The Edge donates guitar to Katrina charity
The Edge donates guitarto Katrina charity
LOS ANGELES -- The Edge is donating his favorite instrument to an auction benefiting Music Rising, a charity the U2 guitarist co-founded to replace musical equipment lost or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
He's logged thousands of hours of stage and studio time on the 1975 Gibson Les Paul. The 45-year-old musician has used the guitar throughout his years with U2.
"I wanted to give something really significant that would really mean a lot for me to give. It deserved something that I would miss," The Edge told The Associated Press by phone from France.
The Icons of Music auction, administered by Julien's Auctions, features 196 rock-related items, including a saxophone signed by former President Clinton, a guitar that belonged to Jimi Hendrix and an original Elvis Presley recording contract.
An exhibit of auction highlights will travel from Los Angeles to Dublin, Ireland, and London before the sale ends April 21 with an event at Manhattan's Hard Rock Cafe. Fans may bid online or in person.
Rapper pleads not guilty
NEW YORK-- A rapper with top-selling hip-hop group G-Unit pleaded not guilty to harassment and endangering the welfare of a child after police accused him of slapping and hitting the 14-year-old boy.
Tony Yayo, 28, whose real name is Marvin Bernard, was released Sunday on 5,000 bail after entering his plea during his arraignment in Manhattan.
Authorities say he pushed and slapped the boy, hurting his ear and face.
"We adamantly deny the allegations set forth by the people today," said Bernard's defense attorney, Scott Leemon.
Busta Rhymes faces trial
NEW YORK -- Busta Rhymes will face trial on two assault charges after a judge withdrew a plea offer Monday that would have let the rapper remain free.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy withdrew the offer that included probation, community service and a series of lectures to troubled youth. She cited his recent arrest for driving with a suspended license as the reason.
After the judge withdrew her plea offer, the 34-year-old rapper rejected a follow-up offer by the prosecution of one year in jail for each of two counts of assault -- to run concurrently -- and a 500 fine for the suspended license charge, and will go to trial instead.
Kennedy tentatively set the trial to begin May 8.
Bootleggers vs. dogs
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Movie pirates are spraying chemicals on their bootleg DVDs to confuse two U.S.-loaned dogs that helped Malaysian authorities sniff out nearly 1 million illegal discs, an official said Monday.
The two female Labradors have been trained to detect polycarbonate chemicals used in manufacturing discs. But officials received a tip that bootleggers are using chemical sprays to throw Lucky and Flo off the scent, said Fahmi Kassim, the Domestic Trade Ministry's enforcement chief in southern Johor state.
Ministry authorities last week said the dogs were moved to a safe house after a source informed them that DVD and CD pirates were offering a bounty to anyone who could kill the dogs, on loan for at least a month from the Motion Picture Association of America.
The dogs, which began sniffing out disc shipments at Malaysia's main airport on March 13, won acclaim when they traveled south to Johor, helping officials uncover 1 million pirated DVDs, CDs and computer game discs worth 2.8 million in an office complex on March 19.
Today's birthdays
Dance company director Arthur Mitchell is 73. Actor Julian Glover is 72. Actor Michael York is 65. Rock musician Tony Banks (Genesis) is 57. Rock musician Andrew Farriss (INXS) is 48. Movie director Quentin Tarantino is 44. Rock musician Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) is 43. Actress Elizabeth Mitchell is 37. Hip-hop singer Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) is 32. Actress Emily Ann Lloyd is 24.