.
The couple wed in a ceremony in Florida last April (08), but split in December, shortly after 36-year-old Rubicondi had appeared on the Italian version of reality TV show Survivor.
Now sources tell the New York Daily News Rubicondi and Donald Trump’s ex, 60, were never a real couple.
An insider reveals, "Ivana wanted to be back in the limelight and Rossano’s career needed a jump-start, so the couple agreed - via a contract - to the nuptials." A representative for Trump could not be reached to confirm or deny the reports.

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Movie veteran KIRK DOUGLAS is shocked his four-performance one-man shows sold out within an hour.
The ageing star will hit the stage at his namesake theatre in Culver City, California over the next two weekends - and he cannot believe his 90-minute show, Before I Forget, has become such a hit.
He says, "I was shocked when the tickets went on sale the first day and they sold out the four performances." And now Douglas regrets he won’t be able to tour with the show, or perform a run of shows on Broadway - because, at 92, he’s too old.
He explains, "Frankly, I don’t think I can do it. I could never do a 90-minute show eight times a week."

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Top secret details of MICHAEL JACKSON’s comeback concerts were unveiled early - when blundering advertisers put up posters plugging the shows hours before the official announcement was made.
Organisers of the gigs at London’s O2 Arena went to great lengths this week (begs02Mar09) to keep the dates of the performances under wraps ahead of a highly-anticipated press conference on Thursday (05Mar09).
But the details were available to thousands of rail passengers when posters were put up at stations on the London Underground tube network hours before the press conference was held.
The ads confirm the Thriller hitmaker will play a total of ten shows at the O2 in July (09).
The billboard displays feature a picture of Jackson dancing with one hand in the air, with the slogan: "This Is It - 10 Shows, July ‘09, The O2 Arena." A source at the press conference said: "The organisers were told earlier today that the posters have already gone up on the tube. They are furious - this wasn’t meant to happen."

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German director FLORIAN HENCKEL VON DONNERSMARCK will end his three-year hiatus by taking charge of TOM CRUISE’s next movie THE 28TH AMENDMENT.
The filmmaker has not stepped behind the camera since winning the Oscar for foreign language film for The Lives of Others in 2006.
But he has since signed with the United Talent Agency to move into mainstream Hollywood films, and is in talks to direct the drama for Warner Bros., reports industry publication Daily Variety.

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A spokesperson for R&B singer CHRIS BROWN has dismissed reports the star is tipping off the paparazzi to snap pictures of him with RIHANNA after the pair’s weekend ‘reconciliation’.
Brown was arrested and charged with making criminal threats following an alleged altercation with his girlfriend after a pre-Grammy party on 8 February (09), which is said to have left Rihanna in need of hospital treatment.
His career quickly began to suffer, with bosses at Wrigleys and America’s Got Milk? campaign pulling promotional ads featuring Brown, and several radio stations removing his songs from their playlists.
The pair reunited at the weekend (28Feb-01Mar09) for a heart-to-heart at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Florida estate, and then jetted to Los Angeles on Sunday, where they were caught on camera disembarking a jet.
The pictures sparked reports Brown had placed calls to the paparazzi, hoping it would help him salvage his singing career.
A source tells the New York Post, "Chris tipped off the photographers. He needs it to be out there that he and Rihanna are back together. His only chance for a career was if she got back together with him, and he wanted people to see them there." But a spokesperson for the star has brushed off the claim, insisting, "To my knowledge this is not true." Brown, who was freed on bail following his arrest, is due in court in Los Angeles on Thursday (05Mar09) for an arraignment hearing.

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British soul singer ADELE has apologised to JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE after unintentionally snubbing the superstar backstage at the Grammy Awards.
The Chasing Pavements star picked up two prizes at the prestigious 8 February (09) ceremony - Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - but was so shocked by the recognition she ignored Timberlake when he came up to congratulate her after her double win.
She recalls, "In the hallway after I’d won two Grammys, he grabbed me and he’s like, ‘Congratulations’. I was so totally overwhelmed about the Grammys that I didn’t even realise it was Justin." And Adele is so ashamed by her reaction, she has said sorry to the SexyBack hitmaker - but has ruled out ever becoming friends because she’d be constantly starstruck.
She adds, "Justin, I love you and I’m really sorry… for making it seem like I didn’t want to meet you. I really did – and I don’t think we can ever be friends because you’re just too much. You’re too good!"

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TYRESE GIBSON is turning his back on his music career to focus on Hollywood - after a heart-to-heart with rapper-turned-actor WILL SMITH.
The Transformers hunk had success in singing and modelling before hitting the big screen, but he’s now looking to establish himself as a Hollywood A-lister after taking advice from superstar Smith.
And the talk has not only given Gibson a new perspective on his future career - he has a new leaner physique too.
He says, "I had one of the heaviest and deepest conversations with Will Smith and he said to me, ‘Tyrese, you are 29 years old, and I just turned 40… If you take this acting thing serious for the next three years it’s gonna change your life forever.’ So I shut down everything on the music side and I lost about forty six pounds training with Will Smith and his trainer Darrel Forster, and it’s just pure film focus now man.
"Everyone in music is trying to transition into Hollywood. I figure I’m here with Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg and all the other A-listers, I can’t take the situation for granted anymore, and keep doing movies and music and music and movies… going back and forth. So I just cleared out everything that’s got to do with music. I’ll totally focus on acting and see how far this takes me."

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CAMERON DIAZ gave American audiences a late night laugh on Wednesday (04Mar09) - when she joined comedian-turned-TV host JIMMY FALLON in a wacky dance-off competition.
The Charlie’s Angels star rose to the occasion when challenged by the funnyman during an interview on his new show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Strutting onto the stage in a black satin jumper and stiletto heels, Diaz showed off her saucy moves next to the awkward TV host, who quickly crowned her the winner after failing to trump the star with moves he called ‘the karate chop’ and ‘the blindfold’.
Dancing to back-up band The Roots, Diaz was confident she’d triumph, comparing her wide-range of dance moves to American mother-of-14, Nadya Suleman, dubbed ‘Octomom’ by the media after giving birth to octuplets in January (09).
Winding up for her win, Diaz told Fallon: "I’ve got more moves than the Octomom got kids. So take that biatch!"

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British singer CHERYL COLE’s soccer star husband ASHLEY COLE has been arrested and fined for drunk and disorderly behaviour following a night out in London.
The defender, who plays for England and Chelsea Football Club, was taken into police custody at around 2.15am on Thursday (05Mar09) after allegedly swearing at officers outside west London’s The Collection bar and restaurant.
Authorities confirmed that a 28 year old man had been held at a police station on Brompton Road, in South Kensington.
Cole was fined $112 (£80) and was released at 5.30am on Thursday.
No further action will be taken, according to a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police.
A representative for Chelsea F.C. has refused to comment on the incident.

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Rap superstar EMINEM will give fans a double treat this year - by serving up two new albums by the end of 2009.
The Without Me hitmaker, real name Marshall Mathers III, has been working on his highly-anticipated chart comeback - the follow-up to 2004’s Encore - for months.
Relapse, recorded with his mentor and superproducer Dr. Dre, was originally expected to be released in late 2008/early 2009, but Eminem has now picked a mid-May (09) date for the disc.
And the star reveals his studio sessions have been so productive, he’s already got Relapse 2 in the works, which he plans to release just months after Relapse.
Eminem says, "A lot of people were expecting Relapse to drop last year. I was one of them. Then Dre and I went back in the studio in September for a few days, and that turned into six months.
"We were on such a roll; we wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dre. Putting out Relapse 2 will let everyone get all of the best stuff." Eminem’s continued popularity was confirmed last month (Feb09) when his new single, Crack A Bottle featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, shot to the top of the Billboard singles chart after shifting 418,000 download sales to take the number one slot.

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R&B singer TONI BRAXTON is threatening to sue concert promoters in South America after they conned fans into attending a show purportedly featuring the star - only to discover the headliner was an "imitation act".
The Unbreak My Heart hitmaker was reportedly touted to play a gig in the Republic of Suriname last Friday (27Feb09) night, but the crowd turned violent in the early hours of Saturday (28Feb09) when devotees realised they had been duped - and an impersonator, named Trina Johnson, was singing instead.
According to local reports, fans began rioting and threw bottles at the stage, before looting bars at the show’s venue.
Johnson, who had to be rescued by security guards, was left stunned by the chaos - because she insists her contract specifically states she was hired as an "imitation act" and was unaware concert-goers were led to think otherwise.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the event hoax, but the gig promoter, Angel Ventura from Events 4 Suriname, and his assistant have disappeared, fleeing without paying local sponsors, organisations and stage personnel hired for the concert.
Police spokesman Humphrey Naarden says, "This is a clear cut case of fraud." And Braxton is consulting with lawyers to file an official complaint against the promotions company for "victimising" her fans.
A representative for the star tells TMZ.com, "Toni Braxton is aware of what happened and is obviously displeased with what happened.
"She regrets that both she and her fans have been victimised by this hoax. Ms. Braxton’s attorneys are exploring the legal ramifications."

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TV bosses have ended speculation comedian LARRY DAVID’s long-running U.S. show CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM is facing cancellation - scheduling a season seven debut almost two years after the last episode aired.
The comedy, which debuted in 1999 as a one-hour special, has been off the air since its last season ended in November 2007, leaving fans wondering if David would return for a seventh season.
Reports the show was in jeopardy were fuelled when production delays pushed back plans for an early 2009 premiere, but executives at HBO assured fans on Wednesday (04Mar09) the show will be revived.
Filming is now scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in preparation for a September (09) premiere.

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American stage and screenwriter TOM COLE has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 75.
Cole died on 23 February (09) at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut after suffering from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood, his wife, Joyce Chopra, has confirmed.
Best known for his film and stage writing, it was Cole’s 1985 film Smooth Talk that helped launch Academy Award-nominated actress Laura Dern to fame after it became a surprise hit at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film was directed by Chopra, who also produced the television version of Cole’s hit play Medal of Honor Rag. Cole’s title character in the play was performed Off Broadway by Howard E. Rollins Jr. in 1976, and by rapper Heavy D in a Los Angeles-staged version produced by Will Smith in 2005.
Cole’s other stage works include Fighting Bob and About Time, which became a signature performance piece for James Whitmore after he appeared in the original New York production in 1990.
The writer, who earned a master’s degree in Russian at Harvard University, was inspired by his experiences in the Slavic nation as an interpreter for a government-sponsored science exhibition to compose his first book, An End to Chivalry. He later taught Russian and English literature at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In addition to his wife, Cole is survived by a daughter, Sarah Rose Cole; a brother, Morrill; and a sister, Elizabeth.

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