Following is a summary of current entertainment news
briefs.
Actor Christian Bale reflects on years as ‘Dark Knight’
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Dark Knight rises in movie
theaters this Friday on the wings of huge anticipation for the
final film of director Christopher Nolan’s ”Batman” trilogy,
but there is one man who remains calm in the face of the media
hype, Batman actor Christian Bale. Bale slips into the bat
costume of Gotham City’s crime-fighting superhero for the last
time in ”The Dark Knight Rises, which like its predecessors has
received strong early reviews.
Kitty Wells, country music star, dies at 92
NASHVILLE (Reuters) – Kitty Wells, the ”Queen of Country
Music,” died this morning at her home in Nashville surrounded
by family members, of complications from a stroke. She was 92.
Among those mourning her today was Loretta Lynn, whose own rise
to popularity came after Wells opened the doors for strong
female voices in country music. ”Kitty Wells will always be the
greatest female country singer of all times,” said Lynn in a
statement released on her web site.
Actress Uma Thurman gives birth to girl: manager
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actress Uma Thurman, star of movies
such as ”Kill Bill” and ”Pulp Fiction,” has given birth to her
third child, a girl, the actress’ manager confirmed on Monday.
”Mom and baby are doing well!” Jason Weinberg, Thurman’s
manager, said in a statement. Weinberg did not reveal any other
details, but celebrity news publication Us Weekly said the baby
was born on Sunday.
Actor Charlie Sheen pledges $1 million to U.S. military
support group
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – His rants under control and his
life seemingly on the mend, ”Anger Management” actor Charlie
Sheen has pledged $1 million to the USO, a U.S. military
support organization, and the donation could go higher if his
new TV show becomes a hit. The money, at least 1 percent of the
profits he makes on the new FX comedy ”Anger Management,” will
go to the USO’s Operation Enduring Care, a program that is
raising money to help wounded and sick soldiers and their
families, a USO spokeswoman said.
London gallery opens space dedicated to live art
LONDON (Reuters) – London’s Tate Modern gallery has
unveiled its first dedicated space to live art and
installations as part of plans to explore new areas of visual
culture like video, photography and performance art. The Tanks,
which open their doors to the public on July 18, are the
underground oil tanks belonging to the converted power station
that have been transformed into a sleek exhibition space for
artists to showcase their work.
KISS tour ”The Apocalypse!,” says Paul Stanley
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Get out your makeup and dust off
those platform boots, KISS is hitting the road again with one
of the summer’s biggest concert tours, teaming up with fellow
rock band Motley Crue and kicking off ”The Tour” on July 20 in
Virginia. The band, with its painted faces and pyrotechnics,
was among the biggest acts of the 1970s, coming out of the glam
rock era with hits like ”Rock and Roll All Nite” as a
predecessor of 1980s the heavy metal groups that included
Motley Crue. KISS guitarist and singer Paul Stanley recently
spoke to Reuters about the tour, the band’s new album
”Monster,” and the secret to the group’s longevity.
Sylvester Stallone asks that son’s memory to be ”left in
peace”
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Film star Sylvester Stallone
pleaded on Monday for the public to leave his son’s ”memory and
soul” in peace amid a tabloid media frenzy over the aspiring
actor and filmmaker’s death at age 36. Sage Stallone was found
dead on Friday in his home in Hollywood. Los Angeles County
Coroner’s examiners conducted an autopsy on Sunday but say the
results and a cause of death would not be released for weeks
pending toxicology and other tests.
Mumford & Sons to release new album ”Babel” in September
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – British folk band Mumford & Sons on
Sunday said they will release their second album, ”Babel,” on
September 25, calling the eagerly anticipated follow-up to
”Sigh No More” a ”natural progression” written on the road. ”We
love playing live, obviously, but it had also become an
important part of our creative process. We had been writing and
rehearsing in soundchecks, and sort of ‘road-testing’ new songs
on our very gracious audiences. But then we fell in love with
recording again,” the group said in a statement.
Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord, dies aged 71
LONDON (Reuters) – Jon Lord, keyboardist and co-founder of
British rock group Deep Purple, has died in a London hospital
aged 71, his official website said on Monday. ”It is with deep
sadness we announce the passing of Jon Lord, who suffered a
fatal pulmonary embolism today, Monday 16 July at the London
Clinic, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Jon was
surrounded by his loving family,” a message on the website
said.
Paul Simon fetes Graceland with London extravaganza
LONDON (Reuters) – Singer-songwriter Paul Simon celebrated
the 25th anniversary of his classic album ”Graceland” with an
African musical extravaganza in London on Sunday night, any
lingering memories of the controversy over its creation in
apartheid-era South Africa swept away. Simon reunited the
original Graceland band led by Soweto guitarist Ray Phiri for
the Hard Rock Calling festival and brought along Ladysmith
Black Mambazo, the Zulu acapella group whose original rendering
of the song ”Homeless” shot them to worldwide fame.
