Facebook film role for Timberlake

Timberlake won an Emmy for his guest appearance on a US comedy series
Pop star and actor Justin Timberlake has landed a role in the forthcoming Facebook movie, according to reports.

Film trade paper Variety said the singer would play Sean Parker, who became Facebook's founding president.

David Fincher is directing The Social Network, which was scripted by The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin.

Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield have also been lined up to star in the project, which starts filming next month in Boston.

The movie will focus on the overnight success of Facebook, which was created in 2004 on the campus of Harvard University.

Eisenberg, best known for starring in The Squid and the Whale and Adventureland, will play the main character Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive officer.

Timberlake, who has won several Grammy awards for his music and recently picked up an Emmy for his appearances on Saturday night Live, has acted in films such as The Open Road and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

New Jackson song to be released

Jackson died two weeks before he was due to return to the stage in London
An unheard Michael Jackson song is to be released as a single next month.

This Is It, which features backing vocals by Jackson's brothers, will go on sale on 12 October.

Jackson's record label Sony Music said the song would also appear on a new album, as will unheard versions of his classic hits.

It is not clear when Jackson wrote and recorded the new track. The pop star had been working with artists like Akon and Will.i.am before his death in June.

The song will be the first new material to see the light of day since he died.

It takes its name from the ill-fated series of comeback shows that were to have been held at London's O2 arena.

"This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows - that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts," said John McClain, the music executive who is co-executor of his will and has co-produced the new two-disc album.

The first disc will feature his greatest hits, ending with the new song.

The second disc will include previously unreleased versions of his best-loved tunes.

The new song will also feature in the closing credits of a film, called This Is It, which has been made using footage of rehearsals for his O2 concerts.

Michael Jackson mother to get $1m a year

Jackson's children have been living with their grandmother since his death
Court papers released in Los Angeles have revealed Michael Jackson's mother will receive more than $1m (£606,000) a year from the singer's estate.

The money is to be used to support Katherine Jackson and Michael Jackson's three children.

The amount was approved by a judge in Los Angeles in August, but details have remained confidential until now.

The payments are $26,804 a month for Mrs Jackson herself and a monthly allowance of $60,000 for the children.

Prince Michael, 11, Paris Michael Katherine, nine, and Prince Michael II (known as Blanket), seven, are the main beneficiaries of the singer's multi-million dollar estate, along with his mother and various charities.

After his death in June, Michael Jackson's children went to live with their grandmother at the family home in north Los Angeles. They are still living there and Katherine Jackson has been granted permanent guardianship.

String of cases

The court documents show Mrs Jackson's share pays for an assistant, housekeeper, driver, utilities, clothing, grooming and other expenses. It is not known if any of her funds are being used to help other members of her family.

The documents do not provide details of how the childrens' allowance is being spent, but state that $315,000 a year pays for employees caring for them and another $160,000 is set aside for entertainment and other expenses.

Lawyers for Katherine Jackson wanted details of the payments kept private but Judge Mitchell Beckloff said in court he did not think the total amount could remain sealed.

Judge Beckloff has been presiding over a string of court cases regarding the unravelling of Michael Jackson's estate, his business dealings and the wrangling over future earnings.

There are plans to produce a wide range of Michael Jackson memorabilia and a movie including footage from rehearsals for his planned comeback tour will be released in late October.

The judge also scheduled another court hearing in October for a progress report on how the children are faring since their father's death. At his memorial service in early July, his daughter Paris paid an emotional tribute to her father.

Michael Jackson died in June from high levels of drugs in his body including the powerful anaesthetic propofol, more commonly used on hospital patients before surgery.

A police investigation into how he procured the drug has focussed on his personal physician Dr Conrad Murray. No charges have yet been brought in relation to the singer's death.
By Rajesh Mirchandani
BBC News, Los Angeles

Jermaine Jackson's letter to fans

The Tribute 2010
Why the event will be held in London

Dear fans, ladies and gentlemen,

The past few months have been a very difficult time for the Jackson family. The sudden, unexpected death of my brother Michael was not only a terrible shock for his closest relatives, but for his millions of fans around the world.

I, and everyone in Michael's family, will be forever grateful for the support and love that we have received from so many people during these past two-and-a-half months.

After the Memorial Service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles it was clear to me that many fans did not get the opportunity to properly say goodbye to the artist and wonderful human being, Michael Jackson.

More than two million people wanted to be part of the ceremonies in Los Angeles to say goodbye and celebrate the life of Michael Jackson, but only approximately 20,000 had the opportunity to do so at the Staples Center.

For this reason I knew I had to organise a tribute concert in honour of my brother in order to bring his unforgettable music to life once again and to show the world what a wonderful human being it has lost.

A little more than five weeks ago I began, together with my partners in Vienna, to work on the Tribute Concert. As you can imagine staging a show of this monumental dimension in less than eight weeks is a daunting challenge.

We have worked virtually around the clock to produce this show for the millions of fans around the world. Despite all the obstacles we succeeded in organising the entire production of a concert in front of beautiful Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna to insure that a show of international magnitude could be held.

I personally have spoken to many international artists and invited them to attend The Tribute and perform one of Michael's songs. Several leading artists immediately agreed to participate in this unique tribute show.

Many others told me personally that it would be a great honour to be part of this memorial concert for my late brother - an artist who influenced the music world like virtually no other.

However, due to the short time frame involved it just was not possible for many of them to change their schedule so that they could be on stage in Vienna on 26 September.

We have therefore decided, after careful consideration, to reschedule The Tribute concert for my brother to June 2010 and to stage this very special music event at Wembley Stadium in London.

Here, over 70,000 fans will have the opportunity to experience the life and music of my beloved late brother. We will hold the concert in the city that he himself chose for his comeback concerts but, due to his tragic death, he was not able to do.

Instead of eight weeks we now have eight months to prepare and some of the stars who would not have been able to participate in the Vienna concert, but expressed their wish to participate in this event, will be able to perform live on stage at the renowned Wembley Stadium in London in June 2010.

It would make me very happy so see as many of you as possible at The Tribute In Memory of Michael Jackson in London. It will be a memorable evening for millions of fans and a worthy and dignified celebration of the greatest entertainer who ever lived - my brother, Michael Jackson.

Sincerely yours,

Jermaine Jackson

Doubts over Jackson gig line-up

Mary J Blige and Chris Brown will not be performing
Plans for a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna have been dealt a blow after previously announced stars say they will not be performing.

Representatives for Mary J Blige, Chris Brown and Natalie Cole said none of the three would be at the event on 26 September at Schoenbrunn castle.

However organisers have played down the lack of confirmed performers.

"The star is Michael Jackson - it's not about name dropping and who else will be there," producer Georg Kindel said.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, Jackson's brother Jermaine - who is also organising the tribute concert - told reporters that up to 25 performers had been lined up to sing.

But Karynne Tencer, a spokeswoman for Blige, said although the singer wanted to perform, "she had a previous commitment in Milan" at a Gucci fashion show.

'Confusion'

Brown, who is on five years' probation for assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna, would need a judge's permission for any international travel, a Los Angeles court spokeswoman said. No motion to do so has yet been filed.

"I'm sure the show is going to be fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing you there"-
Katherine Jackson

A spokeswoman for Cole said the 59-year-old could not be there because she will be attending an event in Tennessee for the Dalai Lama and can not make it to Vienna in time.

Maureen O'Connor said concert organisers had contacted Cole, "but she was never committed to do it".

It leaves only a few performers still confirmed to sing at the show, including Sister Sledge, Akon and German boy band US5.

A list of confirmed acts is due to be announced in Vienna next week, after Jermaine Jackson has personally confirmed who will attend.

"It seems that there is a lot of confusion regarding the confirmed talent for the tribute - we are rechecking and confirming each artist personally," Kindel said.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, pledged her support for the concert in a video message on the event's official website to quash rumours of a family feud over the event.

"I'm sure the show is going to be fantastic and I'm looking forward to seeing you there," she said.


Organisers said they were expecting 65,000 fans - who have paid up to 512 euro (£448) - to attend.

Jackson passed away in June after suffering a cardiac arrest.

US folk singer Mary Travers dies

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary singing If I Had a Hammer
Mary Travers, one third of the hugely popular 1960s US folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, has died after a battle with leukaemia aged 72.

A statement on the group's website said the singer succumbed "to the side effects of one of the chemotherapy treatments" she was undergoing.

She had been suffering from leukaemia for several years.

Peter, Paul and Mary had hits including If I Had a Hammer, Lemon Tree and Puff, The Magic Dragon.

They became known for their mixture of liberal politics with folk music that won them a loyal following of fans and also five Grammy Awards.

Outspoken supporter

Bandmate Peter Yarrow said that in her last months, Travers handled her declining health "in the bravest, most generous way imaginable".

He added that throughout her long career, Travers sang with honesty and complete authenticity.

"I believe that, in the most profound of ways, Mary was incapable of lying, as a person, and as an artist - that took great courage, and Mary was always equal to the task."

The group released their debut album in 1962
Noel "Paul" Stookey, the trio's other member, praised the singer for her inspiring activism, "especially in her defence of the defenceless."

"I am deadened and heartsick beyond words to consider a life without Mary Travers and honoured beyond my wildest dreams to have shared her spirit and her career," he said.

Travers was an outspoken supporter of the civil rights and anti-war movements.

The group travelled the world and frequently appeared at political rallies and demonstrations, including the March on Washington in 1963.

Travers kept up her activism after Peter, Paul and Mary broke up in the early 1970s. She performed as a solo artist before the trio later reunited for benefits and other concerts.

She underwent a successful bone marrow transplant to treat her leukaemia and told The Associated Press in 2006 she was "feeling fabulous".

But by mid-2009, Yarrow told a Washington radio station that the singer's condition had worsened again and thought she would no longer be able to perform.

Travers is survived by her husband, Ethan Robbins and daughters, Alicia and Erika.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1983, Peter, Paul, & Mary performed at Pier Six in downtown Baltimore. Following a wonderful concert, my wife Betsy and I were walking back to our car and singing "The Times They Are A-Changin'" to ourselves. All of a sudden, we hear a familiar voice singing beautiful harmony in the background. We stop and look around, and coming up quickly from behind us was Mary with a big smile on her face. Betsy and I were in total disbelief that this was actually happening to us. It was kind of like winning the music lottery!
Wes Herrmann, White Hall, Maryland, USA

I am one of the three members of Portland, Oregon based folk group 'Rite of Spring'. Certainly inspired by the music of PP&M, we recently shared the stage with Peter Yarrow. Truly the end of an era for us - so sad. Pater had told us she was holding her own earlier this year, and we hoped she had some more quality time left. Our sincere condolences to her family and Paul and Peter of course.
Michael Attwood, Portland, Oregon, USA

I attended numerous PP&M concerts, but when I was in my 3rd year at university (1969), I met briefly all three members of the group. I was in awe at how friendly all three were. Peter and Paul were funny and extremely intelligent. Mary was incredibly beautiful, and immensely friendly. I am a folk singer like PP&M, so meeting all of them was a dream come true! Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever meet even one of the three in person! But, on that concert night I did meet all three of these amazing people / musicians!
M. Randolph Hunter, IV, Fremont, CA, USA

I was in America on a four month 'gap' in 1963 and managed to catch PP&M in concert at the Watergate Theatre in D.C. very close to the building of later notoriety. And the music was uplifting, all the hits and more. Some of Mary's comments, mild today but wildly radical in the context of time and place, caused rumblings among a few of the sell-out crowd but the scent of freedom, whatever that illusory beast is, was in the air, a scent that grew stronger a week or so later when I saw her again in D.C.

This time the venue was a bit more expansive - the Freedom March on August 28 when Martin Luther King revealed to us his great dream. What more fitting setting could there have been for PP&M and their songs of protest and hope? Mary Travers was a lovely woman with a voice to match her stunning looks, a voice like that bell she sang about in 'If I Had A Hammer'. I hope she rests easy.
Ed Dixon, Clackmannan, UK

Met P,P&M at stage door of Colston Hall, Bristol 1964. for autographs. They have been the biggest musical influence of my life. Immensely talented and professional group whose influence goes much further than is recognised.
Peter Nott, Taunton UK

I did not meet her face to face but on a trip to Las Vegas three or four years ago Peter, Paul & Mary reformed for a re-union concert and I was lucky enough to be in the right town at the right time to see it. Not the same tall woman of early years with the long swishing blonde hair, and she was suffering a bad hip but the sound, magic, and for me the adrenaline, was still there. Something that should not be over-looked is that without PP&M there would have been no Bob Dylan. It was PP&M that took the unmusical gravel of Dylan, found the music in it and expounded the rhetoric and magnitude of his early work.
Alan Greenwood, Epsom, Surrey

I was singing along with their songs even before I could read, this was in Berkeley, California in the early 1960s. Their simplistic music (two guitars, three brilliant singers) permanently influenced my taste in music, later Mary's political activism impressed me. This is like losing a favourite aunt.
Sara Whitney, Munich, Germany

So, another icon of my youth has passed on. I still have all my Peter, Paul and Mary albums and play them often, along with Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor. The music of the sixties was so real and relevant. It changed the world and it changed us. Good bye Mary and thank you!
Susan McMillan, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Brown book breaks record in hours

The Lost Symbol has a UK first print run of a million books
Dan Brown's follow-up to the Da Vinci Code has sold more copies in its first 36 hours of UK release than any other adult hardback novel, say publishers.

The Lost Symbol, which went on sale on Tuesday, has sold more than 300,000 copies in the UK, Transworld said.

The previous best-selling adult hardback was Thomas Harris' Hannibal, with some 700,000 copies bought in the UK when it was published in 1999.

Transworld said global sales of The Lost Symbol had already topped 1m.

Like The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol features Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, and had a UK first print run of a million.

The Da Vinci Code has sold 81 million copies around the world and is the UK's biggest-selling paperback of all time.

Transworld warned it was on the lookout for websites offering pirated copies of the new novel, after reports that two sites had already posted material from the book.

A spokeswoman said: "We have a very vigilant team who are constantly scanning the web to investigate potential piracy issues.

"If and when they do find any rogue material out there we will issue 'take down' notices."

Mary Travers

With her long, flowing, blonde hair and crystal-clear soprano vocals, Mary Travers was a major influence on the folk music of the 1960s and '70s. A founding member of Peter, Paul And Mary, Travers, not only became one of the most commercially successful folk performers, but, used her position to become an inspirational political spokesperson. Together with Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, Travers performed at Civil Rights rallies with Dr. Martin Luther King, in Birmingham, Alabama and Washington, D.C., and, at numerous anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, fund-raisers and teach-ins. During the 1980s, Travers helped to call attention to the struggles of Latin America.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Travers grew up in New York's Greenwich Village. As a youngster, she became enchanted with the American folk songs played by The Weavers, Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie. While in high school, Travers became a regular performer at the Sunday afternoon folk music sessions at Washington Square Park. Together with a teenage group, The Songswappers, Travers appeared twice at

-Carnegie Hall and recorded with Pete Seeger. After singing in the chorus of a short-lived Broadway show, Travers balanced work in the literary and advertising field with appearances in New York clubs at night and weekends. After meeting humorist, folksinger and guitarist Stookey and folk music producer Milt Okun, Travers helped to form Peter, Paul And Mary. The trio performed its debut show at the Bitter End in 1961 and began a decade-long series of concerts and recordings. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1962 became a major hit, remaining in the top ten for ten months and the top twenty for two years. Their single, "If I Had A Hammer" became an anthem of the Civil Rights movement. Over the next decade, Travers and the trio helped to popularize the songs of Bob Dylan, John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot. Travers' lead vocals helped to make the trio's rendition of Denver's "Leaving On A Jet Plane," a major hit in 1970.

Shortly after releasing a "greatest hits" album, "Ten Years Together," in May, 1970, the trio announced their separation. The mother of two daughters-Erika, born in 1960, and Alicia, born in 1966 -- Travers remained active as a soloist, releasing five albums and performing in college and clubs throughout the United States. In addition, Travers lectured at colleges on "Society And Its Effect On Music", hosted a music and interview show on Radio Pacifica (KPFK) in Los Angeles and produced, wrote and starred in a television series for the BBC.

Travers reunited with Stookey and Yarrow in 1978 for a benefit concert, Survival Sunday, that Yarrow organized and produced at the Hollywood Bowl. Their performance was so encouraging that they agreed to resume their partnership. In the two decades since, Travers has continued to record and perform approximately forty-five concerts each year with the trio.

Jay-Z breaks Elvis album record

Jay-Z was just nine years old when Elvis Presley died in 1977
Jay-Z is set to score his 11th American number one album, overtaking Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most chart-toppers in US chart history.

The rap star's new album Blueprint 3 is on course to top the Billboard 200 chart, taking him past Elvis's record of 10 number ones.

Billboard said the 39-year-old had so far shifted 476,000 copies of the LP.

The Beatles are still the most successful act on the US chart, with 19 US number one albums under their belt.

The Fab Four also feature heavily on the US chart this week following the release of their remastered back catalogue.

The reissued albums have shifted a total of 626,000 copies in the US since being released last week.

The best-selling remastered album was 1969's Abbey Road, which sold 89,000 copies.

Meanwhile, Madonna has just notched up her 40th number one single in the US dance charts with Celebration.

Patrick Swayze

Full Name: Patrick Wayne Swayze
Born: Patrick Wayne Swayze on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, USA
Job Titles: Actor, Dancer, Singer, Songwriter, Carpenter, Professional skater, Restaurateur.

Patrick Swayze was a Texas-born Hollywood movie actor whose background in ballet and gymnastics ironically gave him a physique well-suited for his roles as hunky love interest or macho action film hero.

He never surpassed the popularity of his earnest, romantic blockbusters “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Ghost” (1990), but after suffering bouts of alcoholism, and removing himself from Hollywood altogether, he seemed to regain new perspective that would raise the bar for his acting future. And if nothing else, his utterance of the line, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” from “Dirty Dancing,” virtually guaranteed big screen immortality.

Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on Aug. 18, 1952, in Houston, TX. His father, Jesse Wayne, had been a champion rodeo cowboy and Mom, “Patsy” Yvonne Swayze, was a dancer and choreographer who owned the Houston Jazz and Ballet Company. His parents were not the only performers in the family – Swayze was also a distant relation of actors William Holden and Tom Hulce. Swayze began dance training with his hard-driving mother at an early age, focusing on a ballet career even before thoughts of acting. But high school was tough for a teenage boy in a leotard, so for several years, Swayze also developed his sporting side, participating in gymnastics, swimming and football at Waltrip High School in Houston. Consequently, the physical overachiever was offered scholarships for both dance and athletics, opting for the gymnastics program at San Jacinto College in Houston. To add to his impressive skills roster, he had also become an accomplished figure skater. Two years later, he got his first break into show business when he was offered a role as Prince Charming in the “Disney on Parade” touring ice show.
In 1972, Swayze decided to re-focus on his original love of ballet, so he headed for the bright lights and abundant career opportunities of New York City. He got right to work, studying at the Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Companies and getting hired as the principal dancer at the Eliot Feld Ballet Company. Several years into his New York run, his hometown girlfriend, Lisa Niemi, a fellow dancer whom he had met at his mother’s studio, joined him in New York. The two were married not long after. When a high school football knee injury reappeared and cut his career with Feld short, Swayze made a lateral move to theater. His rugged looks, winning smile, and studied movements helped him land roles on Broadway’s “Goodtime Charley,” “West Side Story” and “Grease.”
Swayze’s high-profile turn as Danny Zuko onstage in “Grease” suddenly brought Hollywood knocking, and he and Lisa answered by packing up and moving West. He began landing parts, appearing as a bad boy on wheels in the big screen roller-skating flop, “Skatetown USA” (1979) and as a leukemia patient on an episode of “M*A*S*H” (CBS, 1972-1983). Swayze’s big film breakout came in 1983 when he was cast as eldest greaser Darrel Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola’s period teen melodrama, “The Outsiders” – a movie which also launched the careers of Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise. Hollywood quickly saw Swayze’s leading man potential, giving him the starring role as a young Confederate soldier in the miniseries, “North and South” (ABC, 1985) and as one of the local militants fighting the Russians in the laughable teens vs. Communists action flick, “Red Dawn” (1984).
Everything changed in 1987 when he became an overnight sensation with his starring role in “Dirty Dancing” opposite Jennifer Grey. It may have been the part he had been preparing for his whole life – rakish dance teacher Johnny Castle, who enjoyed tight pants, Cuban heels, and had an eye for the young ladies. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for the film, and also contributed an original song – “She’s Like the Wind” – to the soundtrack. The song hit #3 on the pop charts and the film soundtrack became one of the top-selling soundtracks in history. Also immortalized: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” uttered by Swayze to Jennifer Grey’s father, Jerry Orbach, during the film’s dance-off finale, which in subsequent years, became one of the most beloved and often repeated lines in film history.
The actor’s next two titles were action films, but in Swayze-style action, he whirled through fight scenes like a West Side Jet in “Road House” (1989) and leapt into a mob-revenge melee like a gymnast in “Next of Kin” (1989). Only three years after securing leading man status in “Dirty Dancing,” Swayze lived up to the hype by turning in another iconic performance in the blockbuster romance, “Ghost” (1990). Setting the ladies’ hearts afire with his sensitive portrayal of the dead lover who can never tell his girl he loves her while alive, “Ghost,” was a monster hit. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, the film featured Swayze as the slain lover of Demi Moore, who continues to communicate with and protect her in the afterlife. With this role, Swayze showed a range heretofore unseen – most especially witnessed in comic scenes with quack psychic, Whoopi Goldberg and in his tearful, earnest attempts to contact Moore from the great beyond. And much like “Dirty Dancing,” Swayze offered up another quotable quote – “Ditto” – to say nothing of another famous film scene in which Swayze and Moore erotically sculpt clay to the Righteous Brothers’ ballad, “Unchained Melody.” For his work, Swayze received a second Golden Globe nomination and People magazine included him in their “Sexiest Man Alive” issue the following year. Without a doubt, Swayze’s impossibly perfect abs and pecs being on full display while sculpting clay shirtless had something to do with his placement that year.
After appearing in two of the most popular films in history, there was no place else to go but down. Inevitably, the actor’s next string of films did not fare as well at the box office. It was not surprising when he was overlooked at the Golden Globes for playing a surfing bank robber in “Point Break” (1991) – a film high on machismo, but laughable on plot. Four years later, he surprised audiences who were used to his romantic dramas and gut-punching action movies, when he starred in the quirky, cross-country drag-queen romp, “To Wong Foo, Thanks for everything! Julie Newmar” (1995).

In the late 1990s, Swayze experienced several career setbacks including a broken leg suffered while filming “Letters from a Killer” and increasing problems with alcoholism. His father had died of the disease in 1982, and Swayze admitted to lapsing in and out of periods of heavy drinking. His sister had committed suicide in 1994, and it contributed to the tailspin that landed Swayze in rehab. After his release, he and Niemi decided to get away from the Hollywood atmosphere and relocate to a ranch in Texas, even turning down a $6 million dollar offer to do a “Dirty Dancing” sequel. After a time, Swayze returned to work, appearing in some of the more critically-acclaimed films of his career, including the Sundance nominee “The Green Dragon” (2001) and the cult-classic “Donnie Darko” (2001). Back onstage, he played the tap-dancing Billy Flynn in “Chicago” on Broadway, and “Guys and Dolls” at the Piccadilly Theater in London. In 2006, he appeared alongside Kristin-Scott Thomas and Rowan Atkinson in the independent British film, “Keeping Mum,” where he received positive nods for his tongue-in-cheek role as an aging ladies man.
Due to his high-profile roles in fluffy blockbusters of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Swayze became a bit of a cult icon for the succeeding generation of pop culture hipsters. “Swayze” was transformed into a bona fide adjective in the hip hop world, with “I’m Swayze” meaning “disappeared” or “gone” like his character in “Ghost.” Film parodists “Mystery Science Theater 3000” (Sci-Fi Channel, 1988-1999) included an original song called “Patrick Swayze Christmas” in one of their holiday episodes, with the puppet hosts wishing their viewers “the Swayziest Christmas of them all.” Indie rockers Kane Hodder even cut a song called “I think Patrick Swayze is Sexy,” while, at the same time, The Petition Site.com received signatures of dozens of people who believe “No More Patrick Swayze Movies Should be Made.” Love him or hate him, no one could claim the dancer-turned-actor did not inspire great passion from both his fans and his detractors.
It was precisely this passion which led fans and even those ambivalent toward the actor to express their deepest sympathies when the National Enquirer broke the news in March 2008 that Swayze only had five weeks to live, due to terminal pancreatic cancer. The news shocked the masses, leading to a forced rebuttal from Swayze’s physician, Dr. George Fisher, who did confirm the cancer, but not the tabloid’s prognosis, stating “Patrick has a very limited amount of the disease and he appears to be responding well to the treatment.” An outpouring of affection from both fans and former co-stars began pouring in, leading the family to release the statement: “We appreciate the love that’s coming back to Patrick from all his fans.” The actor had just shot a pilot for A&E, “The Beast,” which, despite the news, the network confirmed was a major contender to go to series and that they believed Swayze would be able to continue his role once his cancer treatment was finished.

Family
* Brother: Don Swayze. Born in 1958
* Brother: Sean Kyle Swayze. Born in 1962
* Father: Jesse Swayze. Died in 1982
* Mother: Patsy Swayze. Choreographed films, Urban Cowboy (1980) and Liar s Moon (1982); also owned a ballet school
* Sister: Bambi Swayze.
* Sister: Vicky Swayze. Committed suicide c. 1994

Education
* Waltrip High School, Houston, TX

Milestones
* 1975 Broadway debut as dancer in Goodtime Charley
* 1979 Film debut, Skatetown USA
* 1983 Returned to features films with roles in The Outsiders and Uncommon Valor
* 1983 TV series debut, Renegades
* 1984 Played first feature lead in the war drama, Red Dawn ; first film with Jennifer Grey
* 1985 First success TV mini-series, North and South set during the Civil War
* 1986 Co-starred with Rob Lowe and Keanu Reeves in the hockey-themed feature, Youngblood
* 1987 Breakthrough role as dance instructor, Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing co-starring Jennifer Grey; earned a Golden Globe nomination for the role; also sang one of the songs on the soundtrack, She s Like the Wind
* 1989 Starred in Road House as a bouncer at a seedy roadside bar
* 1990 Became co-owner (with Bobby Ochs) of Mulholland Drive Cafe; restaurant closed in 1996
* 1990 Co-starred with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg in the successful romantic fantasy-thriller, Ghost
* 1991 Re-teamed with actor Keanu Reeves in the action hit, Point Break
* 1995 With Ochs, opened second restaurant, Bobby O s City Bites
* 1997 Broke right leg and fractured left leg in riding accident during filming of Letters From a Killer
* 1997 Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (August 18)
* 2001 Acted in the Vietnam-set The Green Dragon ; screened at Sundance
* 2001 Co-starred in Without a Word a film co-written and directed by Lisa Niemi
* 2002 Co-starred in Waking Up in Reno with Billy Bob Thornton and Charlize Theron
* 2003 Appeared on Broadway as slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the Tony Award winning musical Chicago
* 2004 Had a cameo appearance as a dance instructor in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
* 2004 Played a choreographer in the NBC sitcom Whoopi
* 2006 Made London stage debut in the musical Guys and Dolls as Nathan Detroit
* 2006 Played Kristin Scott-Thomas golf teacher in the British comedy “Keeping Mum”
* 2009 Co-starred as an aging rock star, opposite younger brother Don, in the film Powder Blue (released straight to DVD)
* 2009 Played FBI Agent Charles Barker in the A&E drama, The Beast
* Began career as dancer, touring as Prince Charming in Disney on Parade
* Co-founded, with Lisa Niemi, Troph productions
* Danced as a guest artist with Buffalo Ballet Company before studying with the Harkness Ballet
* Performed as skater at Galleria Ice Skating Pavilion in Houston
* Performed briefly as a principal dancer with the Feld Ballet; left because of aggravated knee injury from high school football
* Performed with and wrote material for six bands

US film star Patrick Swayze dies

Swayze fought his disease in public
Dirty Dancing film star Patrick Swayze has died aged 57, his publicist says.

Annett Wolf said that the US actor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years, died with family at his side on Monday.

Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage four pancreatic cancer in January last year.

The actor had been starring in US TV show The Beast since being diagnosed with the disease. He had also planned to write a memoir with his wife.

"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace"

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement by Annett Wolf quoted by the Associated Press.

No other details were given.

Jennifer Grey, who co-starred with Swayze in Dirty Dancing, said in a statement: "Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace. Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart.

"He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified."

He was always uncomfortable with the Hollywood sex symbol tag
Rob Lowe, who played in a number of films with Swayze, said: "Patrick lived a thousand lifetimes in one lifetime. He was an expert dancer, he wrote hit songs, he starred in hit movies, he was an amazing horseman.

"But the thing I will remember him most for was his amazing love affair with his wife Lisa."

Ashton Kutcher, whose wife Demi Moore co-starred with Swayze in Ghost, wrote on Twitter: "RIP P Swayze."

Greg Kilday, the film editor for Hollywood Reporter, said Swayze was "in the tradition of a performer like Gene Kelly, who invested dance and romance with a real masculine athletic appeal".

Swayze's dream

In January, Swayze admitted he might only have two years to live, but denied he was near death.

In a US TV interview, he admitted he was "scared" and "going through hell".

"Am I dying? Am I giving up? Am I on my death bed? Am I saying goodbye to people? No way," Swayze told TV interviewer Barbara Walters.

"I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, not lived in the shadow of cancer but in the light," he said.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most virulent forms of cancer which medical experts say has a 5% five-year survival rate.

Kanye apologises for MTV outburst

Singer Swift did not finish her speech
Rap star Kanye West has said sorry for interrupting the acceptance speech of singer Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in New York.

The musician stormed the stage to tell the audience Beyonce should have won the best female video prize.

Madonna made a personal tribute to Michael Jackson at the ceremony, saying she felt she had "abandoned him" and "felt his pain".

The late star's sister Janet recreated the dance moves from their duet Scream.

Rapper West to make MTV comeback

West vowed he would never return to MTV
Rap star Kanye West is to close the MTV Music Video Awards, a year after complaining about failing to win a single prize at the event.

After the 2007 ceremony, where he did not perform on the main stage and missed out on five awards, West vowed that he would never return to MTV.

The musician joins a line-up including Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, who will open the show but not perform.

Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles will be hosted by Russell Brand.

Spears, who is nominated for three awards, said MTV had "long played an important part in my career".

Jackson appearance

"I'm excited to open the entire show, to say 'hi' to my fans and to be nominated," she added.

Last month her manager ruled out a performance at the event, a year after her stage comeback was largely panned by critics.

Aguilera will make her first televised performance since the birth of her son in January.

Other performers will include R&B star Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers and rapper TI.

Christina Aguilera is due to release a greatest hits album
Speculation that Michael Jackson will make an appearance at the 25th VMAs has been played down, with MTV president Van Toffler saying, "I don't know whether that's going to happen".

Producers of the show are planning to stage "live music videos" set around the lot of Hollywood's Paramount Pictures involving some of the main performers, including Pink and TI.

Guests at the event will receive gift bags worth $15,000 (£8,520), which contain designer clothes, jewels and tickets for a Caribbean holiday.

At last year's event in Las Vegas, Kanye West complained that he had been ignored for two years in a row.

"That's two years in a row, man... give a black man a chance," he said. "I'm trying hard, man, I have the... number one record, man."

The rapper is due to release a new single, Love Lockdown, in the US on 8 September, while he is scheduled to bring out a new album before the end of the year.

Elton says he wants to adopt boy

Sir Elton said he and partner David Furnish had often discussed adoption
Sir Elton John has said he wants to adopt a toddler he met during a visit to an orphanage in Ukraine.

The 62-year-old singer had performed at the orphanage, where some of the children's parents had died of Aids.

Sir Elton said during a news conference that he had always rejected the idea of adoption because of his age and his lifestyle of regularly being on tour.

But he said a 14-month-old boy called Lev had "stolen his heart" and forced him to consider a change of mind.

'Wouldn't be fair'

Sir Elton said he and partner David Furnish, 46, were asked whether they thought of adopting.

He said: "David and I have always talked about adoption, David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no' because I am 62 and I think because of the travelling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child.

"What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to replace him with someone I can give a future to" Sir Elton John.

"But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home. I've changed my mind today."

The singer added that the death of his long-term keyboardist, Guy Babylon, had also influenced his decision.

"Last week I lost one of my best friends; my keyboard player died of a heart attack at 52.

"It broke my heart because he was such a genius and so young and has two wonderful children.

"What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to replace him with someone I can give a future to."

Michael Jackson's sister breaks silence

Jackson said she was 'really proud' of her niece Paris
In her first interview following Michael Jackson's sudden death in June, Janet Jackson has said that she has not watched any TV news since.

The singer, 43, told Harper's Bazaar magazine that continuous coverage in the US, "will drive you crazy", adding: "Not everyone is stone."

She also told the magazine she was "really proud" of niece Paris, who spoke at Jackson's memorial in the US.

Jackson's death, following a cardiac arrest, has been ruled as homicide.

In the interview, Janet Jackson reveals that she last saw her brother less than six weeks before he died.

"We had so much fun that day," she said, "We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was."

She was working on a film in Atlanta when she got the call that her brother had died and immediately returned to Los Angeles.

'Emotional eater'

Jackson also praises her mother, Katherine, saying: "I always wanted to have my mother's strength, but I didn't know if it was really there."

Jackson, who has battled weight problems in the past, also revealed she had turned to comfort-eating to cope.

She said: "I can be an emotional eater. Of late, I have been doing that, yes."

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Janet Jackson will perform a tribute to Michael Jackson at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on 13 September.
by:BBC

Chris Brown awaits Jackson gig ruling

Chris Brown was ordered to stay away from Rihanna by a judge
A US judge will decide whether R&B singer Chris Brown can perform at the Michael Jackson tribute gig in Vienna later this month, it has emerged.

Jermaine Jackson announced that Brown was part of the concert's line-up on Wednesday, but now there is doubt over whether he will be allowed to attend.

Brown, 20, was sentenced to community service after he admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Rihanna, last month.

There are concerns his legal commitments might clash with the gig.

'People make mistakes'

"Chris Brown is working out some situations but he definitely expressed to us that he wants to be here," Jackson said at a press conference in London.

"It's just up to what he's going through with his court case right now - but he's definitely going to work that out and be here."

Jackson said that, despite the negative publicity surrounding Brown's court case, he was happy for the singer to take part.

"People make mistakes and he's a wonderful performer and during these times people need support and that's really important," he said.

Georg Kindel, who is co-producing the show with Jackson, said it was thought that a judge would decided whether Brown could leave the US.

During the August court case, Brown was ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna for the next five years.

The judge said violation of the terms would be taken "very, very seriously".

Mary J Blige, Sister Sledge and Natalie Cole will definitely perform at the concert, which has been put together in honour of Michael Jackson, who died in June, aged 50.

No other acts have been added to the bill so far, although Jackson said he was confident that Stevie Wonder would agree to sing.

He also hinted that the Jackson family may reunite on stage at the concert.

Organisers said they were expecting 65,000 fans to attend. Tickets went on sale last month for the event, which takes place on 26 September.
by:BBC

Jermaine 'organising Jackson gig'

Jermaine Jackson was at the Save The World Awards in Vienna in July
Jermaine Jackson is organising a star-studded concert to pay tribute to his brother Michael in Vienna next month, the show's promoters have said.

The event will be held on 26 September, with the pop star's elder brother putting the line-up together.



"Jermaine Jackson will take care of that personally," a spokeswoman for World Awards Media told BBC News.

"He is enquiring [about] all his friends and stars he knows for that concert," she said.

But she said she did not know whether Jermaine and other Jackson family members would perform themselves.

In July, Jermaine appeared in Vienna to accept a posthumous honour on behalf of his brother at the Save the World Awards, also organised by World Awards Media.

There have been reports of Jackson tribute shows at London's O2 Arena.
While there, he visited Schoenbrunn Palace, once home to Emperor Franz Joseph.

"They were so excited about this location that they enquired if that would be a possibility to have the tribute take place here," the spokeswoman said.

World Awards Media is not connected to AEG, the promoters who were due to have staged Jasckson's comeback concerts at London's O2 arena.

AEG was also reported to be working on a separate tribute show at the O2 on Jackson's birthday, 29 August.

But AEG Live boss Randy Phillips said that will not now happen because footage from Michael Jackson's O2 rehearsals, which would have been used, is being held back for a film release.

"The 'potential' tribute show on 29 August was never pursued because the [Michael Jackson] Estate, AEG Live and Sony Pictures agreed that the first time an audience should see the This Is It production was 30 October 2009, when the concert film/documentary opens worldwide."

The World Awards Media spokeswoman said she had no information on other concerts but added: "I think this is the only one he [Jermaine] is organising for this year."

Tickets for the Vienna show go on sale on 20 August.
by:BBC

Pop legend Michael Jackson buried

Michael Jackson died in June at his home - a death now classed as homicide
Friends and family of Michael Jackson have paid their last respects to the singer known as the King of Pop at a funeral ceremony outside Los Angeles.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor, actor Macaulay Culkin and music producer Quincy Jones were among the 200 invited guests.

Gladys Knight sang at the service while civil rights campaigner the Reverend Al Sharpton was one of the speakers.

The ceremony was due to begin at 0200 GMT at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park but began more than an hour late.

The delay was caused by the late arrival of the singer's family, who eventually arrived in a motorcade of 31 vehicles.

Jackson's brothers - Randy, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon - acted as pallbearers as his gold-plated coffin was removed from a hearse.

All were dressed identically in black suits, with each wearing a solitary white glove - a fashion statement made famous by their legendary sibling.

The singer's children - Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - sat in the front row next to his parents, Katherine and Joe Jackson.

Comedian Chris Tucker, producer Berry Gordy and Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson's ex-wife, also attended.

The service took place after dark in the open air outside Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum.

It came more than two months after Jackson died of a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs at the age of 50.

Last week Jackson's death was ruled to be a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner.

The verdict increases the chances of criminal charges being brought, although no-one has been named a suspect.

A statement from the Jackson family said the pop star's casket was interred at 2143 local time (0443 GMT).

"The Jackson family wishes to once again thank all of Michael's fans around the world for their generous outpouring of support during this terribly difficult time," the statement read.

Jackson's family and mourners attended a post-funeral reception at an Italian restaurant in nearby Pasadena.

Security was tight ahead of the ceremony, with fans and media kept away by a heavy security presence.

Police had cordoned off roads leading to the Forest Lawn site throughout the day.

A live TV feed was provided of the guests arriving, though the footage ceased once the service began.

Jackson, known for such hits as Bad, Thriller and Smooth Criminal, was originally due to be buried on 29 August on what would have been his 51st birthday.

However, the date was pushed back to allow more time for the planning of the ceremony.

Jackson joins a long list of famous stars who have also been buried in the Forest Lawn cemetery.

Screen stars Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable have all been laid to rest there.

Jackson death certificate amended

Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest in June
Michael Jackson's death certificate has been amended to reflect his cause of death as homicide.

The document has been changed to specify that his death was caused by "injection by another".

Investigators had concluded that a powerful concoction of prescription drugs killed the pop star.

The coroner's further homicide verdict increases the chances of criminal charges being brought against Jackson's doctors.

'Hoax videos'

Jackson died at his Los Angeles home in June, aged 50.

Police have interviewed his personal physician Dr Conrad Murray but he has not been named as a suspect. He has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Jackson is expected to be buried in a private sunset ceremony in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California.

Only close family and friends of Jackson will be in attendance for the event.

Meanwhile, a hoax video apparently showing the singer emerging from a coroner's van has emerged.

German channel RTL posted the footage on YouTube and received 880,000 hits in one day.

Heike Schultz, spokeswoman for the network, said it had been an experiment.

"We wanted to show how easily users can be manipulated on the internet with hoax videos," she said.

"Therefore, we created this video of Michael Jackson being alive, even though everybody knows by now that he is dead - and the response was breathtaking."

Jackson buried as media looks on

LaToya Jackson arrived with her family as part of a large motorcade.
Pop star Michael Jackson was buried as he had lived - in the media spotlight.

As night fell over Los Angeles at least two dozen cars - black, luxury vehicles with dark windows - processed past the massed ranks of media and through the gates of Forest Lane cemetery.

Inside the motorcade were members of Michael Jackson's family - and they were more than an hour late.

A lot of the cars looked like they only contained one or two passengers.

Inside the memorial park Hollywood celebrities were waiting, including Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Macaulay Culkin and Jackson's ex-wife Lisa-Marie Presley.

They were seated among around 200 guests on white wooden chairs arranged outside one of the many ornate buildings on this site.

Guests fanned themselves in the close heat of the night with programmes containing pictures of Michael Jackson.

Upset

When his family came in, his mother Katherine and father Joe sat down in the front row.

Jackson's parents Katherine and Joe were clearly disconsolate.
His sister Janet looked upset as she took her seat. Jackson's three children sat between their grandparents and aunt.

Family members wore black arm bands. His brothers stood at the front, ready to repeat their roles as pall-bearers.

At the memorial service in July they had walked beside their brother's coffin. Now they did so again.

When everyone was seated, Jackson's coffin was driven in by hearse, unloaded and wheeled into place.

His three children walked up to it. We couldn't see what they did, but it was a brief farewell.

At that point the cameras were turned off and the rest of the service was private, as the family had requested.

The pictures we had seen were provided by agreement with the Jackson clan. It was an acknowledgement of the public spectacle that was the singer's life.

No-fly zone

The service lasted around an hour and cars departed swiftly.

Motown founder Berry Gordy was one of many big names in attendance.
Earlier, police had sealed off part of the area and even enforced a no-fly zone to keep news helicopters from buzzing overhead.

They had warned fans to stay away, and in large part they did.

I spoke to some of the few who did turn up. They understood they would see very little, but they didn't mind.

Kevin Harris said he thought people should have skipped work to come and pay their respects and was disappointed more did not.

But many would have watched on TV, which is exactly what the police and the Jackson family wanted.

His life was lived in the public eye, and now his death has been too.
By Rajesh Mirchandani

In pictures: Michael Jackson funeral











The funeral of singer Michael Jackson has been held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.












Mourners waited for over an hour as the performer's family travelled from their home in neighbouring suburb Encino.



















The late pop star's family - including Jackson's sister LaToya - arrived in a motorcade of 31 vehicles.













It was after dark by the time Jackson's parents Katherine and Joe took their seats.













Michael Jackson's brothers all wore a single white glove in memory of their legendary sibling.



















Comedian Chris Tucker, star of the Rush Hour action comedies, was among the other guests in attendance.



















Record producer Quincy Jones was one of many famous faces from the world of music.



















Dame Elizabeth Taylor, a friend of Jackson's, was photographed as she arrived for the 45-minute service.













Former Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin attended the funeral with actress girlfriend Mila Kunis.



















Jackson's son Prince Michael was seen leaving the cemetery in a bus with family members.

Voting change for best film Oscar

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire won best film at the last ceremony
The voting system, which will determine the winner of the best picture at this year's Oscars is being changed, it has been announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said preferential voting will now be used to tally the final vote for the award.

Voters will be asked to rank nominees in order of preference from 1 to 10.

In all other categories, the victory goes to the performer who earns the most votes.

The new system for tallying vote for best picture is the same preferential voting system that the Academy uses in its nominating process.

However, this is the first time it has been used for best picture voting since 1945.

'Strongest support'

The voting process has been adapted to accommodate the new picture shortlist, which has been increased to allow 10 films into the category, instead of five.

"Instead of just marking an X to indicate which one picture they believe to be the best, members will indicate their second, third and further preferences as well," Academy president Tom Sherak said.

He explained that would "establish the best picture recipient with the strongest support of a majority of our electorate".

The decision to use the preferential system was made because a larger field meant a winner could emerge with just slightly more than 580 votes out of the potential voting pool of 5,800 members.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 2 February at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
by:bbc
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