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Chinese opera singer SHI PEI PU, who inspired the Broadway show M. BUTTERFLY, has died. He was 70.
A singer in the Beijing Opera who served as a spy for the Chinese government, Shi died in Paris, France on Tuesday (30Jun09).
The play M. Butterfly, which debuted on the New York stage in 1988, was loosely based on Shi’s 20 year affair with French diplomat Bernard Boursicot - who was seduced to participate in Chinese espionage.
During their entire relationship Shi pretended to be a women, even claiming to be pregnant and producing a son.
It has never been established if Boursicot knew his partner was male.
The couple received six-year sentences after being convicted of the crime in France in 1986. They were pardoned a year later.
Stars including John Lithgow, Anthony Hopkins and Tony Randall told Shi’s twisted love story in the show during its original run.
The play was reinvented just a few years later for the big screen, in a 1993 drama by the same name starring British actor Jeremy Irons.
After learning of his former lover’s passing, Boursicot told reporters: â��Iâ��m not surprised. It is a long time he has been sick. Now itâ��s over 40 years.â�� Further details of his death had not been released as WENN went to press.
He is survived by his son Shi Du Du and three grandchildren, according to Boursicot.

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Rockers EVERY TIME I DIE are searching for a new drummer after MIKE ‘RATBOY’ NOVAK announced he’s quitting the band.
Novak waited until the group had finished recording their new album New Junk Aesthetic before announcing his departure - which he blames on a rift with bandmates.
He says in a statement, "I have officially quit Every Time I Die due to personal conflicts. I feel like I’m getting myself out of an uncomfortable, unhealthy situation, and it’s for the best for everyone, and I’m ready to move on with my life. I still plan to play and be involved in music and am looking for a new project to pursue. This is a new exciting chapter in my life and I hope anyone who has enjoyed me as a person/drummer in this band for the last 11 years, sticks with me for whatever endeavour the future brings me. Thanks to all the ETID fans throughout the years".
The new album, due for release in September (09), includes guest vocals from Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz.

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DAVE GROHL is forming a spectacular new supergroup with LED ZEPPELIN bassist JOHN PAUL JONES and QUEEN OF THE STONE AGE star JOSH HOMME, according to reports.
The trio is currently holed up in a Los Angeles recording studio working on a new album, reports MetalHammer.co.uk.
Faith No More frontman Mike Patten is also rumoured to be involved in the project.
When approached for comment, Homme’s rocker wife Brody Dalle refused to confirm details, but admitted a supergroup was in the works, saying, "I’m not at liberty to talk about it… but I think (the project) is pretty f**king amazing. Just beats and sounds like you’ve never heard before."

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KRISTEN STEWART is wearing an extra-special prop to help her capture the character of JOAN JETT in new movie THE RUNAWAYS - a pair of the rocker’s own vintage sneakers.
Jett gave Stewart a pair of Converse boots she wore during the band’s 1970s heyday, and sources say the young actress refuses to take them off.
An insider tells America’s Star magazine, "Joan thought wearing them would help with the movie’s authenticity."

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TV stuntman STEVE-O is fronting a new campaign for gay marriage advocates, in which he dons a bridal gown and locks lips with his heavyweight bodyguard.
The heterosexual Jackass star agreed to pucker up for the NO H8 posters because he’s opposed to the idea of gay people not being able to wed legally in the state of California.
He chose to smooch bodyguard Reggie Pace for one poster picture, and he wears a wedding dress in another campaign shot.
Steve-O jumped at the chance to be a part of the campaign because he was appalled when his state’s lawmakers outlawed gay marriage following the Prop 8 vote last year (08).
He says, "I’ve always thought of California as this really awesome, liberal, great place… It’s such a let down that we seem to be the American capital for gay bashing."

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Former child star GARY COLEMAN’s wife has been arrested near the couple’s Utah home for domestic battery and disorderly conduct.
The pint-sized actor’s spouse Shannon Price was taken in by Santaquin, Utah authorities on Tuesday night (01Jul09) She was booked on the two misdemeanours at 8.32pm and released on $1,205 (£800) bond, reports TMZ.com.
Coleman and Price married in August 2007 after a five-month courtship, but the couple has been candid about their marital strain. Just last year (08), the pair appeared on U.S. TV show Divorce Court to air its differences with the intent to save their marriage.
A spokesperson for Coleman did not respond to requests for a comment as WENN went to press.

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The godfather to MICHAEL JACKSON’s youngest son ‘BLANKET’ has dismissed allegations he fathered the child.
For years rumours surrounding the conception of Jackson’s three children - Prince Michael, 12 and Paris, 11, from ex-wife Debbie Rowe, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, also called ‘Blanket’ - have plagued the late legend.
And the star’s longtime friend Al Malnik has stepped up in the wake of Jackson’s death last Thursday (25Jun09) to dismiss claims he served as a sperm donor for the child, who was delivered by an unknown surrogate.
He says, "It would be very interesting to realise that I didn’t meet Blanket until he was two years old. So that wouldn’t qualify as a rippling event I think. Of course I’m not the biological father." Malnik also added that he would only continue to be a part of his godson’s life "if it were court authorised or the Jackson family authorised it".
The star’s mother Katherine Jackson was awarded temporary guardianship of all three children until a court hearing scheduled for next week (begs06Jul09).

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JERMAINE JACKSON wants his brother MICHAEL JACKSON to be laid to rest in the grounds of his Neverland Ranch - because his "presence" can still be felt at the California home.
The pop superstar, who passed away last week (25Jun09), deserted the property after investigators raided it looking for evidence to use against the singer in his 2004 child molestation trial.
Reports surfaced earlier this week (begs29Jun09) suggesting Jackson would be buried at Neverland, sending fans flocking to the Santa Barbara estate.
Burials on private property are forbidden by law, and according to People.com, the family was unable to secure an exemption.
A spokesperson for Colony Capital, the investment firm that bought out the property in 2008, says, "They couldn’t get it in time." Plans for Jackson’s memorial remain in limbo, although Jackson’s relatives insist they are working on giving the Thriller hitmaker a suitable send off.
But Jermaine is still pushing to have the singer laid to rest at Neverland because it’s so "peaceful" - and he’s working on winning over the rest of his family with the idea.
He says, "This place, Neverland, I love it here, because I feel him here… This is his home, this is his creation. Why wouldn’t he be here? I feel his presence. It’s like he’s on tour somewhere, or just out somewhere, and it will always be like that.
"I want my mother to come back here and feel what I feel, my brothers, my sisters… because it is so important. I mean, he built this place with love, you can feel it, you can see it. It’s quiet, it’s peaceful." And Jermaine admits part of the reason behind his Neverland bid is to change the public perception of the place that became the main focus of Jackson’s child abuse investigation.
Jermaine adds, "He was hurt, he was torn apart, and to be treated like you’re not from here, to be made a mockery for the world to see, he felt that they sort of invaded his privacy. A place that was so beautiful - (to) turn it into something so ugly…"

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BRITNEY SPEARS will be under the control of her father until at least 2010 - JAMIE SPEARS has obtained a $1.5 million (£917,207) bond to continue acting as his daughter’s legal guardian.
Spears’ father was made conservator of her estate after her 2008 meltdown which led to the star being taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
The Toxic hitmaker’s dad filed a legal document on Sunday (28Jun09) certifying he has handed the cash over to the court so he can remain Spears’ legal guardian until at least the end of this year (09).
The $1.5 million (£917,207) bond, reportedly made up of Jamie’s own money, has been put in place in a bid to prevent the singer’s assets being pillaged, according to RadarOnline.
It is unclear why the bond was filed so long after the court-ordered conservatorship was introduced last year (08).

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MICHAEL JACKSON was planning a family reunion with his famous siblings before taking the stage for his comeback concerts later this month (Jul09), according to his brother JERMAINE.
The King of Pop was rehearsing in Los Angeles for a 50-date run of concerts at London’s O2 Arena before he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away on Thursday (25Jun09).
In the family’s first official TV interview since the tragic event, Jermaine Jackson reveals his shock at his brother’s sudden death - and he admits Michael had invited the entire family to join him in the U.K. before he took the stage for what was billed as his final curtain call.
Jermaine tells the Today show in the U.S., "We just had a big family day. We just had a big surprise for my mother and father, and he was there with the kids. And he said, ‘I’ll see you guys in London, it’s going to be really exciting…’ All the grandkids were there, my mother and father, everyone."

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JERMAINE JACKSON has leaped to the defence of his ageing mother after she was nominated by his late brother MICHAEL JACKSON to take custody of the pop legend’s three children.
The King Of Pop passed away on Thursday (25Jun09) from a cardiac arrest, leaving questions surrounding the custody of his three kids hanging in the balance.
The star’s will was filed in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday (01Jul09), nominating his 79-year-old mother Katherine as the guardian of Prince Michael Jr., 12 and Paris Michael Katherine, 11 - from ex-wife Debbie Rowe - and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, known as ‘Blanket’ - from an unknown surrogate.
Longtime friend Diana Ross is named as an alternative guardian, who would take over custody if Katherine was no longer able.
Rowe has yet to publicly address plans to challenge for custody since Jackson’s mother was awarded temporary guardianship of all three children on Monday (29Jun09).
In his first official interview since Jackson’s sudden death, Jermaine backed his mother in her quest to maintain custody of the children.
Speaking on U.S. TV show Today, he said, "She’s capable, she’s up to it because she’s with all the grandchildren, all the time. She loves the laughter, the crying and all the excitement. Yes, she is. I mean, we’re still her kids. To them (my parents) we never grew up. But she’s definitely capable. She has someone with her to make sure they’re doing the right things. I thought it was a great will because the children are fine. My mother’s the perfect person to be there." A longterm decision about the children’s future will be made in a court hearing on Monday (06Jul09).
The matriarch has also been handed the power to administer aspects of her son’s estate until a further hearing on 6 July (09).

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s three children bid farewell to the pop superstar under the watchful eye of a therapist as he lay lifeless in his hospital bed.
The Thriller hitmaker was pronounced dead last week (25Jun09) after he was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles following a cardiac arrest. He was 50.
Jackson’s family flocked to the hospital as soon as the news broke, and his brother Jermaine reveals the singer’s kids - Prince Michael Jr., 12, Paris Michael Katherine, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - were escorted into their father’s room so they could say their goodbyes one last time.
Jermaine, 54, admits he was initially opposed to the family decision because he felt it would be too traumatic for the youngsters - but he relented after learning a therapist would be on hand to help them get through the emotional visit.
He says, "I know it’s tough, but I think it was the best thing to do. At first I was against it, but what do you say if you don’t show them?" Jackson’s mother Katherine was granted temporary guardianship of the star’s kids on Monday (29Jun09). A longterm decision about their future will be made in a court hearing next week (06Jul09).

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JERMAINE JACKSON has urged the media to stop speculating about the cause of MICHAEL JACKSON’s sudden death, insisting allegations he was a prescription drug abuser are "very damaging" to his grieving family.
The Thriller superstar, 50, was pronounced dead last week (25Jun09) after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The circumstances surrounding his passing remain a mystery, amid claims he struggled with a prolonged addiction to prescription drugs.
Shortly after Jackson’s tragic death, Los Angeles police detectives conducted a search of the star’s rented Holmby Hills, California mansion and confiscated a variety of pills and medications which were among his possessions. Reports suggest one drug found was Propofol, a dangerous medication used for surgical anaesthesia.
The drug, which can only be administered with an intravenous drip (IV), can cause cardiac arrest if it is taken in combination with narcotic painkillers, but it is so potent it can stop the heart on its own.
But Jermaine, 54, is adamant his younger brother was not a drug addict, insisting he would never have passed the physical examination needed to go ahead with plans for his 50-date London residency, which was due to begin this month (Jul09).
And he wants the rumours and erroneous reports to cease until the facts are revealed in the autopsy results.
He says, "For people to come forward and say things that they don’t have the facts to is very damaging to the family, to me, to us, because we don’t know. After having the physical and proved to be completely healthy…" However, Jermaine admits he understands how the stress of showbusiness could drive a person to seek solace in various substances - but he would be devastated if the drug rumours are proven correct.
He adds: "I would be hurt (if the autopsy results show drug use) because Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that, but I’m not saying it’s right because it’s not right, but in this business, the pressure, the things that you go through, you never know. I really don’t know (if he was taking drugs), but I do know that Michael was always concerned about everybody, and to have that burden on your shoulders, and to have that pressure… I don’t know." The results of the autopsy conducted by officials at the Los Angeles coroner’s office are not due for another few weeks, while findings from a secondary autopsy, requested by the Jackson family, have yet to be released to the public.

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO’s supermodel girlfriend BAR REFAELI is starring in a new steamy campaign - she appears nude in an online video promotion.
The 24-year-old Israeli model writhes around on a sofa with a sheet barely covering her body parts in a new black and white video set to music and with no dialogue.
The erotic clip was made to promote an art exhibition in her native Israel, reports The Huffington Post.
Just last February (09), Refaeli hit headlines when she starred as Sports Illustrated newest covergirl for the magazine’s steamy annual swimsuit issue.

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Hollywood star GEORGE CLOONEY has ended his long-standing business partnership with Warner Bros. movie studios - he’s moving his Smokehouse Pictures company to Sony.
The Ocean’s Eleven actor found fame after starring in hit medical drama ER - a TV show produced by Warner Bros. - in 1994.
He went on to set up his production firm with pal Grant Heslov in 2006, but after three years on the Warner Bros. roster, the pair has decided to move on and has inked a new deal with Sony.
But Clooney insists the decision is amicable and he has praised his "family" at the movie giant for all their hard work.
He says, "Warner Bros. has been a great place to work, and I’ve felt like part of a family for almost 20 years. So in moving on, I’m leaving a terrific company and a lot of dear friends. They’re a class act."

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The BEE GEES, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and POISON have teamed up to sue a New York City nightclub boss for copyright infringement.
The groups’ Broadcast Music Inc. licensing agency recently filed suit in Manhattan federal court against Yoav Kipnes, the owner of Lower East Side nightspot Pianos, reports the New York Post.
According to court documents, Kipnes is accused of causing "great and incalculable damage" by playing the bands’ tracks without permission.
The bands allege club bosses allowed their hits Stayin’ Alive, Bulls on Parade and Talk Dirty to Me to be "publicly performed" in March and June of 2008 without paying a requited fee.
A spokesperson for Pianos had not returned requests for comment as WENN went to press.

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Exhausted hip-hop star LIL WAYNE has been forced to postpone his forthcoming European tour after doctors ordered him to rest.
The rapper was due to kick off the trek on Thursday (02Jul09) in Paris, France with a string of dates to follow over the next ten days, including two shows in London.
But the 26-year-old star, real name Dwayne Carter, has pulled out of the concerts because he needs a "doctor-mandated rest".
In a statement, a tour spokesman says, "Multi-platinum selling, Grammy Award -winning artist Lil Wayne regrets to announce the postponement of his forthcoming European shows due to illness. Wayne, his band and crew arrived in Europe with full intention of performing but were forced to cancel the dates due to doctor-mandated rest.
"Management is actively working on rescheduling the shows and expects to have a new set of dates confirmed for later in year. Lil Wayne extends an apology to his fans for the short notice of this postponement, but looks forward to returning for the performances and visitation with his fans. Fans should hold onto their tickets and wait for news of rescheduled dates.�

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JERMAINE JACKSON fought back tears on U.S. TV on Thursday morning (02Jul09) as he recalled seeing his brother MICHAEL lying lifeless in hospital - and admitted he "wished" he was the one who had died.
In the grieving family’s first official interview since the sudden passing of the Thriller hitmaker last week (25Jun09), Jermaine described how "empty" he felt as he came to terms with the shocking news.
Speaking on the Today show, he said, "There’s nothing that can compare to this. We lost our brother, our healer. The world is mourning, we are mourning, the fans are mourning, it’s unbelievable.
"I wanted to see Michael and see my brother. Seeing him lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together because I knew he was very much alive and his spirit (lives on). It (his body) was just a shell.
"I kissed him on his forehead, I hugged him and I touched him and I said to him, ‘Michael, I’ll never ever leave you. You’ll never leave me.’ I felt really, really empty." And Jermaine, who is Muslim, admits he would give anything to trade places with his younger brother so that Michael could continue his "good" work on this earth.
He adds, "This sounds strange but… I wish it was me because I always felt that I was his backbone. Someone to be there for him. Things he couldn’t say, I would say them.
"Michael is a gift from Allah and He has taken him back. The world didn’t appreciate him. The world loved him, but certain people, certain industries, didn’t appreciate him.
"His time on this earth, he did good for everyone. He saw the good in people who were claimed to be bad, but he wanted to change things. He sent messages through his songs, through his lyrics, through his actions, going to hospitals, going to orphanages trying to cure children of cancer, trying to bring them enlightenment." Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 50.

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