New Edition's DeVoe arrested; Thurman joins several projects
MUSIC
After a year of virtual hibernation, Supergrass has finished work on its second album, "In It For the Money" (due May 6), according to publicity reports. Perhaps as a sign of the band's pleasure with the finished product, the group abandoned the working title, "Second Album Syndrome," for the more appropriate title previously mentioned. The 12-song effort will get its stateside debut on March 14 when the band plays a showcase at the annual South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The first single will be "Cheapskate." Singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes says the new album isn't that different from its million-selling debut, "I Should Coco," except the songs are "generally bigger," the sound is "broader" and there's the "odd three-minute pop song" and a few acoustic pieces.
Pennywise is finishing up work on its new album, "Full Circle" (due April 22), its first release since the suicide of founding member Jason Thirsk last year. The 14-song effort was produced by the band and Eddie Ashworgh (of Sublime) and features a new version of "Bro Hymn," a song that appeared on the band's first, self-titled Epitaph full-length. That album was written by former bassist Thirsk about some friends of his who had died, the band's publicist reported. Pennywise has signed up for its second tour of duty on the Warped tour this summer, alongside bands like Blink 182, Millencolin, Royal Crown Revue and the Deftones.
New Edition member Ronnie DeVoe was arrested early Feb. 17 after police were called to the Louisville, Kent., hotel where the band was staying amidst reports that a drunken man was wandering the halls. When police arrived at around 4:15 a.m., they spotted DeVoe in a hallway and told him to return to his room, according to the Associated Press. But the former Bell Biv DeVoe member allegedly refused and called for two of his posse to back him up. The trio then was arrested on various charges of resisting arrest and assault. This isn't the first trouble the New Edition tour has run into. The tour, which one member has described as "pure hell," has seen the members have failing to appear together in public several times in recent weeks.
FILM
Holy Summer Blockbuster Batman! According to Variety, the fourth installment of the "Batman" series will premiere in theaters this weekend with most Warner Brothers releases. With Chris O'Donnell reprising his role as the Boy Wonder, George Clooney filling out the Batcape, Arnold Schwarzenegger chilling out as Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman spreading fatal love as Poison Ivy, Alicia Silverstone becoming Batgirl and Vivica Fox as villainess Ms. B. Haven, the film is sure to be a gigantic event.
Do you hear the people sing? You won't when the latest film version of "Les Miserables" comes to the screen next year, sans production numbers. As reported in Variety, Liam Neeson has signed on to play the tortured Jean Valjean and Uma Thurman is in negotiations to play Fantine, but the casting of the relentless Inspector Javert has been somewhat of an ordeal. With both Anthony Hopkins and Robert DeNiro bowing out, the producers have set their sights on Oscar golden boy Geoffrey Rush.
Speaking of Uma, the blond goddess may portray the famed television character, Mrs. Emma Peel, in a new screen version of classic spy series, "The Avengers," according to Entertainment Weekly. That "English Patient" Ralph Fiennes has already been tapped to play secret agent John Steed. The spies were originated by Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, formidable and fashionable shoes for Fiennes and Thurman to fill.
Do cry for "Evita." As reported in USA Today, Argentina's Vice President Carlos Ruckauf has called for a boycott of the epic musical for being "clearly offensive" and defaming the memory of Eva Peron. Ruckauf has also proclaimed that he has yet to see the film but he based his opinion on brief video clips. Even in the face of ignorance, the show must go on, as "Evita" is rapidly becoming the most successful American film in Argentine history.
Though New Edition has reunited, it has not always been a happy reunion.