Suing for Beatles royalties
Suing for Beatles royalties
LONDON -- Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and relatives of their Beatles' bandmates are suing EMI to recover what they claim is more than $53 million in unpaid royalties, their company said Friday.
McCartney, Starr and relatives of John Lennon and George Harrison are pursuing the case both in New York and London.
"We have tried to reach a settlement through good faith negotiations and regret that our efforts have been in vain," said Neil Aspinall, who heads Apple Corps Ltd.
"Despite very clear provisions in our contracts, EMI persists in ignoring their obligations and duty to account fairly and with transparency," Aspinall said.
EMI declined to comment on the case.
Simpson falls ill in Tokyo
NEW YORK -- Ashlee Simpson collapsed following a performance in Tokyo and has been hospitalized.
The 21-year-old singer on Thursday had just performed her single, "Boyfriend" for MTV Japan, when she told the audience she felt sick and said to them, "I love you guys," Us Weekly reported Friday. She then collapsed in an elevator and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital.
Her representative, Rob Shuter, confirmed the report to The Associated Press, but would not give further details or provide Simpson's condition.
Simpson, the younger sister of Jessica Simpson, has been touring to support her sophomore album, "I Am Me." She infamously was caught lip-synching her "Saturday Night Live" performance in October 2004.
Her upcoming appearance at the Radio Music Awards on Monday has been canceled.
hPrince to begin training
LONDON -- Prince William will begin his training to become a British army officer Jan. 8 when he starts attending the country's elite Sandhurst military academy, royal officials announced Friday.
William, 23, the eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, follows his younger brother Prince Harry in attending the academy, Charles' Clarence House office said in a statement.
Charles is expected to travel to the school to bid farewell to William on his first day. The future king will be expected to bring his own ironing board so he can prepare his uniforms on a daily basis.
William, who is second in line to the throne, graduated from Scotland's St. Andrews University in June.
The two princes will be based in different parts of the college -- William with new recruits in Old College and Harry in New College.
Harry, 21, enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May.
Today's birthdays
Newspaper columnist William Safire is 76. Actor Armin Mueller-Stahl is 75. Magazine publisher Robert Guccione is 75. Actor George Lindsey is 70. Singer-actor Tommy Steele is 69. Actor Ernie Hudson is 60. Comedian-actor Eugene Levy is 59. Actor Wes Studi is 58. Pop musician Jim Bonfanti (The Raspberries) is 57. Rhythm-and-blues singer Wanda Hutchinson (The Emotions) is 54. Actor Bill Pullman is 52. Actor Barry Livingston is 52. Country singer Sharon White is 52. Producer-director-writer Peter Farrelly is 49. Rock musician Mike Mills (R.E.M.) is 47. Pop singer Sarah Dallin (Bananarama) is 44. Country musician Tim Chewning is 43. Country musician Duane Propes is 39. DJ Homicide (Sugar Ray) is 35. Actor Sean Patrick Thomas is 35. Actress Sarah Paulson is 31. Actress Marissa Ribisi is 31. Actor Giovanni Ribisi is 31. Actress Milla Jovovich is 30. Singer Bree Sharp is 30. Actress Vanessa Zima is 19.