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British pop stars SCOUTING FOR GIRLS were devastated when legendary music industry boss MATTHEW SZTUMPF died earlier this year (10) - because he h ad become a "father figure" to the group.
The She’s So Lovely hitmakers were mentored by the former Madness and T he Smiths manager during their early career, and he was even godfather to frontman Roy Stride’s young son.
They were stunned when he suffered a brain aneurysm and died suddenly i n March (10), just days after they hit the top spot in the British charts - and they went on a huge booze binge to drown their sorrows.
Stride tells Britain’s Daily Mirror, "Matthew Sztumpf, who had been our tour manager since the start and was very much our father figure, died v ery suddenly after a radio promo tour with us.
"He’s my son’s godfather so it was a really weird time. Alcohol-fuelled , but very emotional too. Something amazing and something horrendous happ ening at the same time. It certainly keeps you level headed." (ZN/WNTMI/L

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Superproducer MARK RONSON has quit partying over fears his wild lifestyle was turning him into a tabloid mockery.
The Grammy Award-winning DJ shot to fame working with British singer Li ly Allen and producing Amy Winehouse’s global smash hit album Back to Bla ck and he quickly became a regular in the gossip columns with his playboy lifestyle.
He says, "I look back at pictures of me from that time, I simply do not recognise myself. I’d go out for a beer after a gig and my photo would b e everywhere the next day. I was associated with Amy and Lily Allen becau se I’d worked with both of them… It must have looked like I was living this vapid lifestyle and just getting wasted every night." Ronson’s notoriety in the press gathered pace when he began dating teen age supermodel Daisy Lowe, 13 years his junior, in 2008, and the star adm its he was eventually forced to re-evaluate his life and take a step out of the spotlight.
He says, "Daisy is really sweet, but I look back and realise I was turn ing into a cliche. At one point, it seemed normal to be in the papers eve ry day. But that’s not normal for me. I’m a DJ and producer, I’m supposed to be one of the indoor kids…
"I’ve scaled back on the smoking and drinking. It’s fun to have a beer but drinking Jack Daniel’s before going on stage is a recipe for disaster .. I don’t miss the partying - I’m getting too much energy from the music I’m making."

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WYCLEF JEAN has turned down the Haitian president’s offer to boost his se curity detail after the star received death threats warning him to drop o ut of the country’s upcoming election race.
The former Fugees frontman wants to be the country’s next leader and ha s applied to run in the upcoming November (10) election.
But Jean’s decision to stand for office has angered some of his fellow countrymen and he has been targeted by hate mail.
The country’s current president, Rene Preval, met with the musician aft er hearing the news and wanted to provide him with extra bodyguards, but Jean rejected the offer.
He tells U.S. newsman Larry King, "The president of Haiti, Rene Preval, brought me in today, because he said he was concerned… He was reading that I was hiding. We’ve had several death threats, six or seven. The pre sident said if I need that, he would provide more security on our behalf.
(But) we don’t need any more security. I’m actually comfortable where I’ m at right now. I’m in my hometown and I’m comfortable." Jean will find out whether he is eligible to run for the Haitian presid ency on Friday (20Aug10).

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Internet experts are warning young JUSTIN BIEBER fans to be extra vigilan t after web fraudsters set up a scam enticing the singer’s devotees with the lure of free gig tickets.
The Baby hitmaker is known for his strong online following and regularl y keeps in touch with his loyal fans using social networking sites Twitte r and Facebook.
But a new scheme is targeting Bieber’s Facebook friends with a link to a bogus free ticket giveaway for the star’s ongoing U.S. tour, with the w ords, "Wow! Justin Bieber is giving away free tickets now".
Experts are concerned many youngsters will be tricked into clicking on the link, which snares them into an online fraud, and they are urging Bie ber fans to take care.
A statement form online security firm Sophos reads, "This is a dirty ro tten trick on youngsters."

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WYCLEF JEAN is adamant he is still in the running for the Haiti presidenc y, dismissing a spate of rumours he has been booted out of the race ahead of the official candidacy announcement.
The former Fugees frontman is planning to run for office in his homelan d, but is waiting for his candidacy to be approved by officials in Haiti, who have to decide whether he meets the electoral criteria.
The announcement was due on Tuesday (17Aug10), but was delayed until Fr iday (20Aug10) and rumours have been swirling ahead of the deadline, sugg esting Jean has already been struck from the running list.
But speaking on Larry King Live, the hip-hop star is adamant the list i s fake and he has met the guidelines by having Haitian residency for the past five years - insisting he is not out of the race just yet.
He tells the veteran newsman, "We have had residence in Haiti for five years, more than five years, Larry… I wanted to clarify a rumour that c ame out on Reuters that said the list for the candidates came out and Wyc lef’s name was not on it. That is not true. The list is supposed to come out (on Friday)."

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DREW BARRYMORE had no reservations about starring in a romantic comedy wi th her on/off boyfriend JUSTIN LONG - insisting their real life relations hip made their onscreen love affair in GOING THE DISTANCE more believable ..
The Charlie’s Angels star enjoyed a year-long romance with the actor wh ich ended in 2008, but they remained close after the split and have since kept the press guessing over the status of their relationship.
The pair stars in new movie Going The Distance, about a couple forced t o live apart by work, and Barrymore admits her off screen turmoil with Lo ng made him the perfect choice for the role of her lover.
She tells Britain’s Daily Mirror, "I thought it would be a unique exper ience to go work with someone I had a history with and who I had emotiona l times with and who genuinely makes me laugh and who I’m genuinely attra cted to.
"I knew the chemistry between us would be honest so we would be able to bring a truth to the fact that a relationship can be very difficult and I thought that would be a real benefit. I think we balanced the line real ly well and I think we were willing to bare that chemistry and the pain a nd joy we’d felt in life."

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STEPHANIE SEYMOUR has filed legal papers asking for her estranged husband ’s private detective to be questioned as part of the former couple’s ongo ing divorce case.
The retired supermodel is locked in a bitter divorce battle with publis hing mogul Peter Brant as they attempt to thrash out the details of their separation and custody arrangements for their three children.
The split has turned ugly in recent months - they have both been ordere d to undergo random drug testing at the other’s request, while Seymour al so accused her former partner of attaching a satellite tracking device to her car to monitor her movements.
She is now determined to involve the detective hired by Brant in the on going court proceedings, alleging the sleuth concocted "false allegations " against her in a bid to help her estranged husband.
Papers filed at Manhattan Supreme Court in New York City ask permission for Seymour’s legal team to question the detective, an employee of 1st C lass Investigations, at a deposition.
The request alleges the "surveillance was improper, entailed fabricated allegations (and) was calculated to harass and defame the petitioner. (W e need to) test the veracity of any allegations to be used against her at trial." The divorce hearing is scheduled to begin next month (Sep10). (LR/PYN/Z

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Actress-turned-animal rights campaigner BRIGITTE BARDOT is taking aim at the Danish royal family over the slaughter of pilot whales in the country ’s waters, urging the queen to help end the barbaric practice.
The French film icon has become a champion of animal issues over the la st few years, recently campaigning to end bullfighting in Spain and curb seal hunting in Canada.
Now her attention has turned to the killing of pilot whales in the Dani sh-held Faroe Islands - she is outraged over the annual cull of the marin e creatures which sees them driven to shore and killed with knives.
She has now written to Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, urging the royal t o step in and end the slaughter.
Bardot writes, "This macabre spectacle is a shame for Denmark and the F aroe Islands. This is not a hunt but a mass slaughter. (It’s an) outmoded tradition that has no acceptable justification in today’s world." (LR/WN

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Movie executives behind the lucrative HARRY POTTER franchise are taking l egal action against a Swiss condom brand for allegedly naming their produ cts after the boy wizard.
Bosses at the Warner Bros. studio are said to have filed a copyright in fringement lawsuit against the company making Harry Poppers, which featur e an illustration of a condom wearing round glasses and waving a magic wa nd on the packet.
The legal action, reported by Swiss newspaper Bote, is said to come in a bid to banish the brand from stores ahead of the release of the next in stallment of the movie franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: P art I, in November (10).
A lawyer for Warner Bros. tells Bote, "The image of my client is in dan ger."

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BRITNEY SPEARS had big shoes to fill while filming her upcoming guest app earance in GLEE - she played the part of MADONNA in a recreation of the p air’s ME AGAINST THE MUSIC video.
The Toxic hitmaker will be the centre of attention on the hit musical s how when it returns for a second season, with a full episode dedicated to her music, and she began shooting her cameo role this week (beg16Aug10).
During the second day of filming on Thursday (19Aug10), Spears donned a white trouser suit similar to the outfit worn by the Material Girl for t he promo of their collaborative 2003 track, while Heather Morris, who pla ys Glee member Brittany, took Spears’ part in the re-imagining.
Spears uploaded a picture to her Twitter account, showing the pair toge ther, along with a caption referencing a line from Me Against The Music. She wrote, "All my Gleekers in the crowd, grab a partner take it down - B rit."

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MADONNA is facing a lawsuit over her new MATERIAL GIRL collection - bosse s at a clothing company have accused the superstar of stealing the tradem ark.
The pop singer and her daughter Lourdes have released a fashion line fo r teenagers through Macy’s department store, and they have used the title of one of Madonna’s most famous songs as the brand name.
However, executives at clothing manufacturer L.A. Triumph, Inc. claim i n a lawsuit that the company has been trading under the Material Girl ban ner since 1997, and insist Madonna’s range causes "deception" in the mark etplace, according to papers obtained by TMZ.com.
L.A. Triumph bosses have asked a judge to ban Madonna from any further use of the trademark as well as demanding they receive all profits the li ne has garnered so far, reports the site.

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Singer/songwriter JASON MRAZ has given up veganism because he likes eggs too much.
The I’m Yours singer insists he’s still anti-cheese and milk but there’ s something special about the eggs he gets from his neighbours farm in Ca lifornia.
He says, "I’m no longer a strict vegan. I don’t hang out in the cheese section - I don’t even eat cheese - and I don’t drink milk. But I’m going to eat eggs that come out of my next-door neighbour’s farm, that’s just the way it is." Mraz tells Spin.com, "I just choose not to eat factory food, the proces sed food, just whole foods, real food. It all started with watching one t oo many documentaries, or reading one too many books. After a while you j ust lose your appetite."

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LADY GAGA has moved into a sprawling $5 million (=C2=A33.3 million) mansi on in Hollywood.
The Paparazzi singer, who once boasted of her love for hotel rooms and insisted she’d never settle down, has found the perfect home base in Los Angeles - complete with a suspended pool.
The six-bedroom home sits in the Hollywood Hills but estate agent Chad Rogers is refusing to be more specific about the address for fear swarms of Gaga fans will show up unannounced.
But he tells In Touch magazine it’s the perfect home for the eccentric pop star: "It’s a very interesting house - it’s a mixture of styles, ever ything from contemporary to Mediterranean. It’s got a very eclectic vibe.
"

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JUSTIN BIEBER is hoping to make magic with HARRY POTTER star EMMA WATSON - the pop singer has invited her to "hang out" with him after one of his concerts.
The 16-year-old chart sensation has a crush on the British actress, ins isting he respects her decision to take a break from movies and enrol in college.
And the Baby hitmaker has reached out to the 20 year old, urging her to come to one of his shows so they can become acquainted.
He says, "I would love to take her out for dinner. It would be great if she could come to one of my concerts, then we could hang out afterwards.
"I love the fact she is one of the biggest female movie stars, but has chosen to go back to college. It shows she is really grounded and normal.
"

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British rapper PROFESSOR GREEN is relieved LILY ALLEN finally announced h er pregnancy this month (Aug10) - because he has been keeping his pal’s s ecret since June (10).
The newcomer collaborated with the Smile hitmaker on hit single Just Be Good To Green and she was slated to make an appearance during his set at Britain’s Glastonbury music festival.
Allen pulled out of the June (10) event when she fell pregnant and conf ided in her friend, urging him to help her keep the baby news out of the media.
And Green admits he struggled with the secret because he was so happy f or his friend.
He tells Britain’s The Sun, "Yes I knew all along. She told me when she had to pull out of Glastonbury.
"It was hard pretending I didn’t know because I had to act disappointed that she couldn’t perform with me, but secretly I was really pleased and excited for her."

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British pop star LEE RYAN has been arrested on suspicion of assault over allegations an argument with his fiancee turned violent on Thursday (19Au g10).
The former Blue star has been accused of punching Samantha Miller - the mother of his son, Rayn - in the face as they drove through central Lond on together.
Miller, 25, called the cops and Ryan was later arrested at the couple’s home in South London after he refused to accompany officers to a police station for questioning, according to Britain’s The Sun.
The singer vehemently denies he hit his fiancee, with his spokesperson saying, "Lee 100 per cent denies common assault. He’ll be fighting these charges." He is slated to appear in court later this month (Aug10).
It’s the latest in a long line of controversies for Ryan - last year (0 9) he was quizzed by cops on suspicion of smoking cannabis and in 2008 he was fined for assaulting a taxi driver.

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BRANDON FLOWERS has no regrets about cancelling THE KILLERS tour to race to his dying mother’s bedside - insisting the last few hours he spent wit h her "meant more than anything".
The rockers axed shows in Asia and Australia earlier this year (Jan-Feb 10) due to "unforeseen" circumstances, prompting speculation the group wa s set to split.
It was later revealed the frontman’s mum, Jean Flowers, was facing her final days following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. She died on 11 F ebruary (10), aged 64.
Flowers reveals his family urged him to carry on with his touring dutie s, but he was determined to say goodbye to his mother before she slipped away.
He tells Britain’s The Sun, "I am still very sad but being with her at the end meant more than anything.
"I was at Las Vegas airport and there was a thunder and lightning storm so our flight to Asia was delayed. I’m a freaked-out flyer as it is - I think it’s unnatural - so I decided I was going to fly the next day and w ait for a clear sky.
"As soon as I got out of the airport, I got a call from my brother Shan e, who told me that the doctors said she has just two weeks to live.
"Shane said my family wanted me to do the tour but I couldn’t go. I’m s o thankful I cancelled it as my mum was still with it enough to know I st ayed to be with her. I’m happy I was there." And the star is convinced the tragedy has strengthened his bond with th e rest of his relatives, adding, "I’ve also got closer to my family since mum passed. I’ve been around my dad more than I ever have been, which is nice."

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Hip-hop star WYCLEF JEAN is out of the running for the Haiti presidency - the rapper’s name is not on the list of approved candidates, according t o new reports.
The former Fugees frontman announced plans to run for office earlier th is month (Aug10), after stepping up his charity work in his native countr y in the wake of January’s (10) devastating earthquake.
The official line-up of presidential candidates was due to be announced on Tuesday (17Aug10), but was delayed until Friday (20Aug10).
An unnamed official from Haiti’s provisional electoral council has now told Reuters that Jean is not included among the hopefuls, saying, "He is not on the list as I speak." Jean, who was born in Haiti and moved to New Jersey aged nine, reported ly did not fulfil the criteria needed to run for office, with candidates required to have lived in the country for five consecutive years before t he election and have complied with tax laws.
The musician’s bid for the presidency was not popular with some citizen s and the star’s lawyer admitted on Tuesday that Jean had received "anony mous threats from people who are saying that he should think twice before running for the president."

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