Dixie Chicks' Maines discusses death threats

Dixie Chicks' Mainesdiscusses death threats
NEW YORK -- Natalie Maines says one of the death threats she received after criticizing President Bush three years ago was "definitely scary" because the sender "had a plan."
Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, told a London audience during a March 10, 2003, concert: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." The comment was made as war was looming with Iraq, and Maines later apologized for the phrasing of her remark.
In an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" to air tonight at 7, Maines says one threat she received in the summer of 2003 was different from the others.
"It was definitely scary because it seemed so -- it wasn't just somebody wanting to write a hate letter," she says. "It was somebody who obviously thought they had a plan."
The Chicks' latest album, "Taking the Long Way," is slated for release May 23. The band also includes fiddle and mandolin player Martie Maguire.
Singer of Twisted Sisterplans benefit bike ride
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and some of his biker buddies are planning a ride to raise money for premature babies.
Two of the Long Island native's four children were born 71/2 weeks premature, prompting his involvement in the March of Dimes' "Bikers for Babies" event May 21.
"When you're in there in that preemie ward, you see a lot of seriously ill babies," the 51-year-old singer says. "Your baby is in there at 4 pounds and you're so worried, and they're bringing in 1-pounders, 11/2-pounders. You look at these kids with respiratory problems and circulatory system issues and all kinds of problems, and the medical expenses are astronomical."
He's asking fans to sponsor him by pledging any amount through a link on his Web site.
The 45-mile ride, one of many being held nationwide, will start at Nassau Coliseum and finish at Brookhaven Town Hall. Snider's band mate, Mark "The Animal" Mendoza, the group's bassist and an avid biker, also will participate.
No paper shortagefor author of 'Potter'
NEW YORK -- Relax, Harry Potter fans. J.K. Rowling now has plenty of paper.
The author, a resident of Edinburgh, Scotland, who writes in longhand, is busy writing the seventh and final Potter book. She had complained last month that she was having a hard time finding writing paper. Her readers apparently sympathized.
"Be careful what you wish for, it might come true," she wrote in a message posted earlier this week on her Web site.
"Since complaining that I had difficulty finding anything to write on after running out of paper while working in town, I have been deluged with paper. Some of you sent single sheets, others entire pads, one enterprising paper merchants sent a large stack of notebooks embossed boldly with J K ROWLING, which I might not use in public, but which are very lovely all the same.
"Others took a different approach, telling me exactly where you can buy writing paper in Edinburgh; some even enclosed maps. Anyway, I've now got enough paper to write several book sevens, so no excuse there."
Today's birthdays
Opera singer Patrice Munsel is 81. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.C., is 64. Rock singer-musician Jack Bruce (Cream) is 63. Movie producer George Lucas is 62. Actress Meg Foster is 58. Rock singer David Byrne is 54. Movie director Robert Zemeckis is 54. Actor Tim Roth is 45. Rock singer Ian Astbury (The Cult) is 44. Rock musician C.C./Cecil DeVille is 44. Rock musician Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) is 40. Fabrice Morvan (ex-Milli Vanilli) is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer Raphael Saadiq is 40. Actress Cate Blanchett is 37. Singer Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block) is 37. Movie writer-director Sofia Coppola is 35. Singer Natalie Appleton (All Saints) is 33. Singer Shanice is 33. Rock musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 28. Actress Amber Tamblyn is 23.