NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Rock presenters: Midler, Chuck D

NEW YORK

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony likely will be a little more irreverent this year: Chris Rock is set to be one of the A-list presenters for the April event.

The comedian is due to induct the Red Hot Chili Peppers into the hall at the ceremony at the Rock Hall in Cleveland on April 14.

Rock will join Bette Midler, who will induct late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro; John Mellencamp, who will induct former tourmate Donovan; Chuck D, who will induct the Beastie Boys; and Stevie Van Zandt, who will induct the Small Faces/The Faces, which included Rod Stewart.

The ceremony will take place at the hall in Cleveland. A highlights special premieres May 5 on HBO.

‘Yellow Submarine’ restored

LONDON

The animated Beatles movie “Yellow Submarine” has been restored frame-by-frame for DVD release this year.

The Beatles’ holding company Apple Corps Ltd. said Tuesday that specialists worked for four months to individually clean each frame of the 1968 surreal tale by hand.

The company said that it chose not to use automated software because of the delicate nature of the hand-drawn artwork.

The colorful movie, a groundbreaking tale that features cartoon versions of The Beatles and images from some of their psychedelic songs, is out of print.

The DVD will be released May 28, and the film’s soundtrack album will be reissued on CD the same day.

‘Harry Potter’ actor jailed

LONDON

A judge has sent a cast member of the “Harry Potter” films to prison for taking part in rioting that flared across England last summer.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced Jamie Waylett, who played Hogwarts bully Vincent Crabbe in six of the films, to two years in jail.

Prosecutors said Waylett was part of a small gang that took part in the riots in north London on Aug. 8.

A jury at London’s Wood Green Crown Court found Waylett guilty Tuesday of violent disorder but acquitted him of another charge of intending to destroy or damage property with a fire bomb he was holding.

The 22-year-old had already admitted handling a bottle of stolen Champagne from a supermarket during the riots.

Waylett has a previous conviction for growing marijuana.

Vindicator wire services