Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Dylan's music will keephim from book ceremony
NEW YORK -- Bob Dylan, whose memoir "Chronicles, Vol. I" is nominated for a National Book Critics Circle prize, will likely be too busy with his day job to attend the March 18 ceremony. "Bob Dylan is honored by the NBCC nomination, however, he'll be on a concert tour in March," Simon & amp; Schuster spokeswoman Victoria Meyer said Tuesday. Meyer added that the publisher would "work with his office to see if there's any way he can come to the NBCC ceremony." "Chronicles" was nominated Saturday in the biography/autobiography category, with other finalists including Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton" and a biography of Shakespeare, Stephen Greenblatt's "Will in the World." Virtually all literary efforts by rock stars, from the Kinks' Ray Davies to Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, are laughed off by critics, but Dylan has been praised for an unusually rich and engaging book, writing passionately about influences such as Woody Guthrie and Robert Johnson and recalling his years as a young singer-songwriter in New York's Greenwich Village.
Cirque du Soleil plansevents with Clear Channel
NEW YORK -- Cirque du Soleil, the ever-hip Canadian troupe that's more than a circus, and Clear Channel Entertainment, a major tour producer and marketer, are joining forces for a series of music concert events to tour North America. The music concert series will begin its travels in November with 100 dates already set, both companies announced Tuesday. "The show's content will primarily be focused on music and will be presented in an arena configuration that has never been imagined," said Jonathan Hochwald, who will oversee the project for Clear Channel. He declined to be more specific. The tour has been designed to play one-night stands, Hochwald said, but if demand warrants, engagements may be extended.
Listening device foundoutside Kidman's mansion
SYDNEY, Australia -- Detectives are investigating an electronic listening device that was allegedly planted outside Nicole Kidman's Sydney mansion, police said. The device was found near a security car that was monitoring Kidman's home from the street, chief bodyguard Neil McMaster told Sydney's The Daily Telegraph for its Tuesday edition. He said he believed the device was intended to intercept conversations among the actress and her bodyguards. McMaster said surveillance footage taken from the house provided "conclusive evidence" that the device had been intentionally planted.
Dustin Hoffman in Londonto push 'The Fockers'
LONDON -- Dustin Hoffman flew into London, but he's not pulling a Madonna. He denied reports that he planned to settle in Britain permanently. Hoffman arrived with his wife, Lisa, on Sunday to promote "Meet the Fockers," the smash sequel to 2000's "Meet the Parents," in which he plays one of the Fockers, the randy husband of castmate Barbra Streisand. The 67-year-old actor told reporters at Heathrow Airport that media speculation that he plans to move to Britain was wrong.
Notable deaths
LONDON -- Actress Patsy Rowlands, a stalwart of the British "Carry On" comedy films, has died at the age of 71, her agent said Tuesday. Rowlands, who had been suffering from breast cancer, died Saturday at the Martlets Hospice in Hove, southern England, Simon Beresford said. The actress gained worldwide fame after featuring in nine of the perennially popular, often vulgar "Carry On" series, including "Carry On Doctor," "Carry on Matron" and "Carry On At Your Convenience." But she also had a solid history of theater roles and was acclaimed for her performance as Betty, Sid James' dizzy neighbor in the TV series "Bless This House."
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Art Stamper, a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame who performed with the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, died Sunday after a four-year battle with throat cancer. He was 71. Stamper, considered a bluegrass pioneer among his peers, emphasized melody and emotion over speed.
Today's birthdays
Actress Anne Jeffreys is 82. Actor Paul Newman is 80. Actress Joan Leslie is 80. Cartoonist Jules Feiffer is 76. Sportscaster-actor Bob Uecker is 70. Actor Scott Glenn is 63. Singer Jean Knight is 62. Activist Angela Davis is 61. Rock musician Corky Laing (Mountain) is 57. Actor David Strathairn is 56. Singer Lucinda Williams is 52. Rock singer-musician Eddie Van Halen is 50. Reggae musician Norman Hassan (UB40) is 47. Actress-comedian Ellen DeGeneres is 47. Hockey star Wayne Gretzky is 44. Musician Andrew Ridgeley is 42. R & amp;B singer Jazzie B. (Soul II Soul) is 42. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 35. Rock musician Chris Hesse (Hoobastank) is 31. Country musician Michael Martin (Marshall Dyllon) is 22.