Phish hopeful for permit to hold concert at airport

Phish hopeful for permitto hold concert at airport
COVENTRY, Vt. -- Fans of Phish are waiting to hear if the jam band will play in Coventry this summer. Organizers say they shouldn't have to wait too much longer.
The band's production company is seeking a permit from the Federal Aviation Administration to close the Newport State Airport, where they have expressed interest in holding the concert, for the duration of the event.
"We are hopeful that all the necessary permits will be granted," Dave Werlin of Great Northeast Productions said recently. "And that we will be able to create a memorable experience for the fans, the band and the county."
The company has a verbal agreement with the department of public safety for a public assemblies permit, which it needs in writing before plans can move ahead.
Lt. Thomas Hanlon of the Vermont State Police said the review for the permit will take from 10 to 15 days. "Our concerns are strictly public safety," he said.
The Coventry concert would be the first Vermont tour stop for Phish since the band played at the Sugarbush Summer Stage in 1995.
Officials estimate the concert could bring $10 million to $30 million to the area.
Hilton ex drops lawsuitover video against family
LOS ANGELES -- Paris Hilton's former boyfriend, who appeared with her in a sex video that went public, has dropped his $10 million slander lawsuit against the heiress and her parents.
In court papers filed Tuesday, attorneys for Richard Salomon asked to dismiss claims against the Hiltons.
No reason was given for the request. Salomon's attorney, Martin Singer, did not immediately return a call for comment made Friday after business hours.
The heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune made a homemade video with Salomon three years ago. Snippets were sent to various media outlets and made the rounds on the Internet.
Salomon filed suit last November, alleging Hilton was an "active participant" in making the video, but that she and her family have waged a "cold, calculated and malicious campaign to portray Salomon as a rapist" to protect her image.
Singer has said a friend of his client stole the tape.
The suit will continue against Hilton publicist Siri Garber, whom Salomon alleged in court papers "orchestrated" a campaign against him.
The videotape of Salomon having sex with Paris Hilton surfaced last year just before the launch of her reality television series "The Simple Life."
Marilyn Manson proposes
NEW YORK -- Shock rocker Marilyn Manson's circus show of a life is taking a new turn, as Us Weekly reports that the self-described "Antichrist Superstar" has proposed to his girlfriend, the "burlesque artist" Dita Von Teese. (Gee, could that be a stage name?)
The shocking part, The Associated Press tells us, is that the leather-and-lipstick-loving dude did it the traditional way: Rather than pour a bucket of blood on the gal, he got down on one knee and gave her a 7-carat, round-cut diamond.
Expect nuptials within a year.
Cosby honorary degree
BOSTON -- Bill Cosby will receive an honorary doctor of music degree from the Berklee College of Music for his contribution to the world of music.
Cosby is a jazz enthusiast and has composed scores for several of his television programs, including "The Cosby Show," "A Different World" and "Little Bill."
The honor will be bestowed during the school's commencement ceremony May 8, the college announced this week. Cosby will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Today's birthdays
"Brenda Starr" creator Dale Messick is 98. Fashion designer Oleg Cassini is 91. Former New York Gov. Hugh Carey is 85. Ethel Kennedy is 76. Actor Johnny Sheffield is 73. Actor Joel Grey is 72. Actress Louise Lasser is 65. Syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman is 63. Movie writer-director John Milius is 60. Actor Peter Riegert is 57. Actor Bill Irwin is 54. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 47. Songwriter-producer Daryl Simmons is 47. Actor Lucky Vanous is 43. Country singer Steve Azar is 40. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 38. Rock musician Dylan Keefe (Marcy Playground) is 34. Singer Joss Stone is 17.