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STEVEN TYLER has challenged reports LED ZEPPELIN rejected the idea of having him as ROBERT PLANT’s replacement, insisting he snubbed the opportunity because he was determined to remain loyal to AEROSMITH.
The I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing hitmaker secretly auditioned for the supergroup in late 2009, although his Aerosmith pal Joe Perry later claimed Jimmy Page had described the rehearsals as "shambolic" because Tyler was not familiar with Led Zeppelin’s catalogue.
Perry said, "Page felt really awkward about the audition, but ultimately it was a group decision (to pass on Tyler)." But the singer has a different side of the story.
Tyler tells U.S. shock jock Howard Stern, "I spoke to Jimmy Pageâ��s manager, Peter Mench, whoâ��s been a good friend of mine forever. He said Robert wouldnâ��t play with them again, and would I want to come over and jam with the guys? …I went over and played." He claims he was offered the job of Led Zep frontman by Page himself - but felt compelled to turn it down out of respect to his own bandmates.
He says, "I looked Jimmy in the eyes and it came time for him to say, �You want to write a record with me?� I went, �No.� I�m in Aerosmith. He�s in the biggest band in the world and I�m in a band like that. I have such an allegiance to my band and I love it so much." Ironically, Tyler went on a brief hiatus from Aerosmith and announced plans to concentrate on a solo career at the end of 2009.
The announcement, and his subsequently decision to join the judging panel on TV talent show American Idol, led to a rift between him and Perry that has since been resolved.
The band is set to hit the studio this weekend (22-23Jan11) to record new material for their first album since 2004’s Honkin’ on Bobo.

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VERA FARMIGA and MIA WASIKOWSKA have signed up to star in a big screen adaptation of ARTHUR MILLER play A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.
The two stars will join actor Anthony LaPaglia in the movie version of the 1955 play, according to Variety.
LaPaglia, who is producing the film, reportedly won the approval of Miller after starring in the 1998 Broadway production. He will reprise his role of Eddie in the film, while Farmiga will play his wife Beatrice.
Wasikowska will play their niece Catherine - the role actress Scarlett Johansson claimed for her Broadway debut last January (10) opposite Liev Schreiber as Eddie.
The film, directed by Robert Connolly and penned by Edge of Darkness writer Andrew Bovell, is scheduled to begin shooting in New York and Melbourne, Australia this summer (11).

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A man who posed as a Hollywood producer and conned investors out of $3.4 million (£2.3 million) for a phony show has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for violating his probation.
Joseph Medawar pleaded guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy after scamming millions out of friends and colleagues with a bogus TV project about America’s Department of Homeland Security back in May 2006.
He was originally sentenced to a year in jail and community service - which was later reduced to probation.
However, Medawar used some of his community service hours to go to the gym and watch movies, according to The Los Angeles Times.
He was punished on Tuesday (18Jan11) for the probation violation, with U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real sentencing Medawar to 45 months behind bars.

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Ailing actress ZSA ZSA GABOR and her husband PRINCE FREDERIC VON ANHALT are selling their Los Angeles mansion for $28 million (£18.7 million).
The 8,000 square foot estate, which boasts a total of 26 rooms, has become "too much of a headache" for the stars to maintain because of their advancing age and ongoing health problems.
Von Anhalt tells TMZ.com, "(He’s) sick and f**king tired of paying $30,000 (£20,000) a month… because we only use two rooms in the house." He plans to put the mansion on the market for $25-$28 million (£16.7-18.7 million) and move into a $1.5 million (£1 million) condominium, adding it’s something "Zsa Zsa always wanted".
Gabor remains in hospital following an operation to amputate half of her right leg on Friday (14Jan11) after developing a serious gangrene infection.
Von Anhalt revealed on Saturday (15Jan11) his wife was talking and responding well following the surgery, although she was still unaware doctors had removed part of her limb.
Gabor’s hospital recovery could take up to four weeks, but the actress’ spokesman John Blanchette is hopeful the star will be able to return home in time to celebrate her 94th birthday on 6 February (11).

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Golden Globe Awards winner IN A BETTER WORLD and JAVIER BARDEM’s BIUTIFUL have been selected in the final Best Foreign Film Oscar shortlist before next week’s (25Jan11) nominations.
The field has been narrowed down from 65 films to nine.
Algeria, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Spain, South Africa and Sweden are represented on the list.
Films up for contention include Simple Simon, Hors la Loi (Outside the Law), Dogtooth and Tambien la Lluvia (Even the Rain).

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Reports suggesting newlywed HILARY DUFF is pregnant with her first child are refusing to go away, even though the actress/singer dismissed rumours at the weekend (15Jan11).
Now, U.S. tabloid the Star is reporting the 23-year-old former Lizzie McGuire star and Canadian ice hockey player Mike Comrie are set to become parents, just months after becoming man and wife in August (10).
A close friend tells the tabloid, "They’re ecstatic. They weren’t actively trying to conceive but agreed that if it happened, it happened." Duff has made no secret of her desire to have a brood of her own, admitting she was "excited" at the prospect of having kids with Comrie because he comes from "a really big family".
Representatives for the stars had yet to comment on the report as WENN went to press.

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Veteran actress JANE FONDA has paid tribute to SARGENT SHRIVER, branding the late politician "a great, generous" man.
Shriver, who died on Tuesday (18Jan11), founded the U.S. Peace Corps in the early 1960s before becoming a leading American philanthropist and beloved politician.
Fonda was a big fan of the one-time U.S. vice-presidential candidate, and has heaped praise on the star and his late wife Eunice for their contributions to society, in particular founding the Special Olympic Games in 1968.
In a post on her blog, she writes, "He was a great, generous, full-of-life man. I knew him when he was the U.S. Ambassador to France and I was living there and then, later, during some of the Special Olympic Games that his wife, Eunice organised. What a family! "I am sad at this loss. Although he was ill with Alzheimer�s for quite some time but one is never prepared when death comes. I am sad."

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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has confirmed he is in talks to make a return to the big screen and is currently reading through a number of scripts.
The Terminator star stepped away from Hollywood to pursue a career in politics and served as California Governor from 2003 until he relinquished the role earlier this month (Jan11).
Schwarzenegger made a number of small movie appearances during his time in office, in films such as Terminator Salvation and The Expendables, and speculation has been mounting that he will return to Hollywood now he is no longer a serving politician.
The action man has now revealed he is in talks for three different film projects, which will take him away from the "extreme fighting" which catapulted him to fame.
He tells Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, "Currently I�m reading three scripts. In the future I have to adapt to roles (for) my age. Clint Eastwood also has done it in the same way. Extreme fighting is not possible anymore." And there is one film Schwarzenegger is particularly interested in - World War II movie With Wings As Eagles, in which he would play a Nazi commander. He adds, "In it I would play an older soldier, who gets the order at the ending of the war to kill a bunch of kids. But he doesn�t do it and get(s) them to safety at the risk of his life and it has all kinds of adventure.�

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ASHTON KUTCHER has confirmed he’s in talks to revive hit MTV show PUNK’D with JUSTIN BIEBER - revealing it’s a "possibility" the teenage pop star will take over his pranking duties.
The hidden camera series, which saw the actor play practical jokes on unsuspecting stars, was a massive success when it launched in 2003.
It ended in 2007 but recent reports suggest Kutcher is planning to bring the show back to the small screen through his Katalyst Entertainment production company.
In an appearance on America’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday (18Jan11), Kutcher confirmed he’s keen to revive the series - with the 16 year old singer as its new host.
He says, "I really can’t talk about it because everything’s sort of in process. It’s a possibility that it could be happening. I will not be hosting the show in the future. People were afraid I was going to punk them wherever I went and I’m starting to get invited to stuff again and it’s actually a good thing. I’ll be involved in some capacity if we do it and there could be a new host but I can’t say a whole lot.
"He’s a nice kid and he’s a funny kid - and people don’t know he’s a funny kid yet… and he’s sneaky. And I like sneaky people."

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JOHNNY DEPP is convinced his role as Tonto in a big screen reboot of THE LONE RANGER is a "real opportunity" to salute Native Americans - because they’ve always been "badly portrayed" in movies.
The actor is teaming up with his Pirates Of The Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer to revamp the cowboy adventure, which began as a radio series before spawning a popular TV show and a number of film serials.
Depp is taking on the part of the hero’s Native American sidekick and he’s determined to do justice to the role in the new adaptation.
He tells EW.com, "I always felt Native Americans were badly portrayed in Hollywood films over the decades. It’s a real opportunity for me to give a salute to them.
"Tonto was a sidekick in all the Lone Ranger series. (This film) is a very different approach to that partnership. And a funny one… I think it’s going to be good, when we have a chance to put it up on its feet. What we’ve got so far screenplay-wise is really great, really funny."

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JOHN TRAVOLTA’s actress wife KELLY PRESTON has spoken out about their decision to choose a silent birth for their baby son, in her first television interview since the couple welcomed the new addition.
The Hollywood couple, also parents to daughter Ella Bleu, 10, welcomed little Benjamin in November (10).
Preston appeared on America’s The Today Show on Wednesday (19Jan11) and revealed she opted to keep as quiet as possible while delivering her baby boy. She says, "Silent birth is basically just no words as much as possible. If you need to moan, if you need to cry out… of course that’s normal. But, it’s just bringing them in, in as peaceful and gentle a way as possible." Preston also explained silent births are common in the couple’s Scientology religion, and she’s convinced her children have benefited from the technique, adding, "My kids have always been amazing. Just very calm, very peaceful, happy and I absolutely know it’s very much because of that." The couple recently showed off the new baby in a magazine photoshoot for Britain’s Hello! magazine, with Travolta insisting the tot has brought a "renewed spirit and purpose" to the family after their son Jett suffered a fatal seizure during a holiday in the Bahamas in 2009.

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Scottish singer KYLE FALCONER is proud of THE VIEW’s upcoming album - because it marks the first time the band has recorded sober.
The group has been busy working on Bread and Circuses, due for release later this year (Mar11), and Falconer reveals they shunned booze after a producer expressed concerns about their drunken performances.
He tells NME.com, "He wanted us straight-laced. On the first two days of recording we ended up steaming (drunk), but he said it wasn’t working like that.
"We’d maybe go for a couple of pints at teatime, but there’d be no late-night parties. We’d never recorded sober before. Sometimes you think something’s amazing because you’re p**sed and then you wake up the next morning and can’t bear to listen to it. But this time we’re right on the ball."

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British singer GARY BARLOW has no regrets about refusing to endorse products during TAKE THAT’s original heyday - because they never "believed" in attaching their name to a brand.
The star reveals he and bandmates Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald turned down big-money offers to promote products in the early 1990s, before they split in 1996.
Barlow admits seeing the Spice Girls’ worldwide success in the mid to late 1990s, due in part to their endorsement deals, was hard to handle - but he’s pleased Take That was never affiliated with a company.
He tells BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans, "We had a try at America, I know the Spice Girls did really well in America but they did things we never quite believed in like advertising Coca Cola…" The singer/songwriter also reveals the band, which reformed in 2006 as a four-piece, and now boasts Williams among the line-up, is still bombarded with offers for personal appearances - and they turn down almost every one.
He adds, "Even today when we’re offered millions of pounds to do corporate events we really think about these things and generally don’t do them because I think it all just chips away at what you are.
"We’re wealthy characters - we never go out there to make money, we go out there to enjoy it, to give people happiness, to show people what we’ve got and what we’re doing now."

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Singer JOE JONAS was left terrified on Tuesday (18Jan11) after his new puppy was rushed into surgery.
The Jonas Brothers star was given the bulldog, named Winston, by his Twilight actress girlfriend Ashley Greene.
The pooch became sick earlier this week (begs17Jan11), so Jonas took his pet to a veterinary practice - and was told the canine would need an urgent operation.
In a post on his Twitter.com page on Tuesday, he writes, "Hey y’all. Keep Winston in your prayers and thoughts… He ate something bad and has to get surgery today." The procedure went well, and Jonas updated his fans on the situation, declaring, "Successful surgery on Winston! They didn’t find anything. But say he should be feeling better by tomorrow… Man that was scary!" Greene adds, "Thank you to everyone who kept Winston in your thoughts and prayers. Little man has been through a lot!"

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LIL WAYNE turned to books to get him through his recent prison stint and even read the Bible for the first time during his time behind bars.
The rapper spent spent eight months in jail serving out a sentence on weapons possession charges dating back to 2007.
He was incarcerated at New York’s tough Rikers Island prison, and admits he filled his time with reading.
The Lollipop hitmaker enjoyed a number of biographies about stars including Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Marvin Gaye, and even read through the Bible.
He tells Rolling Stone magazine, "(I) read the Bible for the first time. It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up being that. Like he’d be dissing (insulting) Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint. That was cool."

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NEIL DIAMOND, BILLY JOEL and NEIL SEDAKA have led the tributes to music mogul DON KIRSHNER, who died on Monday (17Jan11).
The 76-year-old producer, promoter and music publisher passed away at a Florida hospital after suffering heart failure, and the stars he helped throughout his career have come out to pay their respects.
Diamond worked closely with Kirshner throughout the 1960s and the singer/songwriter credits his late pal with pairing his songs with successful pop act The Monkees.
He tells the Associated Press, "I’m saddened to learn of the loss of Don Kirshner… There never was a better song plugger. I’ll always be grateful to him for pairing I’m A Believer and other songs of mine with the Monkees. The music business never had a better supporter." Joel adds, "Don Kirshner gave new, young musicians the opportunity to showcase their performances for a huge audience during the ‘golden age’ of the popular music business. At the time, his ‘hands-off’ approach to how rock and roll music was presented made television a viable medium for many now-iconic recording artists." Meanwhile, Sedaka has paid an emotional tribute to Kirshner, who he describes as a father figure: "He was a great friend, a pioneer and a father figure for many of us young songwriters. He propelled my music career.â�� Singer Connie Francis, adds, â��He was boyishly enthusiastic. His favourite curse phrase was â��Iâ��ve got aggravation,â�� but he always did everything at full speed. He knew instantly when something was a hit."

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Veteran singer/actor DAVID CASSIDY’s court date to face a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) has been postponed until next month (Feb11).
The teen idol and Partridge Family star was arrested in Florida in November (10) after cops pulled over his car on the state’s famous Turnpike freeway. He allegedly failed two roadside sobriety tests, but a representative subsequently denied Cassidy had been drunk behind the wheel.
The 60 year old’s case went to court in St. Lucie County, Florida on Tuesday (18Jan11) and Judge Cliff Barnes pushed the hearing back until 16 February (11).
Cassidy was reported to have entered a not guilty plea back in November (10). However, he is expected to enter a written plea on the charges, which also include failure to maintain a single lane, according to Tcpalm.com.
Cassidy did not appear at the hearing on Tuesday and the judge confirmed the singer/actor was not required to attend the next session as well, telling the court, "There likely will be no movie star (at the next hearing), but there likely will be a movie star’s lawyer."

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Rocker JOSH HOMME is lucky to be alive after surgery on his leg went wrong and he "died" on the operating table last year (10).
The Queens Of The Stone Age frontman was admitted to hospital to undergo an undisclosed medical procedure - but the surgery didn’t go as planned.
Homme reveals he "died" during the operation but miraculously survived. He was then ordered by doctors to complete three months of bed rest - and he admits the recuperation period has given him a new outlook on life.
Homme tells Britain’s NME, "I had an operation and died, and survived on the table. I had surgery on my leg and there were complications and I died on the table. I was in bed for three months, and I’ve never done that before so I had time to reflect.
"I got cleared in the middle of December to walk around again and get out (of) bed, so after three months of just living in my mind I was finally able to walk round again. So I just sprang into the new year, basically.
"It gave me a great perspective and it’s amazing to be alive."

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