Communist Party blasts ‘Chinese Democracy’

Communist Party blasts ‘Chinese Democracy’

BEIJING — A newspaper published by China’s ruling Communist Party is blasting the latest Guns N’ Roses album as an attack on the Chinese nation. Delayed since recording began in 1994, “Chinese Democracy” hit stores in the U.S. on Sunday, although it is unlikely to be sold legally in China, where censors maintain tight control over films, music and publications.

In an article Monday headlined “American band releases album venomously attacking China,” the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.” The album “turns its spear point on China,” the article said.

Escort: Boy George chained, beat me

LONDON — A Norwegian escort told a court Monday that Boy George manacled him to a bedroom wall and beat him with a metal chain after accusing him of hacking into his computer.

The former Culture Club singer is on trial for the false imprisonment of 29-year-old Audun Carlsen.

The 47-year-old singer, who is standing trial under his real name, George O’Dowd, denies the charge.

Carlsen told London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court that he met the singer through a Web site and went to his London home for a naked photo shoot. After the encounter Boy George sent a series e-mails accusing Carlsen of hacking into his computer, but Carlsen nonetheless agreed to return for a second photo session several weeks later in April 2007.

Carlsen told the jury that when he arrived Boy George and another man held him down and beat him before the singer handcuffed him to a hook in the bedroom wall. Carlsen said he was able to escape by unscrewing the hook and running for the door. He said he ran into the street clad only in his underwear.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Ricardo Montalban is 88. Singer Percy Sledge is 68. Actor/game-show host Ben Stein is 64. Actor John Larroquette is 61. Singer Amy Grant is 48. Singer Tim Armstrong of Rancid is 43. Actress Christina Applegate is 37. Actor Eddie Steeples (“My Name Is Earl”) is 35.