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ROLLING STONES rocker RONNIE WOOD is feeling the effects of the global ec= onomic downturn - he’s been forced to slash the price of his London mansi= on by $2.3 million (=C2=A31.4 million).
The guitarist is selling the riverside home he shared with ex Jo, which= he purchased for $11.6 million (=C2=A37.25 million) less than two years = ago.
The property is situated on a street dubbed ‘Rolling Stones Row’ in Lon= don’s prestigious Chelsea neighbourhood, where the band’s Mick Jagger and= Keith Richards also used to own houses. Former Stones bassist Bill Wyman= still lives on the street.
Wood, who divorced his wife of 23 years last year (09), originally want= ed to sell it for $10.4 million (=C2=A36.5 million) - the same amount his= divorce settlement came to - but he is being forced to put it on the mar= ket for $9.3 million (=C2=A35.8 million).
Estate agents Strutt & Parker say, "We have had offers, but not close e= nough to the asking price."

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SEX PISTOLS star JOHN LYDON wants to turn his hand to film-making - the p= unk legend is keen to tell the story of the British royals in a documenta= ry.
The former Johnny Rotten, whose song God Save The Queen was banned by t= he BBC and the U.K.’s Independent Broadcasting Authority in 1977, is keen= to make a TV show investigating the royal family’s charity work.
He says, "I’d like to get to the inner truth of the Royal Family. For y= ears I’ve wanted to do a documentary asking how they got there and what m= akes them so superior. Now I’d like to put the other side, too. The good = that they do. It’s too easy to take potshots at them." Lydon’s not the only singer working on a royal project - Madonna is set= to direct a movie based on the life of late King Edward VIII. (KD/WNTSU/=

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GIRLS ALOUD stars NICOLA ROBERTS and KIMBERLEY WALSH have rallied around = bandmate CHERYL COLE following her split from husband ASHLEY.
The star, who wed the soccer player in July 2006, issued a statement co= nfirming her marriage is over on Tuesday (23Feb10), following allegations= the sportsman cheated on her with five women.
And Cole, a judge on Simon Cowell’s U.K. talent contest The X Factor, i= s being supported by the rest of the girl group - Roberts cancelled her s= cheduled appearance at London’s NME Awards on Tuesday so she could visit = her pal at her mansion in Surrey, England.
She was joined by fellow Girls Aloud star Walsh, who rushed to Cole’s s= ide to spend time with her.
A source tells Britain’s Daily Mirror, "They are the first friends who = have been allowed past the gates. Cheryl values their friendship and want= ed to see them for a heart-to-heart. They have always been there for each= other and have provided a shoulder to cry on when needed. Cheryl just wa= nted a girls’ night in with people she trusts." A spokesperson for the band said Cole’s groupmates - Roberts, Walsh, Sa= rah Harding and Nadine Coyle - are supporting their pal in private but wi= ll not be making any official statement.
Meanwhile, Ashley’s father Ron Callender, who lives in Australia, says = he’s not surprised Cole left his son, telling the tabloid, "Nobody can bl= ame Cheryl for giving Ashley the boot. He’s made her look like a mug (foo= l)."

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Author SALMAN RUSHDIE is planning to write a book about the decade he spe= nt in hiding after a politician called for his murder.
Rushdie sparked outrage after releasing his 1988 book The Satanic Verse= s, which the then-Supreme Leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Khomeini, insis= ted was an insult to Islam.
The religious leader issued a fatwa in 1989, ordering Muslims to kill t= he Midnight’s Children writer.
Rushdie was subsequently forced to live under police protection until 1= 998 when Iranian government authorities ruled they would not "support nor= hinder assassination operations on Rushdie".
Now 62-year-old Rushdie is set to put pen to paper to tell all about th= e harrowing period in a new book.
He says, "It’s my story and at some point it needs to be told. That poi= nt is getting closer I think."

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Former supermodel TWIGGY has slammed designers for using real fur during = London Fashion Week (begs19Feb10), branding it "intolerably cruel".
The 60 year old has posed for the People for the Ethical Treatment of A= nimals’ (PETA) new ad campaign, which features the slogan, "If You Wouldn= ‘t Wear Your Dog, Please Don’t Wear Any Fur." And she’s taking her new role seriously - she’s called for fashion desi= gners showing collections in the British capital not to include pelts, al= leging the fur is taken from animals kept in "inhumane" conditions.
She says, "I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur w= hen the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable. Thes= e poor animals are kept in such terrible and inhumane conditions. Is it r= eally worth this cruelty just for fashion’s sake? I don’t think so." Twiggy isn’t the only famous face rallying against animal cruelty in fa= shion - Sharon Osbourne is urging her fans to boycott a range of foxtail = handbag accessories designed by Louis Vuitton, branding the luxury goods = "heinous".

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The woman who last saw actor ANDREW KOENIG before he was reported missing= fears the star may have "taken his own life".
Police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of the sta= r, the son of Star Trek actor Walter Koenig, after he missed a flight hom= e from Vancouver, Canada to Los Angeles on 16 February (10).
Local cops in Vancouver have been combing the area for the 42 year old = and handing out a picture of Koenig, who starred in the 1980s TV sitcom G= rowing Pains.
But burlesque artist Jenny Magenta, who Koenig had been staying with in= Vancouver, is terrified her friend may have done something to harm himse= lf.
She tells Us magazine, "There’s a small part of me that feels he just d= ecided he wanted to live in the bushes or the mountains and not deal with= people anymore. But there are a lot of classic signs - things that he ha= s done in the past couple months - that point to the possibility that he’= s taken his own life. As a friend, I don’t know if he was ever diagnosed = with depression, but I do know his father was concerned when he left Los = Angeles. He didn’t seem quite right." Koenig’s parents have since released a tearful televised plea begging f= or their son to get in touch.
No activity has been shown on his bank card or his cell phone since he = disappeared.
And Magenta, who has known the actor for more than 20 years, is despera= te for her pal to let her know he is still alive: "If Andrew is alive and= distressed somewhere, it’s important that this information that’s out th= ere is not sensationalised. We want him to know we’re here for him. We’re= not going to judge him. I’m not going to be mad if he phones me from whe= rever… I’m going to be overjoyed, and I’m going to do whatever I can to= help him."

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GEORGE CLOONEY has shot down reports he’s set to sell his Lake Como villa= in Laglio, Italy to soccer ace DAVID BECKHAM and his wife VICTORIA.
Beckham, who is currently in the country on loan to top soccer club AC = Milan, was rumoured to be in negotiations to buy the luxury $41.6 million= (=C2=A326 million) property from the Hollywood star.
The British sportsman is quoted in the Italian media as saying, "I have= fallen in love with the beautiful countryside. It’s peaceful, quiet and = near Milan. It would be great for the family." The reports were further fuelled by the city’s mayor Roberto Pozzi, who= was hopeful the Beckhams would move into the area with their three sons.
Pozzi said, "I know the Beckhams stayed at the villa last spring but I = never saw them - if George does leave then I hope the Beckhams do buy the= place as it will keep a touch of glamour in Laglio." But Clooney has been quick to dismiss the claims, insisting they are "m= ade up".
In a statement, he says, "To complete the news cycle: I am not buying a= n island and am not selling my house in Italy. The story was made up, the= n picked up and now denied."

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Homosexual singer CLAY AIKEN is lending his support to a gay rights rally= in North Carolina by delivering a speech at the event this weekend (27-2= 8Feb10).
The former American Idol star, who came out as gay in 2008, will join a= ctivists at the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas gala in his hometown of R= aleigh.
But Aiken has snubbed the pre-prepared speech written for him by protes= t organisers because it took aim at former U.S. president George W. Bush.
Instead, the singer has come up with his own words to deliver at Saturd= ay’s (27Feb10) rally.
He says, "I don’t feel like this is the place to be horribly politicall= y charged and bash people and talk about the wrongs that have been done. = My goal is to be hopeful, that it’s time for everyone to have equal right= s." Lesbian actress Meredith Baxter, who previously starred on U.S. TV show= Family Ties, will also make an appearance at the event. She declared her= sexuality in a magazine expose last year (09).

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R&B legend PATTI LABELLE has warned AMERICAN IDOL judges to be more caref= ul in the comments they pass on wannabe singers because some remarks are = so hurtful, they could make contestants suicidal.
The 65 year old recently tuned in to watch the reality contest but was = disgusted by the nasty language used by the judging panel, which features= music mogul Simon Cowell, producer Randy Jackson, songwriter Kara DioGua= rdi and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres.
LaBelle claims she was previously approached to appear on the programme= before singer/dancer Paula Abdul joined the show in 2002.
She turned down the offer but insists certain members of the panel nowa= days are "not qualified" to criticise, reports the Associated Press.
She says, "Some of the judges, I don’t think they’re qualified to even = judge. The comments that were made, they could make you like, wanna kill = yourself." The Lady Marmalade singer instead advises budding stars to have more be= lief in their talents.
She adds, "If you believe in yourself, just go for it. What do you have= to lose? And when people tell you ‘You can’t', you have to say, ‘I can’.= "

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A recording of an emergency call reportedly made on the day MICHAEL JACKS= ON died has been exposed as a hoax.
The taped conversation was said to feature the voice of a male paramedi= c who was called to treat the late King of Pop after he suffered a cardia= c arrest at his California home on the morning of 25 June (09).
The man can be heard saying, "Patient is Michael Jackson, the pop star = singer… We should be there in five minutes. It doesn’t look good." But Los Angeles City Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda has dismissed t= he tape as a fake, because the alleged paramedic breaks the rules by nami= ng the patient and fails to use the correct terminology.
Captain Ruda tells TMZ.com, "It is not our conversation. It is not any = of the paramedics who treated Michael Jackson."

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Police in Pennsylvania have charged one man with arson after the offices = of legendary songwriters KENNETH GAMBLE and LEON HUFF were destroyed in a= suspicious fire.
The Philadelphia International Records office, where the Me and Mrs. Jo= nes hitmakers held recording sessions with late industry icons Michael Ja= ckson and Teddy Pendergrass, went up in flames on Sunday (21Feb10).
The building suffered fire, smoke and water damage, but miraculously th= e recording studio was left largely unaffected by the incident.
Local fire officials have now arrested Christopher Cimini, 27, on suspi= cion of setting the building alight.
He has been charged with arson, risking or causing a catastrophe, burgl= ary and criminal trespass, among other counts.
Meanwhile, Huff remains confident the songwriting duo will overcome the= devastating blaze and has vowed to restore the offices.
He says, "We’ll bounce back. We wrote the song - Only the Strong Surviv= e."

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Oscar-nominated actor JEREMY RENNER has his heart set on rocking out on t= he big screen as late NIRVANA frontman KURT COBAIN.
The Hurt Locker star will compete for the Best Actor honour at the upco= ming Academy Awards, but Renner - who plays the piano and guitar - admits= his dream has always been to star in something more music-based.
He tells People magazine, "I’ve always wanted to do some sort of musica= l. That’s a dream for me. Maybe play Kurt Cobain." And Renner could be in luck - The Messenger moviemaker Oren Moverman is= reportedly in talks to take charge of a planned Cobain biopic.
The project, based on Charles R. Cross’ 2001 book Heavier Than Heaven: = A Biography of Kurt Cobain, has been delayed after Brothers screenwriter = David Benioff pulled out as director.

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Comedian JOHN KRASINSKI is preparing to don tights and suit up as CAPTAIN= AMERICA after signing up to audition for the superhero role.
The actor, who stars in the U.S. version of The Office, has reportedly = joined Brothers star Patrick Flueger, Cloverfield’s Mike Vogel and Smallv= ille actor Michael Cassidy, among others in the testing stage for the for= thcoming action adventure.
Gossip Girl hunk Chace Crawford has also been linked to the high-flying= role, although he’s yet to confirm his commitment to the audition proces= s, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
A total of seven hopefuls will try to win over casting directors within= the next two weeks, when they will meet in Manhattan Beach, California.
The First Avenger: Captain America is expected to be released in July 2= 011.

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Veteran actor JON VOIGHT is overjoyed to have been invited to join his da= ughter ANGELINA JOLIE and her family in Venice, Italy last week (21Feb10)= after years of estrangement.
The Tomb Raider actress cut Voight out of her life in 2001 after he voi= ced concerns for her mental health shortly before she adopted son Maddox = from Cambodia.
Voight has made several attempts to mend his fractured relationship wit= h Jolie, and he revealed in November (09) the pair is back in contact.
They stepped out in public for the first time in years on Sunday (21Feb= 10) when Voight was pictured with Jolie, her partner Brad Pitt, and their= children on a boat trip down the city’s Grand Canal.
Voight is delighted to have the chance to bond with his six grandkids a= nd he hopes it won’t be the last time he gets to visit Jolie and her youn= g family.
Speaking to UsMagazine.com from Venice, where Jolie is shooting new mov= ie The Tourist, he says, "It’s nice to have something that’s positive! (T= he canal ride was) lovely. The weather wasn’t so bad for the journey. It’= s a very beautiful trip. A lot of fun.
"I love the possibility of spending time with the family. It’s a very b= eautiful thing." And the 71 year old insists Jolie and Pitt’s romance is still going str= ong, despite recent tabloid rumours of an impending split He adds, "Of course they are (fine)! You can see!"

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Production on hit TV show GOSSIP GIRL ground to a halt on Wednesday (24Fe= b10) after a fight broke out between a set security guard and a paparazzo= ..
Gossip Girl star Blake Lively was shooting a scene in Midtown Manhattan= with guest actor William Baldwin when a group of photographers began gat= hering around the set.
Tension grew between the bodyguards and the snappers as they ignored re= peated requests to step back to avoid ruining the take.
But cameras had to stop rolling altogether when one stubborn photograph= er directed the racist ‘N’ word towards a member of security, sparking a = violent confrontation which left the offending snapper nursing a bruised = forehead.
An eyewitness tells WENN, "The paparazzi were persistently ignoring the= security and production staff, and the scene erupted. I clearly saw an e= xchange of verbal and physical blows." Police were called to the scene but neither party decided to press char= ges and filming resumed on Wednesday afternoon.

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Rockers [MUSE] and [KASABIAN] were the toast of the British music industr= y on Wednesday (24Feb10) when they landed the top honours at the NME Awar= ds in London.
Fire hitmakers Kasabian won Best Album and Best Album Artwork for their= third studio release West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, but lost out on t= he coveted Best British Band prize to Muse.
After receiving the award from show hosts Lily Allen and guitarist Slas= h, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy said, "That’s a genuine surprise..
. It’s ve= ry humbling to win that award against the (Arctic) Monkeys, Kasabian
. (An= d) great to receive it from a couple of music legends." The Arctic Monkeys were named Best Live Band, Jamie T earned the Best S= olo Artist title and Blur’s 2009 comeback concert in London’s Hyde Park w= as named Best Live Event.
Rock legend Paul Weller was presented with the Godlike Genius Award, Th= e Specials’ career was hailed with the Outstanding Contribution to Music = honour, and Smile singer Lily Allen won the annual Giving It Back Fan Awa= rd for handing out free tickets to her concerts last year (09) by organis= ing treasure hunts.
Oasis proved to be the night’s biggest losers - Liam Gallagher’s group = was nominated for three big awards, including Best British Band, but fail= ed to win a single prize.
Meanwhile, Kanye West was recognised as Villain of the Year after his c= ontroversial stage protest against Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Mus= ic Awards.
There were conflicting honours for Lady GaGa, who was both applauded an= d attacked for her bizarre costumes, taking home the Best Dressed and Wor= st Dressed titles.
And the Jonas Brothers picked up the Worst Album for the second year in= a row, while U.K
. newcomers JLS were named Worst Band.
The list of winners is as follows: Best British Band: Muse Best Festival: Glastonbury Best International Band: Paramore Best Solo Artist: Jamie T Best New Band: Bombay Bicycle Club Best Live Band: Arctic Monkeys Best Album: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum by Kasabian Best Track: Dominos by The Big Pink Best Video: The Captain by Biffy Clyro Best Dancefloor Filler: In For The Kill (Skream Remix) by La Roux Worst Album: Lines, Vines and Trying Times by The Jonas Brothers Worst Band: JLS Best Live Event: Blur’s Hyde Park concert in 2009 Best DVD: The Mighty Boosh - Future Sailors tour DVD Outstanding Contribution to Music: The Specials Philip Hall Radar Award: The Drums Best Band Blog: Radiohead (Radiohead.com/deadairspace) Hero Of The Year: Rage Against The Machine Villain Of The Year: Kanye West Best Dressed: Lady Gaga Worst Dressed: Lady Gaga Best TV show: The Inbetweeners Best Film: Inglourious Basterds Best Website: Muse.mu Giving It Back Fan Award: Lily Allen Best Album Artwork: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum by Kasabian Godlike Genius Award: Paul Weller
.

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s estate has been hit with another creditor’s claim from = a man who allegedly served as the King of Pop’s media and communications = consultant in 2008.
In legal papers filed in a U.S. court this week (begs22Feb10), Van F. A= lexander alleges he is owed wages from January to July, 2008, at a rate o= f $10,000 (=C2=A36,250)-a-month, reports TMZ.com.
Alexander’s $70,000 (=C2=A343,750) lawsuit joins the growing list of cr= editor’s claims against Jackson’s estate, which already exceeds $23 milli= on (=C2=A314.4 million).
The pop superstar died in June (09).

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CARRIE UNDERWOOD credits her hockey star fiance MIKE FISHER with improvin= g her relationship with God because they share a deep faith in Christiani= ty.
The country star became engaged in December (09) and she admits their s= imilar religious beliefs played a key role in her decision to settle down= with the Canadian sportsman.
She tells People magazine, "Mike has improved my walk with God. It’s im= portant to me, because down the road, I want someone who will help shape = our kids into people who make the world a better place." And Underwood insists she knew early on in their relationship that Fish= er was the man for her.
She says, "Four months of dating is my ‘This guy is starting to bug me’= moment. That never happened. We just eased into ‘I could do this forever= ‘.
Fisher adds, "Our spiritual bond is something we try to put first in ou= r lives."

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