hEminem: It ain't over till I say it's over

hEminem: It ain't overtill I say it's over
NEW YORK -- Is Eminem headed for retirement -- or just taking a break? Earlier this month, reports from his hometown of Detroit quoted sources as saying the 32-year-old rapper would play his last concert at Slane Castle in Dublin, Ireland, on Sept. 17, at the end of "Anger Management" tour. In a posting on its Web site, MTV quotes Eminem as saying, "I'm not retiring," and also denying that "Encore" is his last album. Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, is quoted as saying: "When I say I'm taking a break, I'm taking a break from my music to go in the studio and produce my other artists and put their albums out. He is also quoted as saying, "When I know my next move, I'll tell everyone my next move. Not some reporter who writes a story about 'This is Eminem's last album.' I never said ('Encore') was my last album." Phone messages and e-mails left with the rapper's publicist by The Associated Press hadn't been returned Monday. Eminem has won nine Grammys, including best rap album for "The Slim Shady LP," "The Marshall Mathers LP" and "The Eminem Show." He won an Oscar for the song "Lose Yourself" from the 2002 film "8 Mile," in which he also starred.
Simpson 'assistant'was really a scammer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- An East Rutherford woman has been accused by authorities of amassing more than $12,000 in free merchandise by claiming she was Jessica Simpson's assistant. Courtney Handel, 23, was arrested Friday. By Sunday, she had been released from East Rutherford police headquarters, where she had been detained. Police said she faces charges of theft by deception, fraud and trademark infringement. Police said Handel sent e-mails and faxes to companies posing as Simpson assistant CaCee Cobb.
Simpson, 25, stars as Daisy Duke in the upcoming "The Dukes of Hazzard" film. Handel told the companies the singer-actress had expressed interest in their products. But she used her own address, and when police detectives arrived Friday, they said they found her home full of merchandise. "As we were standing outside, UPS pulled up with 12 more packages. We turned to each other and said, 'If only all our cases could be this easy,"' Detective Sgt. Jeff Yannaconi told the New York Daily News. Frye boots, PH Advantage cosmetics, Pagliei jewelry, Ted Rossi handbags, Peter Thomas Roth skin care products and Fake Bake tanning products were among the items, police said. Police were arranging to return the products to the companies.
Megadeth lead singersues former bass player
LOS ANGELES -- The lead singer of Megadeth has sued the band's former bass player for allegedly using the name of the group without permission in an ad for musical equipment. David Mustaine claims in the lawsuit filed Monday in Superior Court that he and David Ellefson entered into a settlement agreement in February that restricts the guitarist's use of the band name. "Ellefson shall not use, or authorize anyone else to use, the work or mark 'Megadeth" to advertise, market or promote any person, band, company, organization, product or services without Megadeth's prior express written permission," according to the lawsuit. Mustaine said an ad in this month's issue of Bass Player features Ellefson holding a pedal tuner for bass guitars and includes the names of several bands he is involved with -- including Megadeth. Mustaine is seeking unspecified compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages. Megadeth was founded in 1983 and released a greatest hits album, "Back to the Start," last month. Ellefson appeared on albums from 1985 to 2002 until he got into a disagreement with Mustaine and refused to rejoin the band last year.
Today's birthdays
TV producer Norman Lear is 83. Rhythm-and-blues singer Harvey Fuqua is 76. Actor Jerry Van Dyke is 74. Sportscaster Irv Cross is 66. Actor John Pleshette is 63. Singer Bobbie Gentry is 61. Actress-director Betty Thomas is 57. Olympic gold medal figure skater Peggy Fleming is 57. Actor Maury Chaykin is 56. Singer Maureen McGovern is 56. Actress Janet Eilber is 54. Actress Roxanne Hart is 53. Country musician Duncan Cameron (Sawyer Brown) is 49. Comedian Bill Engvall is 48. Jazz singer Karrin Allyson is 43. Country singer Stacy Dean Campbell is 38. Rock singer Juliana Hatfield is 38. Actor Julian McMahon is 37. Comedian Maya Rudolph is 33. Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn is 31. Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers is 28.